Exmouth Arms

You'll find the Exmouth tucked away on a quiet street just north of King's Cross, the sort of place where locals genuinely outnumber tourists. It's got that unpretentious vibe—sticky wooden floors, mismatched furniture, the occasional dodgy painting on the walls—but it works because nothing feels ironic about it. The beer list takes itself seriously (proper cask ales and interesting guests), the kitchen does solid pub food without trying too hard, and the staff actually seem to know their regulars. It's become a proper anchor for this stretch of Starcross Street, which is quietly becoming one of those neighbourhoods where you'd actually want to spend an evening without the whole thing feeling engineered for Instagram.