The Southern

Set up in Edinburgh’s studenty southside, The Southern is as keen on its beer and burgers as Scotland is on its castles. No flat-pack Findus to be found here – at the Southern they mean business. The choice of 20 or so handmade gourmet burgers (all under £10) nicely complements the same daring number of beer and ale pumps.

The burn from the Chilli Death, a beef burger with pickled jalapenos, chilli cheese, fresh green chillies, sour cream and ‘Death Sauce’, is easily extinguished by a crisp pint of William’s Caesar Augustus, while the more refined choice of the Chicken Italienne burger, complete with sun blushed tomato, mozzarella and pesto mayo makes a great match for Tempest Brewery’s fruity Long White Cloud.

Should a libation be your only want, there’s a heap of options from local brewers such as Williams and Harviestoun, as well as a range of rotational beers from around the globe.

Like that of its sister outfits, The Red Squirrel on Lothian Road and Holyrood 9a in the Old Town, the food menu extends from salads and steaks to sharing platters. The drinks list does likewise, with a solid wine selection that’s split into Cheap, Good and Great categories, as well as a half-dozen decent cocktails.

With great green Edinburgh space the Meadows just a short walk away, and arts venues such as Queen’s Hall and Summerhall just down the street and around the corner respectively, this is a welcoming place for a pit stop.