The Kings Arms

You'll find yourself on Buckfast Street in Hackney, one of those corners that's managed to stay genuinely local despite everything changing around it. The Kings Arms has that easy-going atmosphere where regulars prop up the bar alongside newcomers, nobody's performing for anyone else, and the staff actually remember your name after a couple of visits. It's the sort of place where you can nurse a pint for hours without feeling rushed, watch the football if it's on, and strike up a conversation with whoever's standing next to you. The drinks list punches above its weight—proper ales alongside decent wines—and it doesn't pretend to be anything fancier than it is.