The High Street and the surrounding lanes have a solid spread of pubs, most of them in historic buildings. The Star Inn on Quarry Street and the King's Head on Stoke Road are reliable for traditional ale. For evening drinking the side streets off the upper High Street have more contemporary cocktail bars, and the Boileroom near the station hosts live music.
Coffee in Guildford has improved sharply in the last decade — small independents in Tunsgate and on Castle Street outperform the chains.