Dropping into the local pub for a pint of real ale or bitter is the best way to soak up the character of the different villages that make up London. You'll hear local accents and slang and see firsthand how far removed upper-crust Kensington is from blue-collar Wapping. Catch the local gossip or football talk--and, of course, enjoy some of the finest ales, stouts, ciders, and malt whiskies in the world.

Drinks a la Americana--Everybody's heard of the Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood, but the real news coming out of London is the sudden opening of many American-theme bars. We've picked out the two best spots. Navajo Joe, 34 King St., WC2 (tel. 020/7240-4008), offers the largest tequila selection outside of Mexico, and southwestern cuisine that is already starting to win some restaurant awards. For the atmosphere of a different part of the American south, head for Old Orleans, corner of Wellington and Tavistock streets, WC2 (tel. 020/7497-2433), with its colorful cocktail bar and rich decor from the old American south. The restaurant features Creole cuisine. Both are reached by taking the Tube to Covent Garden.

- Grenadier
Address 18 Wilton Row
Location SW1
Transportation Tube: Hyde Park Corner
Phone 020/7235-3074
Tucked away in a mews, the Grenadier is one of London's reputedly haunted pubs, the ghost here being an 18th-century British soldier. Aside from the poltergeist, the basement houses the original bar and skittles alley used by the Duke of Wellington's officers. The scarlet front door of the one-time officers' mess is guarded by a scarlet sentry box and shaded by a vine. The bar is nearly always crowded. Lunch and dinner are offered daily--even on Sunday, when it's a tradition to drink Bloody Marys here. In the stalls along the side, you can order good-tasting fare based on seasonal ingredients. Well-prepared dishes include pork Grenadier, and a chicken-and-Stilton roulade. Snacks like fish and chips are available at the bar.

- American Bar
Location In The Savoy, The Strand, WC2
Transportation Tube: Charing Cross, Covent Garden, or Embankment
Phone 020/7836-4343
The bartender in this sophisticated gathering place is known for his special concoctions "Savoy Affair" and "Prince of Wales," as well as what is reputedly the best martini in town. Monday through Saturday evenings, jazz piano is featured from 7 to 11pm. Near many West End theaters, the location is ideal for a pre- or post-theater drink.