Jamaica Wine House

You'll find this place down St Michael's Alley, a narrow passageway that feels like stepping back in time the moment you leave Cornhill behind. Jamaica Wine House has been pouring drinks since 1652—yes, really—and the dark wood panelling, low ceilings and worn flagstones aren't some designer's idea of 'vintage'. They're the real thing. The crowd's a mix of after-work City types, tourists who've actually done their homework, and people who've been coming here for decades. Wine is taken seriously here; the list is thoughtful without being pretentious, and the staff know what they're talking about. The pub food is honest—you're not going in expecting fine dining, and that's precisely why it works.