One of a handful of basement watering holes on St Stephen Street, this labyrinthine bar (named after the Walter Scott novel of the same name) is among the best boozers in the New Town. Drinks include a regularly changing guest ale alongside well-known draughts (Deuchars, Belhaven etc) and a decent selection of malt whiskies; The ‘Tic (as it’s known locally) was also the first pub in Edinburgh to serve absinthe when it became legal once again. The atmospheric bar is popular with students, well-heeled Stockbridge locals and football fans: one bar has big TV screens, another is used for weekly quizzes and there are lots of nooks and crannies for those intent on a chinwag. The comfort food takes in the likes of fish pie, venison casserole and macaroni cheese, plus a famous hangover-busting breakfast fry-up – a Sunday morning ritual hereabouts.