The Criterion

A proper local

In a town with plenty of hotel bars and chain pubs, the Cri is one of the few family-run locals left. It's a compact, traditional bar, and it has won a Thistle Award for best bar or pub in the Central, Fife and Tayside area. Outdoor seating runs all year, weather permitting.

Pies and drams

The Cri Pie is the thing to order. The kitchen serves them until 11.45pm, which makes this a reliable late bite after an evening elsewhere, and there's a wider pub menu using local produce. Drinks lean Scottish: cask ales, a whisky list running past 160 bottles, more than 80 gins, and cocktails. Cask ale is a speciality, so ask what's on before settling on a dram.

Before you go

The Criterion doesn't take reservations, so arrive early for a seat at busy times. Dogs are welcome. Children aged 5 to 17 can come in until 8pm, but under-fives aren't allowed under its licence. St Mary's Quad and several of the town's cafés are a minute or two away. If the bar is full, the outdoor tables are used all year and are well placed for people-watching on South Street.

Highlights

• Established in 1874
• Family-run traditional pub
• Cri Pies served until 11.45pm
• 160+ whiskies and 80+ Scottish gins
• Year-round outdoor seating

Good to know

• No reservations; it's walk-in only.
• Dogs are welcome.
• Children aged 5-17 are welcome until 8pm; under-fives can't enter under the licence.

Frequently asked questions