Bittersweet Leith is a cocktail bar in Leith, Edinburgh. Rated 4.9 stars from 216 Google reviews. Known for house-distilled cocktails and homemade italian food. Best for groups and date night. Price range: £20–30.
Rankings updated
Bittersweet Leith
Across 192 rated reviews, 98% gave four or five stars.
| Rating | 4.9★ |
| Reviews | 216 |
| 1-star share | 0.5% |
| Best for | Groups |
In Their Own Words
Review highlights surfaced by Google — shown in English, with the original beneath
“Cozy atmosphere, attentive service, tasty food and amazing drinks.”
“Delicious, small plates accompanied by fabulous cocktails.”
“What a great place, super friendly staff too!”
260 reviews across two platforms
Quick Verdict
Bittersweet Leith makes some of Edinburgh's best cocktails and pairs them with thoughtful Italian food in a genuinely welcoming room.
You want cocktails made from spirits distilled in the room and Italian small plates that match their precision.
About Bittersweet Leith
A night at Bittersweet Leith means proper Italian small plates and cocktails made with house-distilled spirits, in a tiny Henderson Street room where the care put into every drink is visible in the bottles lining the shelves. The kitchen runs on the same logic as the bar: homemade pasta with sauces that earn their own attention, montanara, burrata, and a tiramisu that rounds things off without fuss. The espresso martini and the negroni — stored in-house and balanced with nuanced bitters the team make themselves — are the drinks people keep coming back for, and the spritzes move fast too. Staff like Sam and Toby know the menu and the drinks list in equal measure, and walk-ins are made to feel as considered as regulars. Rare in Edinburgh to find a room this small running at this level without a trace of pretension.
Bittersweet Leith earns its romantic reputation through both atmosphere and a serious wines and cocktails — the kind of place where a dinner for two tends to extend well past dessert.
In the last 90 days, Bittersweet Leith has drawn 10 substantial written reviews (50+ characters of genuine feedback) — recent momentum that is one of the signals behind its place on the hot list.
What Stands Out
House-distilled cocktails
The team distils spirits on-site; reviewers consistently rank drinks like the espresso martini and negroni among the best in Edinburgh, with house-made ingredients that feel unique in each pour.
Homemade Italian food
The kitchen delivers montanara, homemade pasta with nuanced sauces, and zucchini fries with the same care as the drinks; reviewers note the thought and care evident in every plate.
Genuine hospitality
Staff are described as kind, personable, and welcoming; one regular notes the general feel of inclusion in the tiny establishment is exceptional, and walk-ins are welcomed despite a reservation-preferred policy.
Practical Information
Opening Hours
Contact
24 Henderson St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BS, United Kingdom
+44 131 531 1410Visit WebsiteView MenuInstagramFrequently Asked Questions about Bittersweet Leith
Bittersweet Leith in Leith, Edinburgh charges £20–30 per head and reviewers cite value for money compared to other places in the neighbourhood, especially given that every cocktail is made from house-distilled spirits and built with nuanced, house-made ingredients.
Bittersweet Leith welcomes dogs, and the space is cosy enough for a relaxed evening with a pet.
Bittersweet Leith in Leith, Edinburgh has full wheelchair accessibility: accessible entrance, parking lot, restroom, and seating throughout the space.
Bittersweet Leith is known for the espresso martini and the negroni, both made from house-distilled spirits; reviewers describe them as creative, perfectly balanced, and among the best in Edinburgh.
Bittersweet Leith in Leith, Edinburgh prefers reservations, but walk-ins are welcomed when space allows.
Bittersweet Leith serves Italian small plates including homemade pasta with nuanced sauces, montanara, zucchini fries, and burrata; reviewers consistently praise the homemade pasta and the care evident in every dish.
Also in Leith
View allSee the full Leith ranking
How We Rank Venues
Rankings are recalculated monthly from live Google Business Profile data. Our Hot Score weighs review velocity (new text reviews), baseline rating, and Google Business Profile completeness. No editorial picks, no paid placements — just what the data says this month.
Hot Score: 59/100 · ranked October 2026
The written profile on this page is generated from real Google reviews and reviewed monthly. Quotes are verbatim and belong to the people who wrote them — not to us.
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