Houblon

You've wound your way down Institute Road past the vintage shops and independent cafes, and suddenly you're in a proper neighbourhood spot that takes its beer seriously without being insufferable about it. Houblon's got that warm, lived-in feeling—exposed brick, good lighting, the sort of place where regulars have their usual stool but newcomers don't feel like outsiders. The beer list is genuinely interesting, rotating through craft selections that actually mean something, paired with the kind of low-key hospitality that makes you want to stay for another round.