Edinburgh's Gay Scene

on Friday, 25 May 2012. Posted in Best of Edinburgh Guide

Centred around an area called the Pink Triangle between Broughton Street and Leith Walk , Edinburgh's gay scene is all about late-night fun and drinking. The big event in the Gay calender is the Pride Scotia held in June, a huge annual festival held alternatively in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Our guide to Edinburgh's gay scene includes info on the pubs, bars and clubs that are gay and lesbian friendly.

Gay Clubs & Bars in Edinburgh

There are many gay or gay-friendly cafés, bars and restaurants on Broughton St and several of these are listed elsewhere in the 'Eating', 'Cafés' and 'Bars' sections

Blue Moon Café (see 'Cafés' above). Gay-run but straight-friendly café that's always busy.

Café Habana 22 Greenside Pl (at the front of the Playhouse Theatre), Tel: 5564349. Outside seating in summer. Popular with bright young things. Open daily till 0100.

CC Blooms 23 Greenside Place (next to the Playhouse), Tel: 5569331. Packed almost every night upstairs and downstairs on the dancefloor. This is where everyone ends up. Open daily till 0300.

Claremont 133-135 East Claremont Street, Broughton, Tel- 5565662 This buzzing place attracts a huge male dominated crowd in normal week days meanwhile it gets busy during weekends. The menu offered in the bar has variety of delicacies and fair prices. Open Mon-Thur 1100-midnight, Fri-Sat 1100-0100, Sun 1230-2300. Web: http://www.claremontbar.co.uk

Street 2 Picardy Place, Carlton Hill, Tel: 5564272. Beautifully nestling on the Broughton Street, this jewel of a place among the local gay and lesbian communities has a lot to offer. Enjoy upstairs and sit on the Chrome and cream leather barstools or enjoy a variety of drinks at the bar below. Do have a visit to this stylish and happening place atleast once. Open- Mon-Sat noon-0100, Sun 1230-0100.

Twist 26b Dublin Street, New Town, Tel: 5387775 This stylish bar is a men's den, the cosy ambinace and wide selection of drinks and snacks adds more colour to the place. Well, what more the basement club offers a female DJ on Fridays and Saturdays, you guys have a lot to enjoy here. Open- Mon-Thurs Noon-0100, Fri-Sat Noon-0200, Sun 1230-0100.

New Town Bar 26 Dublin St, Tel: 5387775. Fairly mixed crowd upstairs. Downstairs is called Intense – appropriately named and full-on. Open daily till 0130, weekends till 0230. Intense open Thu-Sun.

Sala Café - Bar and Restaurant 60 Broughton St, Tel: 0131 556 5758. Comfortable and laid-back spot overlooking the garden behind the Gay and Lesbian Centre. Good all-day breakfasts (also vegetarian) and reasonably priced snacks. Good pre-club meeting place. Open daily 1100-2300 (until 1AM on Friday and Saturday nights). Website at http://www.salacafe.co.uk

Planet Out 6 Baxter's Pl, Tel: 5573379. Close to the Playhouse. Lively place in the heart of the action. Open daily till 0100.