The women of Edinburgh are a blast to hang out with, but unless you know where to find them, you won’t be enjoying any Edinburgh hookups any time soon.
If you’re looking for a local lass who’s down for some casual sex, we can help. Whether you live in Leith, Grassmarket or even out in Balerno, we can recommend the best places to find hookups.
You don’t need to have a degree from the University of Edinburgh to understand that taking advice from experts will considerably boost your chances of getting laid. To get laid in Edinburgh, you need to know which apps you should be using as well as the best bars and clubs to visit. There’s no point in hanging out at The Meadows or the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh campus looking for hookups when we can point you in the right direction.
If your goal is to get laid, our list of the best Edinburgh hookup bars and apps can help. We always welcome suggestions, so if you’ve had success at a place that’s not on our list, let us know in the comments below.
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Our favorite spots to find Edinburgh hookups
Edinburgh is home to a lot of great pubs, but only the bars that result in the highest number of hookups have made our list. If casual sex is what you seek, these hookup apps, sites and bars will bring you the most success:
Why Not Nightclub has been an easy spot to find hookups in Edinburgh
@WhyNotNightclub
One of the more established nightclubs in Edinburgh, the Why Not Nightclub is a fun place to be on a Friday or Saturday night. Popular with locals and tourists, the crowd is mixed in age. So you can find a hot 20-something or a sexy cougar, depending on your preference. This is definitely one of the better options for finding casual sex partners nearby.
The drinks are reasonably priced and the DJ keeps the tunes pumping until 3 a.m. The dance floor is always full, making it easy to “accidentally” brush up against the lady you have your eye on. This is one of the best Edinburgh hookup bars, so if you’re looking for action on a Saturday night, this is a great place to be.
AFF: The best hookup app in Edinburgh right now (try it free)
If you’re tired of striking out on Tinder or in the local pubs, AFF may be the app you need to get lucky. We've tried out just about every single hookup app out there now and only Tinder and AFF are actually worth using. Now that Tinder is morphing into a general dating app AFF has become the best hookup app in Edinburgh, especially for single men.
So, guys, if you’re tired of being passed over on other sites, this is the Edinburgh hookup site for you. Women are more approachable on this app and won’t ignore you just because you don’t look like Gerard Butler. We’ve tried it and we know for sure that the ladies here don’t focus too much on photos.
From what we've seen, most guys are going to get their top results using AFF, especially if they're tired of wasting time and money.
AFF consistently makes an appearance on our annual list of the best hookup sites and apps. It has a lot of Edinburgh users, over 60 million total, and is the biggest app that is completely focused on hookups. If you haven't tried out their free trial below you need to. With more than half of all hookups starting online you're missing out if you don't.
The best Edinburgh pickup bars we've tried
Edinburgh has a wide variety of hookup bars and apps to choose from. But these have always brought us good luck:
Enjoy a cocktail and a cool Edinburgh conversation at Eastside
@EastsideEdin
If you enjoy cocktails, this is the bar for you. From its signature Eastside Apple to tropical drinks to wine and beer, this bar has a brew for everyone. Its daily happy hour, which runs from 5 to 7 p.m. is popular as is its ‘Sing, Sip & Scran.’ This karaoke package allows you to book a private room, which is free for parties of 10-plus.
Open until 3 a.m. throughout the week, it’s a great place to watch the game with friends or hit the dance floor on Friday or Saturday night. If you want to find your next hookups soon, drop by after 10 p.m. on the weekends. The crowd is always a mixture of ages, so you’ll have your choice of ladies from 20 and up.
Have a brew at The Three Sisters
@the3sisters
If you’re a beer lover who likes to watch the game with a crowd, this is the place to be. This lively pub doubles as a beer garden thanks to its large courtyard with massive screens for watching live sports.
Inside, you can enjoy nightly entertainment with the Pub Quiz or karaoke. If you’re in the mood for dancing, DJs are always spinning some tunes. Open until 3 a.m. Thursday through Sunday, the crowd here tends to be young and lively. Lots of hookups start here, so don't miss out!
Don’t miss happy hour at The Bow Bar
@bowbaredinburgh
If you enjoy a more relaxed vibe, then head on over to The Bow Bar. Located in the heart of the city’s historic district, this stylish pub has an extensive whisky and beer selection. Happy hour nights are the best times to hookup at this small pub. Held on Wednesdays and Fridays, the bar is always packed, making it easy to find a sexy single looking for a good time.
People enjoy music and fun at The Jazz Bar
@thejazzbar
If you enjoy live music and the company of ladies over the age of 30, this is the bar for you. Known as Edinburgh’s longest-standing, independent jazz venue, you can also catch some funk or blues tunes. There are multiple high-quality acts each day, so you can enjoy a variety of music well into the wee hours of the morning.
This laid back bar isn’t a place to party. Rather it’s about enjoying your favorite drinks while listening to some great music and meeting new people. If your goal is to go home with an older woman, this is a bar you’ll want to visit often.
The hookup apps in Edinburgh dating coaches prefer
A huge number of hookups start online now. You don't have spend all day on the apps but spending 10-20 minutes a week sending messages can really pay off. These are the best hookup apps in the city right now:
| Site | Our Experience | Our Rating | Free Trial Link |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Hookup Site Right Now  | Experience Highlights
| 9 | Try AFF For Free |
Great If You're Handsome  | Tinder Highlights
| 8 | Try Tinder |
2nd Best For Most Guys  | Experience Highlights
| 8 | Try Passion |
The best clubs for finding hookups in Edinburgh
They come to dance. They leave to spend the night with you. Single girls in Edinburgh love to spend their nights at the clubs. You will too.
Bourbon is a great place to find hookups in Edinburgh (Especially Saturdays)
@BourbonEdinburgh
You might not think of yourself as a nightclub type of bloke, but you know who does love them? The hens. Whether you have the moves of Baryshnikov or you’re as stiff as a board, don’t sleep on dance clubs. Meeting girls is a numbers game. The more girls who are around, the better the chance that you’ll walk away with a phone number or three. Your best odds are always going to be clubs. Specifically, Bourbon on Frederick Street.
This nightclub prides itself on its fun and eclectic dance parties. For instance, on Tuesday nights, the DJ blasts a mix of hip hop, RnB, house and disco music. It’s certainly one of the most entertaining ways to spend a Tuesday. Thursday and Friday nights are also reliably excellent evenings out. In fact, Fridays usually offer free entry, so that's a good option if you’re low on funds.
However, in our experience, Saturday nights are when you’ll have the best chance of meeting some girls. The club’s three rooms get absolutely rammed with ladies, the brilliant music selection acting as an intoxicant and aphrodisiac. We aren’t claiming to be great dancers. But we’ve never left a Saturday night at Bourbon without having made at least a few first contacts.
The Cabaret Voltaire - brings a vibey flare to Edinburgh
@thecabaretvoltaire
A night out in Edinburgh can get a bit repetitive, especially if you make no effort to branch out. If you’re trying to meet single girls, there’s nothing worse you can do than stick to a routine. Even if you’ve found a great club for getting phone numbers, in a few weeks it might be old news. One way to not fall into a social rut is to frequent nightspots that keep things fresh and exciting.
There are few clubs in Edinburgh that can claim to be as consistently fresh and exciting as the Cabaret Voltaire. Situated on Blair Street, Cabaret Voltaire is many things to many people. First and foremost, it’s one of the best EDM-based dance clubs in the region. They bring in an array of DJs who know how to keep the party going late into the night. As a result, the dance floor regularly fills up with some of the most tantalizing Edinburgh girls. It’s certainly a sight to behold.
But this spot isn’t content to just be one of Edinburgh’s best dance clubs. The establishment also includes a speakeasy-style bar alongside a barcade with classic video games. With so much variety, no night at Cabaret Voltaire is ever exactly the same. Except for in one way: you’ll always find it full of magnificent lassies.
Best places to meet sexy Edinburgh girls during the day
These are a few options to find some of the coolest and hottest hookups in Edinburgh during the day.
Love cocktails and whiskey? Try The Devil’s Advocate
@TheDAOldTown
This, without question, is one of the best establishments to go to find hookups in Edinburgh. This upscale bar, located in Edinburgh’s party district, is known for its wide selection of unique and delicious cocktails. It also offers 400 different varieties of whisky, an extensive wine list and craft beers.
A popular bar with the ladies, it gets very busy on the weekends. So unless you arrive early, you’ll be waiting in line. Even that has its advantages—because who knows who you might meet while waiting? It could be your next Edinburgh hookup.
There are a lot of options at at Fortitude Coffee
@fortitudecoffee
This small but welcoming specialty coffee bar has the best coffee in town and is popular with people of all ages. Also known for its loose leaf teas and decadent hot chocolates, Fortitude Coffee offers a selection of fresh sandwiches, homemade soup and delicious pastries and doughnuts.
The best thing about this coffee bar, other than its tasty food and beverages, is the fact that it’s so easy to meet new people. Because of the size of this coffee shop, customers don't mind sharing tables. So no need to feel awkward about asking to sit with that attractive lady who caught your eye.
Anytime Fitness is a great place to find girls in the morning
@anytimefitnessuk
While no one would mistake a gym for a nightclub, that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic social networking location. Few places in the city are more regularly filled with such a large mixed-gender crowd as your average gym. And within those crowds are some truly hot Edinburgh girls.
The Anytime Fitness in Canonmills is a top recommendation if you’re looking to meet fit girls. It is a large facility with tons of equipment for all levels of experience. And if you aren’t in great shape yourself, then all the better reason to show up regularly.
Other great spots to get laid in Edinburgh
One thing we know is that you can always use Tinder to get laid in Edinburgh, and almost anywhere. Just make sure to use your best photos.
Tinder a solid Edinburgh hookup app for people under 30
Tinder can be an effective way to find sex. But that's only if you’re under the age of 30 and look like a young Sean Connery. Because the main focus of this often shallow Edinburgh hookup app is appearance, it’s not the best choice for everyone.
There is a lot of competition on this app for attractive women. Most of the time only the hottest guys score hookups here. Women, however, don’t have to be supermodel material to get attention on this app. Any lady who’s attractive can find male company whenever she wants it.
Map of all of our hookup recommendations
We've included all of our top recommendations for finding a hookup in Edinburgh from above into the map below. This will help you properly plan which spots to try on any given night so you can try different options on the same night.
If you liked this check out these other great spots for hookups:
