Thistle Street Bar

You'll find yourself on Thistle Street, that lovely tree-lined stretch in the heart of the New Town, pushing through the door to discover a bar that gets it right. The crowd here is genuine—folk popping in after work, groups actually talking to each other rather than staring at phones, the occasional regular who's claimed the same stool for the last five years. The cocktails are seriously good without being pretentious about it, and the spirits selection runs deep if you're the type who cares about such things. It's the kind of place where the bartenders know what they're doing but won't make you feel small if you just want a pint.