Review: The Cocktail Geeks, a cocktail bar in the city centre

To celebrate a birthday, we decided to book a table at The Cocktail Geeks on East Market Street.

The booking process itself was straightforward but also a bit of a gamble. The website asks how long you plan to stay and whether you’d prefer to sit upstairs or downstairs, but without showing you the venue, it’s hard to know the right answer. How fast is the service? What’s the difference between the floors?

As it turns out, the service is pleasingly quick, and the main difference between upstairs and downstairs is simply the decor and perhaps the volume. We arrived just in time for the opening of their ‘The Upside Down’ experience, a tribute to the Netflix series Stranger Things. This meant we were surrounded by fantastic, atmospheric art depicting villains and scenes from the show. It was impressively done, creating a distinct vibe without being overpowering.

The Upside Down Cocktails

The Cocktail Geeks is famous for its pop culture themes, completely redecorating the bar every few months. This time, the menu was a deep dive into the world of Stranger Things, with cocktails named “Master of Puppets”, “Surfer Boy”, and “The First Shadow”. It’s a wonderfully creative touch that commits fully to the theme.

Adding to the fun, the menu itself had a twist. Turn it upside down, and you’d find a riskier, more potent “Upside Down” version of each drink. Some cocktails were an outright gamble. I ordered one that required me to roll a D20 die to determine its spice level. I’m always up for that sort of interactive fun.

The absolute “slam dunk” reason for our visit, however, was the mocktail menu. My business partner and companion for the night, Birdy, doesn’t drink alcohol, and finding a cocktail bar with a thoughtful non-alcoholic selection can be a challenge. The Cocktail Geeks did not disappoint. They had a fantastic range, ensuring Birdy never felt like she was missing out. The bar staff happily passed me a few of the sweeter ones to finish, leading to an “accidental zebra striping of my night” with a colourful array of blue, red, and orange drinks.

Service in the Arches

Nestled in one of the arches under the Jeffrey Street bridge, the venue has a unique, cave-like feel that works perfectly for its immersive themes. The staff were fantastic and attentive throughout our visit. We never had to wait long after finishing a drink before we could order the next one. While they weren’t quite psychic-teleporter fast, they were pretty close.

The only potential drawback was the noise level when we first arrived. We were seated next to two tables of guests who had befriended each other and were having a very loud conversation across the room. It was atmospheric in a way, but it was “threatening to dominate the night”. Thankfully, this resolved itself after about half an hour when one couple had to leave to catch their train from the nearby station.

Things to do in the City Centre

The Cocktail Geeks is perfectly located on East Market Street, tucked away in the New Waverley arches development. It’s just a two-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley railway station, making it an ideal spot for a celebratory drink after arriving in the city.

The area is a hub of activity. You are moments from the Royal Mile, with its historic closes and tourist shops. A short walk will take you to major attractions like The Edinburgh Dungeons or the many museums on Chambers Street. For shopping, the St James Quarter and Princes Street are right on your doorstep. If you’re heading to a show, the Edinburgh Playhouse is only a 10-minute walk away.

For accommodation, you are spoiled for choice with numerous hotels available on sites like Expedia and Hotels.com nearby.

Overall

Would I go back to The Cocktail Geeks? Absolutely. It’s a perfect special occasion venue, but that special occasion might just be arriving safely home at Waverley. The ever-changing themes mean there’s always a reason to return, and the commitment to providing an excellent experience for drinkers and non-drinkers alike is commendable. It’s a must for Instagram fans looking for photographic memories of their time in Edinburgh. A trip to The Cocktail Geeks is a gloriously geeky gamble that pays off every time.