The Shaston Arms

You're walking down Carnaby Street—yes, that Carnaby Street—and you duck into the Shaston Arms instead of joining the tourist queues outside the fashion shops. Inside, it's refreshingly low-key: exposed brick, decent lighting, and actual locals nursing drinks rather than posing for Instagram. The cocktail list is solid without being showy, and if you're just after a pint, they know what they're doing there too. It's the kind of place that feels like a proper find, tucked away in one of London's most commercialised corners, where you can have a decent conversation without shouting over a DJ.