What's a good word to describe a public place that looks like it wouldn't be rough?
I'm looking for a word that I can use in my writings to describe a bar / pub that doesn't look like it would be a 'rough' place, i.e. one that isn't likely to instigate trouble. I was thinking of the word self-effacing but I think maybe that would be more descriptive of a person rather than a building. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Example usage would be:
"Maybe I'll go in here. It seems _______ enough."
Thank you!
Solution 1:
Decent
Maybe I'll go in here. It seems decent enough.
"It seems decent enough"--11,000 Google results referring to various places and things, tangible and intangible, with more than one applicable meaning (see link above to ODO).
Locally, a fairly decent place would be used to describe a place that is somewhat modest but appropriate, i.e., fairly clean, moral, safe, etc. (US, SE Region).
As an alternative--low-key--a more youthful, less judgmental word, I think.
Solution 2:
If you are looking for something that contrasts with rough or wild, I would use tame:
: reduced from a state of native wildness especially so as to be tractable and useful to humans : DOMESTICATED
// tame animals 2 : made docile and submissive : SUBDUED
If you really want something that describes only the outward appearance and not the people inside, then there are words like nondescript, bland, and neutral. Or possibly classy or upscale, if you are putting a value judgment on appearance.
But, then, I wouldn't say that rough describes only outward appearance either. Instead, I would use something like garish to describe the outward appearance. (Otherwise, smooth is the antonym of rough in its purely descriptive sense—when it comes only to the building's physical appearance.)
Solution 3:
I am going to suggest
pleasant
ADJECTIVE
1 Giving a sense of happy satisfaction or enjoyment.‘a very pleasant evening’
1.1 (of a person or their manner) friendly and considerate; likeable.
‘they found him pleasant and cooperative’
oxford dict
"Maybe I'll go in here. It seems pleasant enough."
This would be said after having walked past a few places that were completely unsuitable, and you are now getting a bit beyond caring about finding the perfect place.
EDIT: I had originally said pleasant was damning with faint praise but after a comment and a v. quick google I can find nobody who backs me up.
But pleasant is a very low level compliment. It comes far below exciting, great, fun, entertaining, fabulous, awesome.
Mum: "how was the afternoon at grandmas?" Teenager: "It was pleasant enough"
Means that it wasn't awful, you didn't spend the entire afternoon looking at your watch waiting for it to end. Some of it was even enjoyable.
(ok honestly a teenager would never say this but it was just to give an extra sense of the way the word would be said)