The Iron Duke, Mayfair

You've wandered off Mount Street and found yourself on Avery Row—the kind of street where locals actually drink. The Iron Duke is that rare thing in Mayfair: a pub that feels like a pub, not a theme park approximation of one. Wood-panelled walls, a proper bar, the sort of place where your neighbour might be nursing a pint he's had since lunch. The food isn't trying to be fancy (though it's honest and generous), and the drinks list won't make your wallet weep, which is honestly remarkable for this postcode. It's where you go when you want a beer and conversation, not to be seen.