The Street

This review appears in the The List's Eating & Drinking Guide 2008 – in the shops now or buy online.

At the corner of Picardy Place, right on the apex of Edinburgh's 'pink triangle' is the Street, a sociable, gay-friendly bar that also serves up tasty grub. It's shaped like a fishbowl, the wide glass walls and tall stools allowing guests to see and be seen, which makes for some great talking points. The Street offers a variety of mains and a snack menu called 'side Streets'. The latter are fresh and tasty dishes, thoughtfully arranged on square plates. The smoked haddock chowder, spiked with corn and vegetables, is warm and savoury. The mini pizza with slices of Parma ham, rocket leaves and black olives has a sweet tomato sauce and a crispy crust. The spicy chicken satay skewers, freshly grilled, arrive with a pot of rich hoisin sauce. Desserts are called 'Street treats' and include a decadent toffee crunch pie. As for the drinks, the Street shakes up classic cocktails and strong hi-balls, and also boasts some of the best drink deals in town during its Monday-to-Friday happy hours. In the evenings, the atmosphere changes from a convivial pub to a thrilling, candle-lit lounge where DJs spin tunes until 1am.

• High point: Welcoming atmosphere
• Low point: Stairs are tricky to negotiate

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