Thistle Street is well-served with food and drink options, which makes stumbling across Thistle Street Bar even more of a pleasure. It feels completely untouched by fad and fashion, yet there are deft nods to what today’s drinkers value: an excellent gin selection, cask and draught beers (with plenty of low and no-alcohol cans and bottles), a short but decent wine list and warm, responsive service. But it’s their huge collection of whisky (and the team’s cheery knowledge of the amber nectar) that draws both locals and tourists in. Regular live traditional music is the cherry on the cake.