The Guildford Arms

The 2013 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2013) edition.

A classic Edinburgh pub whose grand, high-ceilinged interior dates all the way back to 1896, the Guildford Arms sits on the corner of a hidden-away block sporting some of the most beautiful bars in the city. While its charms are of the old-fashioned variety, so are most of its main features. The interior is careworn and the food menu is presented in its best light when focussing on the range of traditional pub grub classics like battered haddock and chips or a thin-crust steak and ale pie. Thai-style crab cakes and a fillet of salmon in red pesto are among the more exotic choices. A balcony dining area called the Gallery offers a more intimate, secluded dining experience, which can be appealing when the main bar area gets too packed.

• High point: A handsome and strikingly classic interior
• Low point: Food choices are expensive and a little dated