The Bon Accord

You'll find this Charing Cross stalwart packed with serious drinkers who know their IPAs from their stouts and their single malts from their blends. The narrow interior feels properly lived-in, with mismatched furniture and beer mats stuck to every surface, whilst the bar groans under the weight of what's genuinely one of Scotland's most impressive whisky collections. The real draw here is the constantly rotating selection of craft beers on tap – they take their beer seriously, with knowledgeable staff who'll happily talk you through the latest arrival from some obscure Belgian brewery. It's the sort of place where you pop in for one pint and emerge three hours later, slightly unsteady but significantly more educated about hop varieties.