Crown & Anchor

You're walking down The Barbican—that cobbled strip of Tudor charm and maritime history—and you duck into the Crown & Anchor. It's exactly what a Plymouth pub should be: low ceilings, creaky floorboards, the smell of real ale and chips, and enough character in the walls to make you feel like you've stepped back a few centuries. The bar's got a rotation of proper cask ales that actually changes, which matters if you're the type who cares about that sort of thing. Food-wise, it's traditional British fare done without faffing about: pies, fish and chips, the basics done right. The crowd's a proper mix—tourists discovering the Barbican, locals who've never left, and maritime types who know the area's history better than the guidebooks.