Books & Brews: A "secret" bar and some expert readers' advisory

One of our traveling companions had heard about an Edinburgh bar with a variety of unique drinks. Our last night together, we set out to visit Panda & Sons (a bar disguised as a barber shop, complete with a secret door). Joyfully, Ryan had joined our merry band by this point.

Group shot in front of the Panda & Sons inside door. I totally want one for my house!

As a librarian, I also loved Panda & Sons' book-themed menus (with chapters detailing different "genres" of cocktails. Hee-hee.)

Presenting The Birdcage.

Meghan was the most adventurous, choosing the legendary Birdcage for her first drink and the Tiki Takeaway for her second. I had a slightly more traditional version of a margarita, an Amor Joven, which was rimmed with smoked paprika, followed by a Raisin the Stakes.

With our second round of cocktails (and a boring beer for Ryan).

Perusing the menu "chapters". 

In other (book) shop talk, I'm coming home with three recommendations for British crime series thanks to our tour driver Lindsay (a retired Glaswegian police officer).

• DCI Lorimer series by Alex Gray (set in Glasgow) 
• Bob Skinner series by Quintin Jardine (set in Edinburgh) 
• Roy Grace series by Peter James (set in Sussex, England)