The Royal Standard

Head down to Sheldon Street and you'll spot The Royal Standard doing what it does best—being the kind of pub that doesn't need to try too hard. Walk in and you're met with that reassuring smell of a well-kept boozer: wood, beer, and the kind of comfort that comes from decades of people just turning up and having a decent time. The clientele is refreshingly mixed—locals who've been coming for years sit alongside younger types who've discovered it's got proper character without being precious about it. You get the sense this place exists for conversation and a good pint, not for Instagram content.