Nightlife in Stirling

If you’re a whisky drinker, then Curly Coo Bar on Princes Street has to be your first port of call, with over 130 single malts to choose from. Beer, gin and vodka drinkers are also well catered for with a large selection of Scottish spirits and craft ales. A cosy, snug bar that opened in 2009, there’s not much in the way of entertainment – but when you’ve got some of the best whisky to work your way through, we don’t see that as much of a problem. Plus, it’s just a short walk from our Stirling City Centre hotel.

If it’s cocktails you’re after, Meraki on King Street delivers. From inspired creations like the Candy Floss Martini to classics like the Red Army, this cool cocktail joint bubbles away nicely at the weekend, while their chocolate fondue is a great way to start or finish the night.

Located on the bustling Baker Street, Nicky Tams is something of a Stirling institution. Dating back to 1718, it’s one of the oldest bars and pubs in the city and has one of the best drinks collections too, spanning single malts, locally brewed beers and large cocktail pitchers. The food is excellent, and they have plenty of live entertainment, including weekly live Scottish music, open mic nights, a pub quiz and DJs at the weekend. Just down the road, you’ll find No.2 Baker Street, a large Victorian-era pub and bar known for its haggis pies and impressive drinks range.

As the name suggests, the Kilted Kangaroo is a Scottish-Australian hybrid. The food is good and well priced, the atmosphere is always lively (notably during its weekly karaoke night) and the bar is stocked with Scottish and Australian classics.

Thanks to its medieval history, there are no shortage of vintage watering holes across Stirling. One of the oldest is the Portcullis Pub on the way up to Stirling Castle. Built in 1787, the pub is popular with locals and tourists who come for their locally brewed ale, an impressive collection of single malt whiskies and a warm welcome.

Just around the corner from there on St. Marys Wynd is The Settle Inn, another cosy and historic pub decked out with a roaring fire in winter, old stone walls and some lively Scottish music. More contemporary, but still with strong Scottish links, the City Walls is a modern pub that ticks most of the boxes, including good food, beers, wines, spirits and cocktails, with all the live sporting action and popular DJs at the weekend.

A Scottish chain of craft ale pubs that has spread across the UK, Brewdog Stirling on Baker Street is a beer drinker’s haven with 15 taps serving up real ales, craft beer and even some 12% monsters! They also do a range of bar food, including their impressive pizza range.

Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Dusk is Stirling’s largest nightclub, with the midweek nights proving popular with the student population. The drinks are generally cheap, and the music is a no-frills mix of dance music and hip hop/RnB, perfect for getting the sunken dance floor whirring into action. Located just off Baker Street, it’s a short walk from Brewdog Stirling and Nicky Tams, both of which would make for an ideal pre-club drinking spot.

A minute’s walk from there is Fubar, a stylish, slightly smaller club that attracts a more upmarket crowd, thanks to their mix of guest DJs spread over two floors, and drinks menu geared more towards bottles of wine and cocktails. Handily, our City Centre hotel is just a short five-minute walk from both clubs.