Paradise Palms

Paradise Palms is one of Edinburgh's quirkiest and most beloved hangouts: a tropical-kitsch bar, diner, and arts venue near Bristo Square and the university, with mismatched furniture, palm trees, and funky music that'll make you think it's summer no matter the season. It bills itself plainly: all welcome, who welcome all, and while it's not exclusively a gay bar, its own site is explicit about being LGBTQ+ friendly, and it's a longtime fixture on every Edinburgh gay-scene guide. The food is the real draw: imaginative, award-winning vegetarian and vegan dishes like crispy cauliflower bites, vegan fried chicken, and creative cocktails, alongside cutting-edge cabaret, live music, poetry nights, bingo, book clubs, and even an on-site record store and label, Paradise Vinyl. Fun, inclusive, and a magnet for students given its location, it's a genuinely different kind of night out in the city.