Globe

You're on one of north London's busiest main roads, but step into the Globe and you've ducked into somewhere genuinely neighbourhood-feeling. It's the kind of pub that doesn't need to try too hard—wooden floors, decent lighting that doesn't turn you orange, and enough regulars nursing pints to make you feel like you're in on something. The Greene King chain thing means you know what you're getting: reliable ales, a solid wine list that won't make you cringe at the markup, and food that's better than it has any right to be for a mid-range local. The real draw is how it manages to be both a proper boozer and somewhere you'd genuinely want to eat, whether you're coming in after work or meeting mates on a Saturday.