The Black Cat

You'll find yourself on Rose Street—that boozy spine running through the New Town—and The Black Cat is exactly what you want it to be: unfussy, welcoming, and genuinely decent. The kind of place where you can nurse a pint without anyone making you feel rushed, where the bartenders know their regulars and there's actual character rather than Instagram polish. It's wood-panelled comfort rather than gastropub pretension, with enough whisky behind the bar to keep things interesting. Whether you're after a quick drink after work or settling in for the evening, it works.