Bar in Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Lucky Liquor Co
100Pearl PointsNo reservations needed, plenty of personality.
About Lucky Liquor Co
Lucky Liquor Co on Queen Street is Edinburgh's most accessible walk-in cocktail bar — no reservations needed, no ceremony, and a deliberately casual aesthetic that sets it apart from the city's polished speakeasy circuit. It's the right call when Bramble has a queue or you want a confident drink without the fuss. Not a wine bar, but a solid mid-tier cocktail stop in the New Town.
Quick Take: Worth a Visit on Queen Street
Lucky Liquor Co earns a visit for first-timers who want a no-fuss, personality-driven bar on Edinburgh's Queen Street without the reservation hassle or the premium pricing that comes with the city's more celebrated cocktail rooms. Walk-in friendly and easy to book, this is the kind of place you land in before dinner or after a long afternoon in the New Town — practical, approachable, and a solid alternative if Bramble has a queue.
The address — 39A Queen Street, puts you squarely in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town, within easy reach of the financial district and a short walk from the main shopping corridors. For a first visit, arrive early in the evening when the room is quieter and you can actually get a sense of the space and the menu. Later in the week, particularly Thursday through Saturday, expect a younger crowd and a louder room. The bar's visual identity leans into American dive-bar references, a deliberate aesthetic choice that reads immediately when you walk in, and one that sets it apart from the polished speakeasy feel at Panda & Sons or the wine-forward warmth of Aurora.
On the drinks side, the format skews toward well-executed classic cocktails and spirits-led serves rather than an extensive by-the-glass wine program. If you are specifically looking for wine bar depth, the kind of curated list where you can move through a half-dozen producers by the glass and get a real sense of a region, Lucky Liquor Co is not that. For that experience in Edinburgh, you are better served heading to Aurora or checking our full Edinburgh bars guide for dedicated wine venues. What Lucky Liquor Co does offer is accessible, confident cocktail making without the ceremony or the wait list that accompanies the city's top-tier cocktail destinations.
Booking is easy, walk-ins are generally fine, and the bar does not require advance reservations in the way that Edinburgh's more reservation-heavy spots do. That accessibility is genuinely part of the appeal. For first-timers exploring Edinburgh's drinking options, it sits comfortably in the mid-tier alongside 24 Royal Terrace Hotel, and offers a sharper point of view than a generic hotel bar. Check our Edinburgh restaurants guide if you want to pair the evening with dinner nearby, or browse our Edinburgh hotels guide if you are still sorting where to stay.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the crowd like at Lucky Liquor Co?
Expect a mixed but generally younger crowd drawn to the bar's relaxed, no-frills atmosphere on Queen Street. It pulls in after-work drinkers, locals, and visitors who want character without a dress code or booking requirement. It is not a scene bar, so you are unlikely to feel out of place at any reasonable hour.
Is the food good at Lucky Liquor Co?
Lucky Liquor Co is a drinks-first bar, so if food is central to your plan, build your evening around a meal elsewhere on Queen Street first. Treat this as your bar stop, not your dinner destination. For food alongside cocktails in Edinburgh's New Town, Cafe St Honore nearby is a stronger choice.
Does Lucky Liquor Co have happy hour deals?
Specific happy hour details are not confirmed in current records, so check directly before planning around a deal. What the bar does reliably offer is a walk-in format that suits impromptu visits, which is its own kind of flexibility compared to booking-heavy alternatives like Panda & Sons.
Does Lucky Liquor Co have outdoor seating?
Outdoor seating is not confirmed for 39A Queen Street, and Edinburgh's climate makes pavement seating a variable proposition year-round. If outdoor space matters to your visit, verify before going rather than assuming it is available.
Is Lucky Liquor Co good for a date?
Yes, with the right expectations. The bar's personality and lack of reservation stress make it a low-pressure first or second date option in Edinburgh's New Town. It works better for drinks than a full evening, so pair it with dinner nearby — Ecco Vino on Cockburn Street is a practical complement if you want wine and food to follow.
Is Lucky Liquor Co good for groups?
Small groups of three to five should be fine on a quieter evening, but larger parties should arrive early or risk a squeeze. For groups wanting a more structured setup with private space options, Bramble or Panda & Sons are better-equipped alternatives in Edinburgh. Lucky Liquor Co suits spontaneous group drinks more than a planned celebration.
Location
39A Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 3NH, United Kingdom
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Compare Lucky Liquor Co
| Venue | Awards | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Lucky Liquor Co | Easy | |
| Bramble | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
| Panda & Sons | World's 50 Best | Unknown |
| Cafe St Honore | Unknown | |
| Ecco Vino | Unknown | |
| Good Brothers | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Also Consider
- Bramble, Notable alternative
- Panda & Sons, Notable alternative
- Cafe St Honore, Notable alternative
- Ecco Vino, Notable alternative
- Good Brothers, Notable alternative
Bramble is the obvious first comparison, and the honest answer is that Bramble has the edge on cocktail craft and atmosphere, it is consistently cited as one of the UK's better basement bars, and the drinks program shows it. Lucky Liquor Co is easier to get into and less precious about the experience, which makes it a stronger pick if you are looking for a low-commitment drink rather than a destination evening. If you want the best cocktail in Edinburgh, book Bramble. If you just want a good one without the wait, Lucky Liquor Co works.
Panda & Sons occupies a different tier entirely, the speakeasy format and more elaborate menu make it a better choice for occasions where the venue itself is part of the event. For wine specifically, neither Lucky Liquor Co nor Panda & Sons is the right answer: Aurora and venues like those listed in our Edinburgh bars guide offer more depth by the glass. Cafe St Honore and Good Brothers cover different ground, the former is a full restaurant with a wine-forward list, the latter more of a neighbourhood bottle shop and bar hybrid, so the comparison only really holds if cocktails are your primary interest.
For travellers benchmarking Edinburgh against other cities: Lucky Liquor Co sits a level below destination cocktail bars like 69 Colebrooke Row in London or Bar Leather Apron in Honolulu, but that is not the point, it is priced and pitched accordingly, and the walk-in accessibility makes it a practical first-night option when you are still getting your bearings in the New Town.
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