
Subway cowgate
Quick info
About Subway cowgate
Subway Cowgate is a night club at 69 Cowgate in Edinburgh, with graffiti murals inspired by NYC subways on its walls. Monday is drag show night, called "Tracks", and it comes with an afterparty. A throwback night is one of the other themed nights on the calendar. The dancefloor has a DJ who takes requests, along with a smoke machine. A full-service bar runs cocktail specials and stocks a wide selection of VK flavours. Entry is walk-in. Door staff run a queue with ID checks and a bag search, and they enforce a dress code. The queue closes before closing time. A VIP area upstairs can be booked.
Good to know
“A full-service bar, cocktail specials, & DJs with graffiti murals inspired by NYC subways.”
- ReservationsWalk-in only
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention drag show nights, throwback night, VK flavors and VIP area upstairs.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention drag show nights, throwback night, VK flavors and VIP area upstairs.
Customer Review Summary
The complaints are mostly about the door and the floor. Two reviewers describe being refused entry, one over joggers, and both found the door staff dismissive and rude. One says a bouncer mistook them for someone else, answered "wrong person" and offered no real apology. Another reports a bartender throwing ice cubes at them for dancing on a booth, then signalling for them to be removed. One reviewer mentions a long queue, an ID check, a bag search and a smoke machine going off repeatedly, and another found tequila served without salt and lime a letdown.
Customer Review Summary
The complaints are mostly about the door and the floor. Two reviewers describe being refused entry, one over joggers, and both found the door staff dismissive and rude. One says a bouncer mistook them for someone else, answered "wrong person" and offered no real apology. Another reports a bartender throwing ice cubes at them for dancing on a booth, then signalling for them to be removed. One reviewer mentions a long queue, an ID check, a bag search and a smoke machine going off repeatedly, and another found tequila served without salt and lime a letdown.
Featured reviews
- Google user
“Absolute nightmare, queued up 45 minutes, got IDd by a bouncer, whats that about. Went to order the meatball marinara at the bar, got looked at like an absolute donut. Loud music and dancefloor, pure smoke machine going off every 5 mins. Got offered tequila rose shots, also searched my bag upon entry, worst Subway ever.”
- Google user
“I went to Subway with some friends on my first trip to Edinburgh and really enjoyed it! The atmosphere was great and everyone was super friendly. It had all the usual club vibes, packed on a Saturday night and really lively, but the drink prices were decent and entry wasn’t too expensive either. The bouncer on the door was especially nice. We were waiting for a friend to join us and instead of them getting turned away later, he explained that they wouldn’t make it in time as they were about to close the queue, which I really appreciated. The music was good most of the time, with some interesting remixes here and there, but overall it was really enjoyable. The DJ took some requests from us, which made the night even better. Overall, I’d recommend it for a fun night out!”
- Google user
“Best night club in old town located in cowgate area.”
- Google user
“We had a very disappointing and upsetting experience tonight. We travelled from Manchester to spend a special evening in Edinburgh as it was my partner’s birthday, and we were genuinely excited to enjoy the nightlife. Unfortunately, our experience at the door completely ruined the night. We were refused entry because I was wearing joggers that were clean, presentable, and similar to what many people wear on nights out. While venues are of course entitled to enforce dress codes, the issue was not the refusal itself but how it was handled. One of the bouncers, a Black male working on the door at the time, spoke to us in a manner that felt dismissive and disrespectful rather than professional. The interaction quickly became uncomfortable and left us feeling embarrassed and unwelcome, especially given that we were simply trying to celebrate a birthday. Visitors who travel to your venue for a special occasion expect clear communication and basic courtesy. Sadly, the attitude we experienced did not reflect that, and it completely spoiled what was meant to be a memorable night. We hope management reviews how customers are spoken to at the door, because first impressions matter. Based on this experience, we would not recommend visiting.”
- Google user
“I am writing to express my serious disappointment with my experience at Subway Cowgate. The way we were treated by the staff was completely unacceptable. We were refused entry without any clear explanation, and the attitude of the door staff was rude, dismissive, and unprofessional. Instead of handling the situation respectfully, they spoke to us in a way that felt hostile and disrespectful. Customer service and basic courtesy should be the minimum standard for any venue, and unfortunately this was far from that. Based on this experience, I would not recommend this club to anyone expecting professionalism or a welcoming atmosphere. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and addresses the behavior of their staff.”
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