Elios Edinburgh
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Quick info
About Elios Edinburgh
Elios Edinburgh is a cocktail bar in Edinburgh at 38A George St, founded in 1978 as Madogs and still family-run, with ownership passed from father to son. It opens daily and runs until 3am, so it works as a late-night stop, with live music alongside the cocktails every day of the week. The drinks list includes a French martini. The room is small, with a dancefloor and tables laid out as hideaway spots. Security staff work the door.
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Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music, cocktails, french martini and late night dancing.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention live music, cocktails, french martini and late night dancing.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return most for the live music, which several describe as great and one calls slightly loud, with others pointing to the dancing and late nights. The French martini draws a specific mention, and reviewers also describe tasty cocktails, a decent drink selection and fair prices. Service gets repeated praise: one reviewer says staff rushed to close the roof shutters when rain started on the terrace, with cushions and blankets on the outdoor chairs, and another credits a long-haired, bearded bartender for his cocktail knowledge. The small room fills up at peak times, and one reviewer suggests reserving a seat beforehand. Two reviewers report door problems. One says staff refused to accept an e-visa as proof of age for an international student, and another says security turned away their autistic cousin as drunk after three drinks, which they call discrimination. Even so, the praise settles on the terrace and the late-night dancing.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers return most for the live music, which several describe as great and one calls slightly loud, with others pointing to the dancing and late nights. The French martini draws a specific mention, and reviewers also describe tasty cocktails, a decent drink selection and fair prices. Service gets repeated praise: one reviewer says staff rushed to close the roof shutters when rain started on the terrace, with cushions and blankets on the outdoor chairs, and another credits a long-haired, bearded bartender for his cocktail knowledge. The small room fills up at peak times, and one reviewer suggests reserving a seat beforehand. Two reviewers report door problems. One says staff refused to accept an e-visa as proof of age for an international student, and another says security turned away their autistic cousin as drunk after three drinks, which they call discrimination. Even so, the praise settles on the terrace and the late-night dancing.
Featured reviews
- Ollie Plank
“Jay was superb very fast service on his first terrace shift! Tasty drinks in the sun!”
- Rye
“The staff are not updated with information with your government. The uk government had stopped issuing the physical id (BRP) for international students. Every other bar knows that we use e-visa for age proof now. But the stuff here doesn’t know at all and was being so stubborn. Maybe stop doing the business if you can’t get yourself updated.”
- Robert Penman
“Live music was great. Decent selection of drinks and decent price.”
- Linda kelly
“We came here tonight for a drink as was told it was a great bar with music and they denied us access as they said my cousin was drunk. She's autistic. So clear discrimination. We will never return. How dare the security treat her like that. She had only had 3 drinks”
- Thong Pritchard
“Visited Elios late night dancing was a great time in Edinburgh!”
Hours
- Monday
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Good to know
“Founded in 1978 under the original name Madogs, our family-run menu was the birthplace of the city's cocktail culture. Over the decades, it has grown into a true Scottish institution- welcoming everyone from royalty to music legends, including Princess Anne and The Temptations. Now lovingly renamed Elio's, in honour of the man whose spirit lives on in every pour, the bar remains in the family- passed from father to son, continuing the legacy of warmth, character and unforgettable cocktails. Open until 3am seven days a week with Edinburgh's finest live music and cocktails.”
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible car park · Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Amenities
- Wheelchair-accessible car park
Show more amenities
- Accessibility· 1
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Location
Cocktail bars near Elios Edinburgh
- Never Really Here4.65190.2 mi
personalized custom cocktails, brass knocker entrance, pickle spritz
- Copper Blossom4.51,4420.2 mi£10–50
boozy brunch, creative cocktails, mocktails and NA options
- The Burrow4.9510.5 mi£20–30
creative cocktails, cocktail presentation, cozy decor
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elios Edinburgh | 4.3541 | — | — | live music, cocktails, french martini |
| Never Really Here | 4.6519 | 0.2 mi | — | personalized custom cocktails, brass knocker entrance, pickle spritz |
| Copper Blossom | 4.51,442 | 0.2 mi | £10–50 | boozy brunch, creative cocktails, mocktails and NA options |
| The Burrow | 4.951 | 0.5 mi | £20–30 | creative cocktails, cocktail presentation, cozy decor |
The 3 nearest cocktail bars by distance. Ratings, hours and review terms come from public business profiles.
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