Queens Arms

The Queens Arms has earned its reputation as Walthamstow's favourite boozer, and for good reason. This smart corner gastropub manages to walk the tightrope between posh and prosaic better than most. The food is genuinely above average pub fare—think home-cured herring with crème fraîche or calf's liver served with polenta and spinach. The beer-battered haddock is solid, and if you're after something more substantial, the bavette steak with Café de Paris butter or the cider-braised pork belly won't disappoint.

The bar does a proper job with drinks too, offering a rotating selection of real ales alongside a thoughtful wine list that includes carafes—perfect for a gentle weeknight meal. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, though it can get lively, especially when the kids are around (which they often are, as the pub welcomes families at certain times). If you're after a contemplative pint in silence, there are other pubs in Walthamstow for that, but for a proper meal with good drinks in a convivial setting, the Queens Arms is hard to beat. It's exactly the kind of place that makes you glad E17 is becoming more popular.