The Kelvin

You're walking up Great Western Road, past the sandstone tenements and independent shops that make the West End actually worth visiting, and you duck into The Kelvin. It's the kind of place that doesn't need to shout about itself. Inside, you'll find dark wood, decent lighting that won't make you squint, and bartenders who know what they're doing without being insufferable about it. The cocktail list skews classic with room for experimentation, and they're not charging London prices for the privilege either.