Bar 50

The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.

Set inside a shiny modern hostel and marketing itself squarely at its backpacker residents and the students from the halls next door, Bar 50 is the kind of place it’s easy to walk past. While not exactly a hidden gem, its location and focus on cheap, cheerful, substantial plates in a pleasant atmosphere mean it’s worth a look. They aim to fill tummies for a reasonable price – so substantial burgers, pasta, pizza and hot sandwiches are available, as well as a buffet breakfast. Beers and cocktails are the drinks highlights. But there’s something very likeable about a place where you can eat and drink for well under a tenner, play some pool and have a bit of banter with the extraordinarily friendly bar staff. Because the hostel often hosts youth groups, it’s cool for kids too – something to keep in mind if you’re trailing hungry weans round the castle and have to eat, fast. Bar 50 is the opposite of fancy, but if genuine, upbeat and relaxed floats your boat, it’s worth seeking out.

• High point: Friendly, buzzy, international atmosphere
• Low point: Trying to find it