The Argyle and Cellar Bar

Thanks to its proximity to Edinburgh University, Marchmont has had to adapt over the years to an avalanche of students moving into the area. Because of this, it has developed a sort of split personality. One street touts artisan pottery workshops and pastel cashmere, the next offers students the most effective hangover breakfast this side of the Royal Mile.

This phenomenon seems to have trickled into individual businesses too, and is certainly the case with The Argyle and Cellar Bar. A firm favourite in the area, this place has been carefully designed to suit both the student population and more mature punters too. The Argyle upstairs is a cosy little corner pub, stuffed with the usual pub furniture; all squishy chairs and glowy candles leaking wax onto mismatched tables. There's a decent selection of beer and cask ales and the food is a cut above usual pub grub standards. Order one of their generous burgers and you can expect enough change to buy another pint.

And, with the Cellar Bar waiting faithfully downstairs, students can enjoy their drinks safe in the knowledge that if the evening descends into tequila-ville, there's a tipsy little basement haven into which they can head. Better still, the cellar bar can be hired out for private functions and there's also a regular smattering of gig and quiz nights to keep the punters regular and the atmosphere buzzing.

It's probably fair to say that Marchmont is famed more for its kitsch boutiques and dinky wee delis than its licensed premises, but The Argyle certainly compensates for the comparative dearth of drinkeries in the area.