The perfect night out

Lindsey Johnstone

I like to conduct my nights out within a ten minute radius of my flat, and not just because I’m lazy - Leith is unbeatable for a night out. I’d start with food at Los Cardos, Edinburgh’s best Mexican, on Leith Walk, then head to Nobles – its most beautiful bar – for live music. From there it’s a 30-second walk along Constitution Street to the joy that is the Port O’Leith for a blast of S-Express and a precarious but invigorating bartop dance. After that, I’d hit Storries all-night bakery for a fortifying pie, before killing time at the nearest friend’s flat till Priscilla’s opens at 5am for breakfast karaoke. The perfect night ends the following afternoon at The Brass Monkey for a cheeseboard and a movie on their projector.

Jonathan Trew

My ideal evening would be a couple of gin-based snifters in Bramble then a short toddle down to L’Escargot Bleu to try and tackle their Chateaubriand steak. If I was still capable of moving after that then I would be off to The Raconteur for an old fashioned nightcap. Bramble and The Raconteur are on the menu because I reckon they do the best cocktails in Edinburgh; a city which provides plenty of competition. L’Escargot Bleu is in there so I can pretend that I’m scoffing in a provincial French bistro when I’m actually a five minute walk from home.

Gabe Stewart

I bore easily, in both senses. A “do-eat-do” formula keeps boredom at bay. Ice skating or karaoke at Electric Circus are great “do” ice breakers. As for “eat”, I want buzzing, busy restaurants to match my mood, like Alba Flamenca, Empires on St Mary Street or La Tasca on Charlotte Square. Ideal “do-eat-do”s include a spooky Mary Kings Close tour, Hanam’s restaurant and shisha bar and Liquid Room if there’s still energy to burn; or the new Shack comedy club then Ghillie Dhu for sustaining food and ceilidh dancing till I’m dizzy, with a mellow malt or two at Mathers to finish.

Rory Ford

I’d begin at The Filmhouse with one of my favourite Xmas-themed movies, 2007 French horror movie À l’intérieur, a gory masterclass in tension in which Béatrice Dalle and a heavily pregnant Alysson Paradis spend Christmas Eve beating the living daylights out of each other. I’d then head across Lothian Road to Nando’s, taking a leaf out of Alan Partridge’s Nando’s Efficiency System, ignoring the waitresses’ traditional welcome of “have you eaten here before?” and heading straight to the counter to order. Nando’s negates the need for post-meal who-had-what queries and avoids the larcenous bill-padding certain other places like to put into practice over “the festive period”. Then on to The Traverse bar which is usually quiet at this time of year, no doubt due to their decision to programme a Lithuanian puppet show as their big family Christmas show, and proceed to drink heavily.

Monica Archibald

My perfect night out for Christmas would be heading into the city centre with all the girls, which is always exciting for me as I live out of town; having a lovely meal at The Living Room; moving on to lots of nice bars around George Street (I like Tigerlily. and Bar 99 is another recent favourite); most probably ending up rather tipsy with the amount of vino consumed, and most definitely not looking the way I did at the start of the night. It’s always entertaining catching the night bus home. I usually position myself next to someone with a takeaway - pinching their chips finishes the evening off perfectly.

Ian Tod

I am so boring and don’t go out much – I’m more likely to go for food than a night on the town. Wok and Wine on Fredrick Street is brilliant for Chinese, and the Sheep Heid for comfort food, which is especially welcome at this time of year. I like The Street at the top of Broughton Street for prosecco and peanuts, The Regent is great for a quiet drink and a catch-up, and if I do go for a dance it’s The Rat Pack. Sometimes I’ll go to Zizzi’s and the cinema at Ocean Terminal, but to be honest I’m most often found in front of the TV on the sofa with a takeaway from Silver Bowl on Leith Walk: my perfect night in.