The Cock Tavern

You'll find The Cock Tavern tucked away on Kennington Road, where it quietly does what good bars should do: makes you feel welcome the moment you walk in. The crowd's a proper mix—locals nursing pints, groups clustered around high tables, couples perched at the bar—and there's none of that try-hard atmosphere you get in some places. The cocktails are genuinely well-made (they clearly know what they're doing behind the bar), but you won't need to remortgage to afford them. It's got that lived-in, friendly energy that makes you want to stay longer than you planned.