The Green Dragon

You'll find The Green Dragon tucked away on Sydney Street in the heart of Kemptown, and it's exactly the sort of place you want your local to be. Walk in and you're greeted by exposed brick, mismatched furniture, and a genuinely welcoming crowd—no pretence, no Instagram backdrop nonsense. The bar does excellent real ales and keeps the wine list thoughtful without being showboaty. The food's proper pub fare done right: pies that don't disappoint, proper sandwiches, the kind of thing that tastes even better with a pint in hand. Service is warm and knowledgeable, staff who actually seem to like being there. It's got that rare quality of feeling both lived-in and genuinely cared for.