Generator London

You wouldn't expect much from a hostel bar tucked behind Russell Square, but Generator's ground-floor drinking den has become something of an institution for night owls who aren't ready to call it quits when the pubs shut. The industrial-chic space feels more Berlin squat than London hostel, with exposed brick walls and communal tables that encourage mingling between travellers nursing budget beers and locals who've discovered the secret of round-the-clock drinking. Sure, the drinks menu won't win any awards and the atmosphere can get properly raucous when groups of Aussie backpackers descend, but there's something endearingly democratic about a place where a City worker can find themselves sharing stories with someone from São Paulo at 3am. The staff know how to handle the chaos, and the prices won't leave you questioning your life choices come morning.