Kick Ass Bar

Walk down Candlemaker Row towards the Castle and you'll find Kick Ass doing exactly what it says on the tin—no flannel, no Instagram bait, just good eating and drinking. The vibe is refreshingly unpretentious; it's the sort of place where locals actually sit at the bar and chat to strangers, where the staff know their stuff without being snooty about it. You're after solid gastropub fare—think proper burgers, decent pies, the kind of grub that goes down brilliantly with a pint. It's got enough character to feel lived-in without trying too hard, and honestly, that's exactly what the Old Town needs more of.