London

Mayfair
Guinea Bar
|f you only go to one…
There’s a lovely old-school dining room attached to this bar (1) which is, by all accounts, excellent. But we don’t care about that – we’re here to drink in this superbly atypical pub. The Guinea is a small, wooden-floored room, given over solely to the pleasures of whistle-wetting and talking rubbish. West End drinking, or indeed London daytime drinking, doesn’t come any better.

Best drink Young’s, Kirin, whatever. It’s all good here.
When to go As often as possible. A late lunchtime drink that goes on till around seven would be perfect.
Best seat Third sliver-thin table on left as you come in, up against the gorgeous wood partition.
Best snack KP dry roasted.
30 Bruton Place, W1 (020 7499 1210).
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The Windmill
The board outside declares it Giles Coren’s favourite pub (2), but don’t let that put you off; this place is a boozing oasis, the perfect place to escape the mayhem of the West End shops with a pint and a ponder. It’s unashamedly old-school – portraits of superbly sideburned Victorian statesmen line the walls – and there’s a faint whiff of ’80s kitsch about the cutlery and red napkins on the tables. But the Young’s beer is lip-smackingly good which, frankly, is all that really matters.
Best drink Young’s Ordinary.
When to go Around 6pm on a Monday. Perfect.
Best seat First table on the left as you come in; you can survey the whole room from here.
Best snack Avoid the smoked almonds and ask for a bag of Tyrrell’s crisps.
6-8 Mill St, W1 (020 74918050).

Golden Lion
There’s been a boozer here (3) since the 1730s and even a resident ghost that is said to haunt the 98 steps to the kitchen. There used to be a door that led directly into a theatre next door; the theatre is long gone, but the upstairs dining room is still called the Theatre Bar.

Best drink Tea – an ale from the Hogsback Brewery.
When to go You should get a seat during the week, but since it forms part of the Monopoly pub crawl, look out for drunken board games fans on Saturday afternoons. It’s closed Saturday evening and all day Sunday.
Best seat Downstairs on the left, by the stained-glass windows.
Best snack Roast beef sandwich.
25 King St, SW1 (020 7499 1307).

Red Lion, Mayfair and St James's

Red Lion
A welcoming sight down a dark alley, this is a pub (4) popular with local workers. Upstairs is a quiet, barless space stuffed with comfy seating and two TVs. The decor and bright lighting make it feel more like someone’s sitting-room than a pub.

Best drink Adnams.
When to go Fridays are busiest, so if you’re looking for a bit of peace and quiet, go earlier in the week. It’s closed on Sundays.
Best seat Upstairs on one of the sofas.
Best snack Fifteen kinds of sandwiches.
23 Crown Passage, SW1 (020 7930 4141).

Shepherd’s Tavern
The cheery staff hanging bunting for Australia Day on our visit set the tone for this unpretentious and welcoming corner pub (5), hunkered down the quieter end of Mayfair’s busy Shepherd’s Market. The punters are a varied lot: V-neck-wearing oldies discussing tax returns, a group of young office workers and – jackpot! – a solitary man doing the crossword at the bar, all peaceably coexisting amid the Victoriana and wood cladding. Non-smokers should head upstairs.

Best drink Adnams.
When to go 3pm on a wet Wednesday with a paper and Sky Sports on the flatscreen.
Best seat Grab yourself a perch on one of the brown leather bar stools at the non-smoking bar.
Best snack Sweet chilli Nobby’s Nuts.
50 Hertford St, W1 (0207 499 3017).

Red Lion
Tucked away at the end of Charles Street in the kind of spot you’d expect to find relatives of John Profumo buzzing around in Aston Martins, the Red Lion (6) is a hidden gem and an oddly eccentric place, stuffed with Toby jugs, ill-matched furniture and a strange cast of suits and tourists tucking into fish and chips. Still, it works – probably because it gets the simple stuff right: friendly staff, nicely kept ales and a main drinking space with a wonderful womb-like warmth.

Best drink Green King IPA.
Best snack Walkers crisps.
Best seat In the back bar near the loos.
When to go Ideal for a midweek drink-up.
1 Waverton St, W1 (020 7499 1307).