Platform 8

Platform 8 sits right on Academy Street in the heart of town, and it's the sort of place you'll find locals nursing a pint rather than tourists ticking boxes. The vibe is unpretentious—wood and brass, warm lighting, the kind of pub that feels like it's been doing this for years without needing to shout about it. You'll get a decent selection of Belhaven ales and other Scottish brews, plus food that goes beyond the obligatory fish and chips. It's the pub you'd actually want to come back to, not because it's trying too hard, but because it gets the basics right.