The Hangover Part III

Who is genuinely a morning person? No one. This fact is augmented when you wake up with a killer hangover – or worse, still drunk. Instead of staying in bed and weeping, force yourself out of bed to enjoy a cheap cultural tour of the city’s best places to relax and repent.

First stop is Beetlejuice on West Nicholson Street. This little juice bar also offers tempting, stodgy breakfasts like buttery bacon bagels (a steal at £1.50) but it’s the ‘Crack O’ Dawn’ smoothie that you require. Blueberries, bananas, yoghurt and muesli goodness are whizzed up with milk, and the concoction is strong enough to neutralize all the Jägerbombs and late-night pakora. Filled with students at lunchtime, in the morning Beetlejuice is a chilled-out affair where you can sip your liquid painkiller perched in the window and indulge in a spot of people-watching.

But if the idea of blended apple, celery and spinach is enough to have you running for your bed – resist! Another morning-after favourite is Snax on Buccleuch Street, where slightly less virtuous medicine can be found: a good old cheese toastie. For just a little over a pound, Snax offers deep-fried comfort, a decent CD on the sound system and free copies of the Saturday Guardian to help you replenish some lost brain cells. By 11am it’s packed with other students staggering in to seek solace in a cuppa.

It's difficult not to spend all day in Snax, but in order to enjoy the full effect of the Hangover Crawl, go to Jazz Bar on Chambers Street. Famous for its late-night, often high-energy gigs, this live venue should be given just as much credit for its brilliantly soothing Saturday afternoon chill-out sessions. With the time approaching 3, the energy from the toastie diminishes rapidly, so replenish yourself with the walking basslines of the Mellotones. Jimmy Taylor’s brilliant, grandfatherly voice, alongside piano and hypnotic drums, provide one of the best cultural hangover cures available in Edinburgh – no talking, just easy listening, comfy sofas and strong coffee. Within seconds of entering your mood will rise, and everyone looks a damn sight better thanks to Jazz Bar’s dim, red lighting. This is the place if you are searching for a hideaway to curl up in, and for free entry you can’t get better.

Will you learn your lesson and not drink again? No. Will you feel better after a day of good food, good drinks and good music? Yes.