The Queens Arms

You'll find yourself squeezed into one of Edinburgh's busiest watering holes, where the after-work crowd from the surrounding George Street offices mingles with locals who've been drinking here for decades. The Queens Arms manages that rare trick of feeling both proper pubby and pleasantly modern, with a solid selection of craft beers on tap and food that goes well beyond your standard pub fare. The atmosphere gets properly buzzy come Friday evening, when half of New Town seems to pile through the doors. But even on quieter weekdays, there's a warmth to the place that makes you want to linger over another pint. The kitchen turns out genuinely good gastropub dishes that justify the slightly higher prices, and the staff actually know their way around the beer list.