Why George Street is one of Edinburgh’s best areas
Named in honour of King George III in the 1700s and built around 200 years after the iconic tenement buildings of the city’s Old Town, George Street sits at the centre of Edinburgh’s New Town. It links some of the city’s most popular shopping, restaurants and bars within a few walkable streets.
While the Royal Mile draws much of the attention from first-time visitors, many locals and returning guests gravitate towards George Street for a different side of the city, one that feels a little calmer, easier to explore and more connected to everyday Edinburgh life.
Mornings here are quieter, with cafés and shops beginning to open across the New Town (many of the shops on George Street don’t open until late morning, around 10am.) Meanwhile, evenings provide a mix of cocktail bars, restaurants and late-night spots that stay busy well into the weekend.
During the summer festivals and Christmas season, the area takes on an entirely different personality, becoming one of the city centre’s main social hubs (more on that later!)
For guests staying at The Bonham, George Street is around a 15-minute walk from the hotel, close enough to reach easily on foot, while still offering a quieter base away from the busiest parts of the city centre.
Is George Street in Edinburgh a good place for shopping and nightlife?
For as long as we can remember, George Street has been one of Edinburgh’s main shopping and nightlife areas (though it feels noticeably different from nearby Princes Street.) As part of the New Town area, the layout gives the street a more open feel, with wider throughfares, Georgian architecture and a mix of independent businesses alongside well-known UK and international brands.
Shopping on George Street
Shopping around George Street tends to feel more curated than much of Edinburgh city centre. Along the street itself, you’ll find a mix of fashion, jewellery and beauty brands, including Anthropologie, Space NK, Jo Malone London, Russell & Bromley and Jigsaw, alongside smaller boutiques and independent retailers tucked onto the surrounding side streets.
A few independent spots worth seeking out nearby include:
- Strathberry, one of Edinburgh’s best-known luxury accessories brands, popular for handbags and leather goods with a distinctly Scottish identity.
- The Scottish Design Exchange, a large space sitting at the eastern end of George Street, showcasing work from independent Scottish artists, designers and makers rather than typical souvenir-led retail.
- Recreation Jewels has a ‘charming’ story. Started in 2023 by university student Ranee, she brought a new concept to Edinburgh’s jewellery scene by operating a “Charm Bar” custom charm jewellery shop.
For visitors spending a full day in the area, it’s also easy to move between different parts of the New Town on foot. The (once main) shopping road of Princes Street is more geared towards tourist shops, coffee shops and new restaurants.
It has been abandoned by most of the main high street retailers in favour of the new St. James Quarter – found at the end eastern end of George Street after the luxurious Maltrees Walk Shopping Arcade.
George Street Edinburgh Nightlife
George Street’s nightlife tends to divide opinion in Edinburgh, which is partly why it works so well for visitors. Some locals avoid it entirely in favour of the Old Town or Leith, while others like the fact that everything is close together, easy to navigate and generally feels more polished than many of the city’s late-night areas.
It’s not about one single scene; within a few streets, you can move between cocktail bars, traditional pubs, late-night clubs and quieter ‘dens’ that feel far more local than the main city centre venues. For tourists and travellers alike, one of George Street’s perks is that you can move easily between its main street, neighbouring Rose Street and the surrounding lanes without needing taxis or long walks across the city. For solo travellers wanting to head out in the evening, the wide streets and bright feel also provide a reassuring element of safety.
For Cocktails and Weekend Atmosphere
The Alchemist
The Alchemist has two venues in Edinburgh, one on George Street and one in the St James Quarter. While St James has a modern feel, the New Town venue is styled around its Georgian surroundings, offering a more ‘authentic’ Edinburgh feel. Known for theatrical cocktails a diverse all-day dining menu, and a louder weekend atmosphere, they’re one of the busier George Street venues on Friday and Saturday evenings. Expect groups, celebrations and a younger crowd, particularly later in the evening.
Copper Blossom
With its heavily decorated, leafy aesthetic, Copper Blossom appeals to an ‘Instagram crowd’ and, like The Alchemist, is popular for special occasions, birthdays, and brunch. You can expect to run into Edinburgh locals here, especially those working or shopping in Edinburgh’s New Town.
Le Monde
Part hotel, part late-night bar, Le Monde has been part of George Street’s nightlife scene for years. It generally appeals to visitors staying in the New Town, after-work groups and people looking for somewhere lively without committing to a nightclub.
For a More Local Feel
Le Petit Raisin
Le Petit Raisin was founded on a love of all things French (which explains ‘The Little Grape.’) A newer addition to Edinburgh’s New Town, it opened under the enthusiastic eye of Catherine Lawrie, who already owns Du Vin Bouchers in Linlithgow. A warm presence in the bar, Catherine works closely with micro-local suppliers and loves to pick up a conversation with her patrons.
The Oxford Bar
A short walk from George Street, The Oxford Bar is one of Edinburgh’s classic pubs, known for its traditional interiors and long-standing local crowd. It is not somewhere people come for loud music or cocktails, but that is largely the appeal.
Thistle Street Bar
Thistle Street Bar sits somewhere between a neighbourhood pub and a wine bar, attracting a mix of locals, professionals and visitors staying nearby. The surrounding streets around Thistle Street and Young Street generally feel quieter and more relaxed than the centre of George Street itself. But don’t be fooled, on a rugby or football game day, this venue attracts a passionate crowd.
For Traditional Edinburgh Pubs
Rose Street
Many locals still prefer Rose Street for casual drinks over George Street itself. Running parallel to George Street, the narrow lane is lined with smaller pubs that become especially busy during rugby weekends, the Fringe and December evenings.
Places including Dirty Dick’s and The Auld Hundred are popular for visitors wanting a more traditional Edinburgh pub atmosphere without heading into the Old Town.
For Late-Night Venues and Edinburgh Nightclubs
Why Not
Why Not remains one of the better-known late-night venues in the New Town, attracting a younger crowd and becoming busiest after midnight on weekends.
Shanghai
Located in the basement under Le Monde, Shanghai has been part of Edinburgh’s city centre nightlife scene for decades and tend to appeal to visitors looking for straightforward late-night club close to George Street’s hotels and the New Town. It primarily targets young professionals, university students, and visitors looking for a premium nightlife experience, featuring R&B, Hip Hop, and house music.
Westside Rodeo
Attracting a lively, fun-seeking crowd, particularly targeting country music fans looking for a high-energy “hoedown” experience, Westside Rodeo appeals to young adults and tourists, offering a “Wild West” atmosphere with live country music, line dancing, and themed cocktails. On most weekend nights, you’ll find live guitar performances.
What Events and Festivals Take Place on George Street?
George Street changes considerably throughout the year, particularly during Edinburgh’s major festival seasons. The city’s council are now in discussions around the pedestrianisation of the full road, in a £35m project due to begin in 2027. You can find a summary in this BBC article.
While much of the city’s attention (especially for tourists) focuses on the Royal Mile and the Old Town, George Street often becomes a base for shopping, dining and evening events during the busiest periods.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Summer Festivals
In the past, Edinburgh fringe activities would have sat predominantly in the Old Town and the south of the city around George Square, Bristo Square, and The Meadows. However, at the city continues to reduce traffic in the New Town, George Street feels like it’s becoming more of a secondary Fringe point in August.
Restaurants and bars extend outdoor seating where possible, pop-up activations appear throughout the New Town and many venues run later opening hours across the festival period. The atmosphere is noticeably busier than usual, and (each year) more of the shops and old buildings here sign up to host as a registered Fringe venue.
In 2025, part of George Street was entirely blocked off to traffic and pedestrianised, allowing for pop up bar seating to spread the full width of the road.
Christmas and Hogmanay
In December, George Street becomes one of the city centre’s busiest social areas. Christmas lights stretch across the New Town streets, bars and restaurants become noticeably busier with festive bookings, and nearby seasonal attractions around St Andrew Square and Princes Street Gardens draw large numbers of visitors into the area.
In 2025, George Street welcomed back its outdoor ice rink and themed Polar Ice Bar, alongside smaller festive stands serving up mulled wines and snack at the Local Motive market.
Many visitors choose to stay near George Street during this period because it offers easier access to the larger Edinburgh Christmas market on Princes Street, alongside the famous Hogmanay celebrations (without being directly inside the busiest event spaces.)
Where to eat and drink near George Street
One of the advantages of staying near George Street is how varied the dining scene feels within a relatively small area. Within a few streets, you can move between long-established, Edinburgh restaurants, wine bars, cocktail spots and smaller independent cafés without needing to plan an entire evening around one location.
Rather than concentrating everything on George Street itself, many of the places regularly recommended by locals sit just off the main street, particularly around Thistle Street, Young Street and the surrounding New Town lanes.
A few places worth knowing about include:
- The Bonham, around a 15-minute walk from George Street, offering a calmer dining setting in a leafy part of the city’s New Town. Once a row of townhouses, many of the period details have been polished and repaired, allowing you to step back in time to opulent Old Edinburgh.
The Bonham is particularly popular for more luxurious coffee catchups, evening dining and cocktails after a day exploring the New Town. In addition, the 3-course Boozy Snoozy Lunch has become one of the city’s most celebrated ways to brunch – running from Friday to Sunday and featuring European-inspired dishes paired with a ½ bottle of wine per person. - Set in a refurbished former Bank of Scotland, The Spence makes up part of the Gleneagles Townhouse. Expect traditional Scottish ingredients, and lookout for their lavish Brunch Club dates.
- Cafe St Honoré, a long-standing Edinburgh favourite tucked down a New Town lane, known for classic French cooking and a noticeably more relaxed atmosphere than many city centre restaurants.
- Contini George Street, a reliable option for Italian dishes, brunch and pre-theatre dinners in the centre of the New Town.
Compared with parts of the Old Town, dining around George Street generally feels slightly less tourist-led, particularly once you move a street or two away from the main road itself. You’ll find that the locals gravitate here mere often, opting to distance themselves from the busy Royal Mile and surrounding area.
Can you recommend hotels near George Street in Edinburgh?
The New Town is one of the most convenient areas to stay in Edinburgh if you want to explore the city largely on foot. The tram route runs right past it via Princes Street, and a strong majority of the city’s buses pass through here too.
From here, it’s easy to reach the Old Town, Dean Village, Princes Street, Stockbridge and many of Edinburgh’s main festival venues without relying heavily on transport.
The atmosphere does change quite noticeably depending on where you stay, though. Hotels directly on George Street place you in the centre of the restaurants, bars and nightlife, while properties slightly further west towards the West End tend to feel quieter in the evenings.
Well-located options near George Street include:
- The Bonham, located in Edinburgh’s West End, an easy, flat walk from George Street (Edinburgh has a lot of hills!) The setting on Drumsheugh Gardens feels noticeably calmer than staying directly in the city’s central streets, while still offering easy access to the key visitor locations (mentioned above) on foot. Guests often choose the hotel for its sophisticated location, Georgian architecture and more residential feel compared with busier parts of central Edinburgh.
The elegant lounge area is a popular Edinburgh Afternoon Tea stop for both locals and tourists alike, while the hotel’s extensive private art collection feature heavily in public spaces. It is accessible to non-residents, attracting art-lovers and curious visitors to view the items while dining or enjoying drinks. - The RÌGH Residences are a great George Street option for those looking for luxury serviced apartments and a more independent stay. Their kitchenettes include a fridge, dishwasher, hob, and microwave, and some of their rooms benefit from additional luxuries such as heated bathroom floors.
- The Hub by Premier Inn Edinburgh City Centre sits on Rose Street, a pedestrianised street that slips between the larger Princes Street and George Street. Offering modern pod accommodation, its ideal for budget-conscious solo travellers or short layovers.
