Sloans

You'll do a double-take walking into this place on Argyle Street – the ornate Victorian interior feels more like a gentleman's club than your average boozer. Crystal chandeliers hang over mahogany bars while stained glass windows cast coloured light across leather banquettes. It's theatrical without being precious, the kind of spot where suited city workers knock back pints alongside students and tourists. The upstairs ballroom hosts everything from comedy nights to live music, but downstairs is where the real action happens. The beer selection runs deep, staff know their stuff, and the atmosphere shifts from civilised afternoon drinking to proper Friday night chaos. It's touristy, sure, but locals still pile in because sometimes you want your pint served with a side of Victorian drama.