Hope & Anchor

You'll find yourself on Upper Street in Islington, where this Greene King pub sits among the independent shops and restaurants that make this stretch worth a wander. The Hope & Anchor feels like the pub equivalent of that friend who's been there forever—no fuss, no Instagram theatrics, just good beer, decent grub, and the kind of atmosphere where you can actually have a conversation. The real draw is the serious ale selection and kitchen that treats gastropub food like it matters; think proper pies, bold flavours, nothing pretentious. It's the sort of place locals keep coming back to because it doesn't try too hard, but it gets the fundamentals spot on.