Slim Jim's Liquor Store

This Islington ode to the classic American dive bar has a slightly sleazy reputation—the bartenders collect underwear from female guests in exchange for drinks, and hang the bras from the ceiling like trophies—but it’s all in good humour. The floor’s sticky, the light’s low, and you’re best off with a beer and a shot of rye. The bar manager’s Irish, so if you want to show you know what you’re talking about, order a Bán and black. It’s a half-pint of Guinness served with a shot of poitín, a traditional Irish moonshine. It’s an acquired taste but worth trying—trust me.