
Quick info
About The Cocktail Geeks
At Arch 14 near Edinburgh's train station, The Cocktail Geeks is a bar spread across two floors with a rotating themed cocktail menu, refreshed every four months, that has run through concepts like Studio Ghibli, the Witcher, and Fallout. Staff dress to match the current theme and explain the story behind each cocktail before serving it. The menu also includes a treasure quiz that unlocks additional drinks, alongside non-alcoholic options and snacks. The bar opens daily and takes walk-ins, though seating is not always guaranteed at busy times. The rotating format means the drinks list looks different every visit rather than staying fixed year-round.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention studio ghibli theme cocktails, journey's end d&d theme, drink backstory storytelling and non-alcoholic options.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention studio ghibli theme cocktails, journey's end d&d theme, drink backstory storytelling and non-alcoholic options.
Customer Review Summary
The Studio Ghibli theme draws the most mentions, with reviewers praising cocktails that are creative and also taste good, each introduced by a server who tells the backstory of the film behind it. Staff come across as funny, friendly and dressed to match the theme, and several compare the drink delivery to a performance. Close behind, diners who visited during the D&D theme single out the mead and the grog, and one notes a few guests turning up dressed as the fellowship. Also mentioned are the treasure quiz that unlocks more cocktails, eco twists on the drinks, a range of non-alcoholic options and a few snacks. One reviewer with only an hour wished for more time to work through the menu, and one suggests booking seats in advance. One table could not finish a cocktail topped with a tzatziki foam, and staff swapped it out without fuss.
Customer Review Summary
The Studio Ghibli theme draws the most mentions, with reviewers praising cocktails that are creative and also taste good, each introduced by a server who tells the backstory of the film behind it. Staff come across as funny, friendly and dressed to match the theme, and several compare the drink delivery to a performance. Close behind, diners who visited during the D&D theme single out the mead and the grog, and one notes a few guests turning up dressed as the fellowship. Also mentioned are the treasure quiz that unlocks more cocktails, eco twists on the drinks, a range of non-alcoholic options and a few snacks. One reviewer with only an hour wished for more time to work through the menu, and one suggests booking seats in advance. One table could not finish a cocktail topped with a tzatziki foam, and staff swapped it out without fuss.
Featured reviews
- Estefanía Gamarra Burga
“Delicious cocktails and fun experience! Staff was awesome and the whole environment is fun. Staff are very good storytellers and they engage you from the beginning to the end. As with many theme places that engage with a theme, I was prepared for the cocktails to be not as good, but I was pleasantly proven wrong. Cocktails were VERY delicious.”
- Adam Davies
“Such a great experience being self confessed geeks ourselves. The geeks drinks menu covered all palates and the treasure quiz to unlock more cocktails is a fun option. They do have other drink options as well. Staff deliver the drinks more like a performance than a mere explanation. A fun night out for anyone.”
- Erik Kohler
“Great immersion, love for details to make your inner nerd and cocktail lover happy. The staff is super friendly, dressed to match the theme and the cocktails are amazing. If you can’t decide they give good recommendations. We where there for the journey‘s end theme and all of sudden a few people turned up dressed as the fellowship (shoutout to Gimlis crochet beard). Gotta love that”
- Sarah Watton
“Unfortunately we only had an hour booking due to a tight schedule but we visited during the Journey's End theme and loved our time there. Our server (or DM!) was friendly, funny and did a great job setting the scene for each drink. I wish we'd had more time to try more of the menu but what we did try was inspired and delicious. We will definitely be back!”
- Dominic “Domino” D
“Happy to share that I just absolutely loved this place. Some of the finest cocktails I've ever had and the staff were friendly and hilarious. Two floor bar and themed cocktails located near Edinburgh's train station. We didn't have a booking, but were lucky enough to snag a nice seat upstairs. I would recommend booking seats in advance. The bar's theming rotates/switches every four months - and ranges from things like D&D to Jurassic Park and Fallout. The theme when I went was D&D "Journey's End" and I absolutely loved the mead and Grog. All of the staff were quite funny and friendly too. I will definitely come back next time I'm in Edinburgh and you should definitely visit too!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Independent cocktail bar with an ever rotating themed menu.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · Wheelchair-accessible seating · Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 3
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible toilet
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Location
Bars near The Cocktail Geeks
- The World's End4.55,8950.1 mi£20–30ReservationsGood for kidsWi-Fi
haggis fritters, steak and ale pie, fish and chips
- Royal Mile Tavern4.53,2010.1 miWheelchair accessible
bangers and mash, cullen skink, scotch egg
- The Mitre Bar4.42,2920.1 mi
fish and chips, local beers, burger
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cocktail Geeks | 4.82,343 | — | £30–60 | studio ghibli theme cocktails, journey's end d&d theme, drink backstory storytelling |
| The World's EndReservations · Good for kids · Wi-Fi | 4.55,895 | 0.1 mi | £20–30 | haggis fritters, steak and ale pie, fish and chips |
| Royal Mile TavernWheelchair accessible | 4.53,201 | 0.1 mi | — | bangers and mash, cullen skink, scotch egg |
| The Mitre Bar | 4.42,292 | 0.1 mi | — | fish and chips, local beers, burger |
The 3 nearest bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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