The Alpaca

You'll find The Alpaca wedged into the Essex Road stretch of Islington, where it's become exactly the kind of place locals actually want to spend their evenings. It's got that relaxed pub energy—exposed brick, decent lighting, the sort of crowd that's there because they genuinely fancy a pint and some proper food, not because they're ticking boxes. The menu takes things seriously without getting precious about it; think elevated pub classics that don't apologise for themselves. It's the sort of place you stumble into mid-week and end up staying three hours longer than planned.