Elm Park Tavern

Head down Elm Park in Brixton and you'll find yourself in the sort of pub that doesn't need to try too hard. It's got that lived-in quality—sticky carpets, well-worn wooden furniture, the occasional fruit machine humming in the corner. The real draw is the beer selection: this place takes its ales seriously, rotating through craft offerings that appeal to proper enthusiasts without being pretentious about it. You'll spot everything from pensioners nursing pints to younger drinkers who've discovered the place hasn't been ruined by gentrification yet. It's the kind of spot where the staff remember what you drank last week, and where you can actually hear yourself talk—something increasingly rare around here.