Hope you're thirsty 'cos Edinburgh's bar scene is full to
the brim.
Yonks ago, we mentioned that The High Dive was taking shape on St Leonard's Street in Edinburgh.
We'll let them describe themselves. Apparently, they are a 'neighbourhood bar with a Civerinos Slice through the back'. The decor is 'Queen Vic on acid in a trailer park' and it is all 'centred around sharing with your ride or dies until late as f***, in a pub... with bangin' tunes'.
Well... quite.
There are nine pizza on offer and they are all nine inchers, under a tenner and made with San Marzano tomatoes, 100% mozzarella and double zero flour. The pic above is from the bar's Facebook.
We'd go for the #25 which comes with sugo, Brussel sprouts, pancetta, thyme, rocket and Fontina cheese.
Beers, wines and cocktail slushies are among the liquid attractions. For those who like to supersize their drinks, the High Slice sells litre jugs of Fosters at £7 and magnums of wine which start at £40 for Prosecco.
The Fat Badger
Down the other end of town, The Fat Badger is a new Irish bar on Bernard Street.
Opened at the beginning of March, it offers sports, live music and, one imagines, a fair dollop of craic.
The previous occupant of the premises - Miss Woo's - has moved upstairs and is serving her spicy wings, pad Thai and cocktails above The Fat Badger.
Miss Woo's can be booked on 5pm. We're heading down for the 2-4-1 offer on wings.
Dirty Fries from Miss Woo's. Pic: Facebook
Scooting back into the city centre, Villager on George IV Bridge recently had a facelift along with a revamp of its drinks menu and food.
We're down for the Malaysian-style chickpea curry made with coconut milk and served with sides of roti bread, pickle and chutney.
Cafe Royal revamp
Villager has been a stalwart of Edinburgh's bar scene since 2003 but it is a relative newcomer when compared with The Cafe Royal on West Register Street.
Opened in 1863, the bar and restaurant's opulent interiors have long been a draw whether popping in to the bar for a pint of Deuchars or treating yourself to oysters in the restaurant.
Both spaces have just been given a sympathetic refurb and we're looking forward to sticking our head around the door and seeing how the old girl has shaped up.