Queer Venues in Edinburgh

This is where you’ll find links to Edinburgh’s queer venues, from clubs and bars to bookshops.

  • Black writing on a white wall around a window. It says "The Street, bar, eatery"

    The Street

    2B PICARDY PLACE

    Bar and nightclub on the corner of Broughton Street with regular club nights and events. They also have a street art gallery!

    Website
  • The entrance to a bar with large windows. It has a disco ball logo and says "Planet bar and kitchen" above the door

    Planet

    6 BAXTER’S PLACE

    Edinburgh’s longest-running gay bar, with regular DJ nights and drag shows throughout the week.

    Website
  • The front of a pub with large curved windows. The door is in the middle and a sign above says "Habana" in rainbow letters.

    Habana

    22 GREENSIDE PLACE

    Bar with DJs and a range of events throughout the week. Relaxed during the day with a busier vibe at night.

    Website
  • A black pub with gold writing saying "Theatre Royal". It has hanging baskets and window boxes of flowers. On the upper floor are colourful statues of people playing bugles.

    The Theatre Royal

    25-27 GREENSIDE PLACE

    Not specifically a queer venue, but it sits in a row of them by the Playhouse Theatre, so it’s unofficially quite queer too!

    Website
  • The front of a dark grey building, with a CC logo above the door and a progress Pride flag in the window. There are tables and chairs outside.

    CC Blooms

    23-24 GREENSIDE PLACE

    Running since 1994, CC’s is a bar and club with events from drag shows to pub quizzes. Open till 3am all week.

    Website
  • A blue pub with a sign saying "The Regent". It's on a corner in a red sandstone building and a rainbow flag flies over the door.

    The Regent

    2 MONTROSE TERRACE

    A relaxed, traditional pub in Abbeyhill serving real ale away from the crowds. Describes itself as “LGBT+ but straight-friendly”.

    Website
  • A large progress Pride flag flies above an awning over an outdoor seating area. The awning is orange and says "Paradise Palms" on the front.

    Paradise Palms

    41 LOTHIAN STREET

    Not specifically queer, but very queer anyway. Cocktails, a vegetarian/vegan kitchen called Lucky Pig, and regular arts and music events.

    Website
  • The front window of a cafe. The building is painted red with white letters saying "Kafe Kweer". There's a row of rainbow flags in the window.

    Kafe Kweer

    5 ST PETER’S BUILDINGS

    Queer cafe and arts space on Gilmore Place.A sober space accessible to under-18s. Regular community and arts events.

    Website
  • A green shop front with arched windows. It says Lighthouse Books in white letters and there are books in the window displays. White chalk graffiti on the front of the building reads "Look after each other"

    Lighthouse Books

    43-45 W NICOLSON ST

    Edinburgh’s radical bookshop, with a queer and intersectional focus. Wide variety of books and regular events in person and online.

    Website
Previous

Virtual Tour
Next

Further Reading