Best Gay Bars & Bathhouses In Edinburgh
Edinburgh is genuinely well-served for LGBTQ+ nightlife — unlike many cities of its size, almost everything you need is contained within the city itself, concentrated in and around the Pink Triangle in the New Town. You will not need to drive to Glasgow for a gay bar or a bathhouse. Whether you live in Morningside, Leith, or Stockbridge, a short bus ride or taxi puts you at the centre of Scotland's largest gay scene.
The Edinburgh LGBTQ+ Scene
Edinburgh's gay scene centers on the Pink Triangle area around Broughton Street and the streets running off it in the New Town. Edinburgh's gay scene is primarily concentrated along Broughton Street and its surrounding lanes — a compact and easily navigable district where you'll find most of the city's dedicated LGBTQ+ venues. The cluster sits conveniently close to the top of Leith Walk and the Edinburgh Playhouse, meaning the bars, the sauna, and the clubs are all within comfortable walking distance of each other. Edinburgh is home to the largest gay scene in Scotland, with the Pink Triangle offering low-key pubs, lively clubs, and daytime hangouts. There is no formal "second cluster" in a suburb or nearby metro — what Edinburgh has is compact, walkable, and largely self-contained.
Top Gay Bars & Bathhouses for Edinburgh Locals
CC Blooms
Type: Gay bar and nightclub
Location: 23 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Features: Located on Calton Square just outside St James' Quarter, CC Blooms offers two floors of dance and fun and is open until 3am daily with a DJ from 11pm each night. The venue has served as an incubator for Scottish drag talent, and hosts weekly drag shows most weekends, including the Sunday drag cabaret Disgraceful from 8pm.
Website: https://www.ccblooms.co.uk
Habana
Type: Gay bar
Location: 18–22 Greenside Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AA
Features: Beside the Playhouse, Habana is a friendly bar offering early evening and pre-club entertainment to the city's LGBTQ+ community in a sleek environment. It serves a great selection of beer, wine, spirits and cocktails, is always busy and great for pre-clubbing, with DJs seven nights a week.
Planet Bar and Kitchen
Type: Gay bar
Location: 6 Baxter's Place, Edinburgh EH1 3AF
Features: Part of Edinburgh's Pink Triangle, Planet Bar and Kitchen is a down-to-earth bar hosting various themed nights, including drag on Friday and karaoke on Monday. They are Edinburgh's oldest LGBTQ venue and sponsors of Scotland's first LGBTQ football team, the Hot Scots.
Website: https://planetbaredinburgh.co.uk
The Regent Bar
Type: Gay pub
Location: 2 Montrose Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5DJ
Features: The most chilled-out pick in Edinburgh's Pink Triangle scene, The Regent is open until 1am daily and offers a welcoming space to unwind with a large selection of international ales and ciders. If you like your bars to resemble your living room, the Regent will be your favourite — its selection of local ale and beer is what makes it a standout contender.
The Outhouse
Type: Mixed LGBTQ+ bar
Location: 12a Broughton Street Lane, Edinburgh EH1 3LY
Features: The Outhouse is a hidden gay bar in Edinburgh, tucked away in Broughton Street Lane, and one of the more diverse venues in town if you want something a little off the beaten path. A solid option for those looking for a quieter drink away from the busier Greenside Place strip.
Steamworks Sauna (The Pound)
Type: Gay bathhouse / sauna
Location: Broughton Market, Edinburgh EH3 6SX
Features: Edinburgh's only gay sauna, in the heart of the Pink Triangle — facilities include a steam room, dry sauna, hot tub, darkroom, video room, and private cabins, with themed nights including Naked Wednesdays and Darker Nights. Gay-owned and managed by the same team as Planet Bar, the sauna has a welcoming and relaxing atmosphere.
Website: https://planetbaredinburgh.co.uk/steamworks-sauna-edinburgh/
What to Expect
There is no strict dress code at Edinburgh's LGBTQ+ venues — guests are encouraged to come as they are. Most bars have no cover charge on regular nights; entrance to CC