The Alma Tavern

Walk into The Alma and you'll clock straightaway it's the kind of place that doesn't need to try too hard. It's got that lived-in warmth you get from a pub that's been doing its thing for years, pulling in regulars from across Croydon who know what they're after. The crowd's mixed—post-work drinkers, groups catching up over something proper, people who just want to sit with a pint without the noise and nonsense. The food's solid rather than showy, the sort of thing that pairs perfectly with whatever's on tap.