text: Bar Alba is undoubtedly one of the most attractive looking bars in the Grassmarket Its sleek striking aesthetic is a step away from the traditional broody look of the other boozers in this area It steers away from the cosy tavern appeal opting for flashy style insteadnnIt certainly looks gorgeous and very upmarket but I am unsure of exactly what atmosphere it exudes We might have just been there on a quiet night but there were not that many people in the bar which was a bit awkward I liked the low lighting and it looked very swanky but I felt sorry for the barmaid who must have been getting really bored without people to servennIts pricier than some pubs in Edinburgh but due to its location I am hardly surprised It is got the old town tax but my friend who is from near Edinburgh thought it was reasonable for booze so I cannot complain They had a lot of high end whiskys including Highland Park which I would recommend nnBar Alba is nice but it did not feel very alive despite the fact it was the middle of the Fringe There was something quite eerie about drinking in a deserted bar so although the staff were very polite and the bar was lush I cannot award any more stars I would be willing to give it a second shot since it is a nice place to drink but preferably on a night with more of a buzz