Tiles Bar

You're walking past the Georgian facades of St Andrew Square when you spot the tiled frontage that gives this place its name. Step inside and you've got all the trappings of a proper Edinburgh pub—dark wood, high ceilings, that particular smell of old carpets and possibility—but Tiles has clearly put thought into what it stocks and who's behind the bar. The cocktails are genuinely crafted rather than formulaic, the ale selection rotates with proper care, and there's none of that forced 'Instagram-friendly' nonsense that's infected some of the New Town lately. It's the kind of place where you'll overhear actual conversations about brewing rather than pre-drinks banter.