Thyme Bar & Grill

You'd be forgiven for walking past—it's tucked inside the Premier Inn on Vaughan Street, just off the main drag. But that's precisely where locals have clocked it. The kitchen takes its job seriously, turning out the kind of food that makes you wonder why you ever assumed hotel bars were just for tired travellers grabbing a quick pint. There's real care in what lands on the plate, and the bar staff actually know what they're doing with a drink. It's the sort of place where you can pop in solo for a proper meal without feeling like a spare part, or book a table when you can't be bothered with anywhere too fussy.