Maxies Bistro and Wine Bar

The 2018/19 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £7.95 (+p&p).

With its spot on the terrace overlooking Victoria Street, Maxies will appeal to tourists and locals looking for a reasonably priced bite to eat while watching the crowds mill around the Old Town in summer. Inside it has a French bistro feel, with a huge open wine rack behind the bar, stone walls, wooden sideboards and candles in wine bottles. It’s possible to eat in a cosy little raised bar area, spotted with Moroccan-style cushions, or the more formal, and less atmospheric, dining room to the back. The extensive menu offers traditional pub food with a range of different influences, including enchiladas, stir-fries, pasta dishes and steak. Starters are along the lines of crispy coated mushrooms with a garlic mayonnaise dip or poached mussels in an unusual creamy garlic sauce. When it comes to mains, a prawn stir-fry lacks a bit of the pizazz of a more contemporary Thai curry, while a decent steak is enhanced by a rich port sauce and some roasted Mediterranean vegetables. Desserts of rich chocolate pudding and crispy fruit crumble finish off this hearty feast.