Rising Sun

You're stepping into the sort of pub that actually feels like a local's local, even though it's plonked right on one of central London's busiest stretches. The Rising Sun does that tricky thing of being accessible and unpretentious while still pulling decent crowds—no small feat when you're sandwiched between chain restaurants and tourist traps. It's the kind of place where you can nurse a proper ale, grab something proper to eat that won't bankrupt you, and actually have a conversation without shouting over synthetic house music.