The Capital’s finest pubs, bars and hospitality stars were celebrated on Monday, 22 September, at the Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball, where the winners of the 2025 Edinburgh Bar Awards were revealed in front of a packed house of 300 at The Biscuit Factory.
The awards, voted on by the public and Edinburgh’s bar community, recognised the very best of the Capital’s world-class drinks scene, across 11 categories from cocktail creativity to pub culture, rising talent, and the people making it all happen behind the stick.
Top cocktail bar, Panda & Sons, were the night’s big winner, scooping Best Bar sponsored by Schweppes and Best Bar Team sponsored by Monkey Shoulder. Leith-based Nauticus took home Best Pub, while Uno Mas was crowned Best Late Night Venue. Neighbourhood favourite, Old Pal, picked up the top prize in the Best Restaurant Bar category, with team member Freya Kemp named Rising Star.
The Legend Award, recognising outstanding contribution to Scotland’s hospitality scene, was presented to Siân Buchan by Backs! Hospitality.
Speaking about the winners, David Smillie, co-founder of Backs! Hospitality and organiser of the Edinburgh Bar Awards and Bartenders’ Ball, said:
“Last night was incredible, congratulations to all our winners, finalists and everyone who came out to celebrate the Capital’s licensed trade. From iconic venues to rising stars, the winners represent the best of the best, the people and places that make this scene truly world-class.”
The second Edinburgh Bartenders’ Ball brought together over 300 of the city’s hospitality community for a night of complimentary drinks, food, and entertainment, celebrating a city that continues to set the standard for hospitality on the global stage.
2025 Edinburgh Bar Awards Winners
Best Bar (sponsored by Schweppes)
Winner – Panda & Sons
Highly Commended – Hey Palu
Best Pub
Winner – Nauticus
Highly Commended – The Mother Superior
Best Restaurant Bar (sponsored by Liberty Wines)
Winner – Old Pal
Highly Commended – Little Capo
Best Bar Team (sponsored by Monkey Shoulder)
Winner – Panda & Sons
Highly Commended – The Cocktail Geeks
Best Late Night Venue (sponsored by Red Bull)
Winner – Uno Mas
Highly Commended – Nightcap
Unsung Hero (sponsored by Jubel)
Winner – Cam Chittleborough
Highly Commended – Sam Baxendale
Rising Star (sponsored by Bacardi)
Winner – Freya Kemp – Old Pal
Highly Commended – Emily Weston – The Cocktail Geeks
Best Shake (sponsored by Royal Mile Trade)
Winner – Logan Pope
Highly Commended – Saul Lavelle
Best Cocktail (sponsored by Marie Brizzard)
Winner – Yuzu Margarita – Hey Palu/Chancho
Highly Commended – Porridge Colada – Nauticus
Social Star (sponsored by Atomic10)
Winner – Ross Lawrie – Schweppes
Highly Commended – Groundskeeper Fanny (Murray Tait)
Far Side of the Bar (sponsored by Dunns)
Winner – Connie Macdonald – Port of Leith
Highly Commended – Kaitlin Wilkes – The Ada Coleman Project
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Legend
Winner – (sponsored by Backs! Hospitality) Siân Buchan
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