Mcgonagalls — Live Music Venue in Edinburgh

McGonagall's Gin & Whisky Emporium is a live music venue with an extensive selection of gins and whiskies. Located on George IV Bridge, it’s just outside the city centre, a short drive from both the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle. The bar features an exclusive cocktail, Smoke on Waater, made with local botanicals. People come here for evening drinks or to catch weekend performances. It's popular with locals and tourists looking for a lively but welcoming place in central Edinburgh.

McGonagall's Gin & Whisky Emporium is a Category B Listed public house from 1909, built in Victorian style with wood beams and tartan decor. As one of the oldest surviving pubs in Edinburgh, it keeps original features despite its current use as a live music venue. Inside, you’ll find traditional Scottish pub elements, wooden ceilings, industrial lighting, combined with dim atmospheric glow that matches the energetic crowd. Noise levels stay high during events; people stand close together at tables or gather around shared bars during weekend nights.

McGonagall's hosts live music on weekends through a pay-what-you-can model, making it easy to drop in. The hero drink Smoke on Waater draws many visitors due to its unique botanical mix and limited availability. Locals use the venue for post-work drinks or casual meetups. Its wide selection of fine malts and gins, over 120 whiskies and 100 gins, is central to how people spend time, whether alone at a booth or with friends during an evening event.