The Sun Tavern

Walk down Long Acre and you'll spot The Sun Tavern tucked amongst the tourist chaos of Covent Garden—but don't let the postcode fool you. Step inside and you're in proper local territory. The interior's all dark wood and worn leather, the kind of place that feels like it's been pulling pints in exactly this spot for decades (it has). You'll find a genuine mix of theatre-goers from the nearby venues, regulars who've probably occupied the same barstool since the 90s, and the odd tourist who's stumbled off the beaten path. The real draw is the no-nonsense approach: good beer selection, reliable pub food that doesn't pretend to be anything fancy, and staff who actually know their regulars' names.