Mac Rating: 5.00 | Votes: 1 | Date: 20/06/2026 18:27:00

Beneath the landmark Dome bar and grill on George Street, Why Not is a long-established nightclub in the heart of Edinburgh's New Town. The club was the first nightclub on George Street and has positioned itself as one of the capital's leading late-night venues since the 1990s, occupying a basement setting below the street. Inside, the venue is built around a large central dancefloor overlooked by private booths, with five cocktail bars spread across the space. Among its more unusual features are a heated outdoor courtyard, billed as one of the largest late-night gardens in the city, and what it describes as Scotland's only full LED lighting room. It typically opens on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights, running from around half past ten in the evening until three in the morning. The club has built a strong following among students and a wider going-out crowd, and has collected a number of awards recognising it as one of Scotland's top nightclubs. Its New Town location, close to Princes Street and a short walk from Waverley station, makes it easy to reach and places it among the cluster of bars and clubs around George Street. With a capacity in the hundreds and an emphasis on sound, lighting and the outdoor courtyard, Why Not remains a fixture of central Edinburgh's nightlife. The building above, The Dome, occupies a grand former bank on George Street and is one of Edinburgh's best-known bars and restaurants, lending the club beneath it a prestigious New Town address. George Street has become a hub of upmarket bars and clubs, and Why Not's mix of several cocktail bars, a heated courtyard and a heavily produced main room has helped it stand out among them, with a weekend-focused opening pattern and strong student following keeping it a regular fixture on nights out.