BAYSWATER. This notable pub offers an inviting atmosphere, a variety of lagers and ales, and a popular special of Guinness and oysters. Although evenings are often more crowded than afternoons, anytime is a good time to drop by - just don't expect to get a table! If you want more personal attention, choose the intimate dining room in back; if you want to enjoy a few pints among friendly locals, grab a stool at the bar. TUBE: Royal Oak

BELGRAVIA. Tucked away in a choice area near the classy Lynchburg Hotel, this smart pub provides a great place for business travelers to entertain. The menu includes tasty treats like Angels on Horseback (bacon-wrapped oysters), their signature Beef Wellington, and traditional fish and chips, while the bar supplies a wide selection of liquors and draught beers, along with a house Bloody Mary crafted with a secret ingredient. Dark woods and red walls boasting a weapon motif distinguish the interior. Navigate your way carefully, because the pub can be hard to locate. Reservations strongly recommended. TUBE: Hyde Park Corner

CHELSEA. When folks toiling in SW10 are eager for home-cooked cuisine, they find much to applaud at this cozy gatropub near Chelsea Harbour. Unexpectedly, the pub setting runs headlong into haute cuisine, but the results are sublime. Each dish uses only the freshest ingredients, and the items that issue forth include the Lots Road Burger and a mind-blowing ribeye steak sandwich. Follow your favorite dish with the pub's signature Sticky Toffee Pudding, and you've a meal worth remembering. Dinner reservations are suggested. TUBE: Fulham Broadway

SOUTHWARK. While regulars laud this Tabard Street pub for its pints of tasty Harveys, folks with eats in mind also find much to like. The cozy, Victorian-styled Royal Oak features dual bar areas, which ensure that drinks are easy to come by. They also make the pub a favorite after-work destination for folks coming in from nearby office buildings. Made-from-scratch fare offers plenty of worthy alternatives, including hearty pies, traditional roasts, and baskets of fish and chips. TUBE: Borough

ALDWYCH. Especially at meal time, employees from nearby court buildings populate this historic gastropub (built around 1600) ­ a tribute to the kitchen's traditional menu. Walls are adorned with all things legal, from old movie posters to framed caricatures and political cartoons. The cozy place also features a working fireplace and lots of dark-wood tables and chairs. N.B. Many patrons regard Seven Stars as London's finest pub, so a modicum of reverence is always appreciated when you visit. TUBE: Holborn or Chancery Lane