Edinburgh Student Nightlife Guide

Edinburgh is a bustling capital city boasting a rich heritage. With stunning architecture, an exciting cultural scene, and an envied nightlife, Auld Reekie is an excellent city to spend your student days in. 

Edinburgh is a city not only known for its rich student heritage, but for its cultural festivals too. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, International Film Festival, and Hogmanay Festival. It also boasts abundant live comedy, and music, and a plethora of pubs and bars, with over sixty-five in Edinburgh's Old Town alone! 

There are both cheap things and free things aplenty in the city, which is built for students. But, the city isn't where all the action is, the surrounding hills and lochs are bursting with life, offering serene natural landscapes that are quintessentially Scottish and fill you with awe.

If you've chosen to study in Edinburgh for the next few years, you're in for quite the adventure.

Freshers week

Freshers' Week will be, without doubt, the pinnacle of the year for all you eager students heading off to begin your new life in Edinburgh this autumn. It’s a week which showcases everything the city has to offer, from exclusive club nights with huge acts and famous DJs, to live bands and mass parties in some of the many excellent music venues scattered across the historic city.

It’s undoubtedly the biggest social event of your academic year by a long way. It's the time when all of your fellow students get together to experience their new home. So don’t miss out on your opportunity to get out there and mingle with people from all over the UK, some of whom will remain friends for life no doubt!

The best student nights in Edinburgh

On Monday nights in Edinburgh, you simply can’t look past the iconic Flare Mondays at WhyNot. One of Edinburgh’s longest-running student club nights, with doors being open since 1999, Flare Mondays features a revolving door of weekly themed events; super cheap drinks, starting from just £1.25; and an array of resident DJs and special guests playing all your favourite club classics; WhyNot head down?

There are a few nights to choose from when Tuesday comes around, but our favourites come courtesy of Subway Cowgate with Tamagotchi Tuesdays, for when we want some throwbacks from the 80s/90s/00s, free entry and cheap drinks. But, we also love The Bongo Club for Midnight Bass on Tuesday night. It’s THE student Drum and Bass night in the city, with cheap entry, drink promos, and constant skank-worthy vibes. 

When Wednesday comes around, the streets will be taken over by the sports teams of all the city’s Universities, and whilst if you take part you’ll hit bars and clubs all across the city, there’s a very good chance you’ll be ending up in WhyNot for Love Wednesdays. However, if you want to avoid the sports crowd then Monster Wednesdays at Frankensteins offers cheap drinks and spooky vibes for all. 

Thursdays will give you a decision between two stalwarts of the Edinburgh student scene. If you want a boogie or a two-step, then you simply can’t look further than DICE at Cabaret Voltaire, which provides the purest of techno vibes for students. However, if RnB and Hip-Hop are more your thing, then Rascals at Bourbon is an excellent substitute. 

On Fridays, the town centre becomes alive with the Weekend crowd, and many of the usual student drinking halls get crowded with regular folk. This is why you have to be at BROKE! Fridays at Liquid Rooms. With House, RnB & BROKE! Anthems, alongside cheap entry and even cheaper drinks. It's one of the only places in which you can still booze for cheap on Friday nights. 

Finally, when the weekend comes around, similar rules apply as on Fridays. However, there is one saving grace for those looking to go out on the cheap when Saturday comes around. The Edinburgh rite of passage that is Big Cheese at Hangar 5, Potterrow. This infamous night does what it says on the tin, providing the cheesiest of tunes and making cringe a foreign concept. It's an Edinburgh Uni institution for a reason and one you will definitely end up at. If all else fails on the weekend, just head to The Hive. It's cheap, cheerful, and full of a messy charm that is quintessentially student. 

Best Areas For Student Nightlife

City Centre

The centre of the action, where the party never stops. It’s the place to be for students who want to be at the heart of everything that Edinburgh has to offer. It's close to all the fantastic attractions which will keep you busy all year round, and with scores of bars and clubs to choose from, you'll never be short of a place to grab a drink with friends.

New Town

New Town is one of the most popular areas in Edinburgh, being home to many students and young professionals. Situated near Princes Street Gardens, there’s a marked historic feel to the district with its typical Georgian buildings and quaint cobbled streets. On the flip side, there’s also a wild side to this part of the city. Boasting some of the best nightclubs in Edinburgh such as Lola Lo, Lulu, Opal Lounge and Why Not, it’s the perfect place for right good old knees up.

Old Town

The Old Town of Edinburgh is nestled within the keep of the city’s historic walls and is a fascinating place to explore. It's home to many acclaimed restaurants, swanky bars and shops, as well as a number of cultural attractions, such as the Royal Mile, Greyfriars Kirkyard and St Andrews House. With its meandering streets, engrossing history and plenty of places to get a drink with new friends, it’s one of the more popular choices for a student night out in Edinburgh.

Haymarket

Catering to one of Scotland's largest student populations, Haymarket is something of a hotspot for academics studying in the city, packed with buzzy bars and late-night eateries that offer authentic Scottish flavour. Situated just minutes away from Edinburgh’s financial district, the area boasts a great mix of bustling city life and a relaxed student atmosphere. Popular hangouts include one of the city's biggest student nightclubs, known as The Hive, where you can soak up the party vibe that defines this student-focused part of town.

Fountainbridge

Fountainbridge is an eccentric, diverse neighbourhood in the west end of Edinburgh. This small neighbourhood is centred on a bustling strip of restaurants and pubs with live bands and DJs performing regularly throughout the year. Though it's just a short distance from the heart of the city, Fountainbridge maintains a laid-back feel and appeals to those in search of a slower-paced atmosphere. Be sure to experience the district's wealth of traditional pubs.

The best student bars and clubs in Edinburgh

The Liquid Room

Opened in May 1997 The Liquidroom is widely regarded as one of the UK’s leading venues for Gigs and Club nights. For over 20 years the venue has promoted artists from every music genre; Hip Hop to Rock, Country to Pop, also witnessing some of the world’s leading DJs in-house, techno, dubstep and drum ‘n’ bass taking to the stage for some phenomenal club nights. Following recent refurbishment The Liquid Room is now back bigger and better than ever, boasting a brand new and bespoke, state-of-the-art sound and lighting system yet unseen in any venue of a similar size in the UK. 

WhyNot

WHY NOT is probably the most talked about nightclub in Edinburgh and has been for over ten years. Having undergone extensive refurbishment since 2012, the venue now contains one of the biggest dance floors in the city, in addition to a mesmerising LED room with 22,528 LED lights spread out across the walls and ceilings, five cocktail bars and four dance floor party booths, to name just a few of its unique features. Offering an amazing experience with every visit, we highly recommend dropping in during your time studying in Edinburgh.

Belushi's Edinburgh

In a city famous for its nightlife, Belushi's is the ultimate student haunt. Situated near the Central Station, it offers great value on food and booze plus wall-to-wall coverage of sporting events on multiple HD plasma screens. Prices are cheap to begin with, but throughout the year there are plenty of student deals to take advantage of, as the night starts to take over. A go-to for those with limited funds.

McSorleys

McSorleys is an Edinburgh institution. One of the city’s most adored Irish pubs, serving the best pint of Guinness in the burgh, it’s frequently overrun with students, uni societies and sports teams. Come here for regular live music and sports events, as well as a wide selection of international beers and much more.

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The best live music venues in Edinburgh

Sneaky Pete’s

Sneaky Pete's is a grassroots music venue that prides itself on giving new and exciting bands the stage on which they can perform, as well as providing performances from some of the biggest international touring acts on the planet. Welcoming music fans of all identities across gender, disability and race, the limited capacity venue, located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, is renowned for its fantastic production standards. A great place for freshers to experience live music.

La Belle Angelle

In a city famous for its nightlife, Belushi's is the ultimate student haunt. Situated near the Central Station, it offers great value on food and booze plus wall-to-wall coverage of sporting events on multiple HD plasma screens. Prices are cheap to begin with, but throughout the year there are plenty of student deals to take advantage of, as the night starts to take over. A go-to for those with limited funds.

The Jazz Bar

Exceptional live jazz and acoustic music bounce off the walls of this central Edinburgh establishment every single night of the week. Surprisingly cheap for the city centre too, with regular cocktails served up in their bustling basement space. It's a great spot for a close-knit group looking for a chilled night with live tunes. Cash only for entry.

Royal Highlands Centre 

For those looking for a grander setting for live fans, the Royal Highland Centre is a must-see destination. With a huge LED stage that can be lowered into the main arena floor, it plays host to huge names in both dance and alternative music each year and hosts some of the biggest parties, including one of the UK’s biggest indoor electronic festivals, Terminal V; as well as CONNECT festival, which annually welcomes the coolest acts in the country. Other notable dance brands and labels to have run events here in the past include Adam Beyer’s Drumcode and Patrick Topping’s Trick. Whilst not quintessentially student, it is one to keep an eye out for their events.

The best live music venues in Edinburgh

Sneaky Pete’s

IMAGE 

Sneaky Pete's is a grassroots music venue that prides itself on giving new and exciting bands the stage on which they can perform, as well as providing performances from some of the biggest international touring acts on the planet. Welcoming music fans of all identities across gender, disability and race, the limited capacity venue, located in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town, is renowned for its fantastic production standards. A great place for freshers to experience live music.

La Belle Angelle

IMAGE

In a city famous for its nightlife, Belushi's is the ultimate student haunt. Situated near the Central Station, it offers great value on food and booze plus wall-to-wall coverage of sporting events on multiple HD plasma screens. Prices are cheap to begin with, but throughout the year there are plenty of student deals to take advantage of, as the night starts to take over. A go-to for those with limited funds.

The Jazz Bar

IMAGE

Exceptional live jazz and acoustic music bounce off the walls of this central Edinburgh establishment every single night of the week. Surprisingly cheap for the city centre too, with regular cocktails served up in their bustling basement space. It's a great spot for a close-knit group looking for a chilled night with live tunes. Cash only for entry.

Royal Highlands Centre 

IMAGE

For those looking for a grander setting for live fans, the Royal Highland Centre is a must-see destination. With a huge LED stage that can be lowered into the main arena floor, it plays host to huge names in both dance and alternative music each year and hosts some of the biggest parties, including one of the UK’s biggest indoor electronic festivals, Terminal V; as well as CONNECT festival, which annually welcomes the coolest acts in the country. Other notable dance brands and labels to have run events here in the past include Adam Beyer’s Drumcode and Patrick Topping’s Trick. Whilst not quintessentially student, it is one to keep an eye out for their events.