Boston Tea Party

You'll find this branch of the Bristol-born chain right in the thick of Queen Street's retail madness, which makes it perfect for caffeine breaks between Primark raids. The exposed brick walls and mismatched furniture give it that studied indie cafe vibe, but the coffee is genuinely excellent – they know their way around a proper flat white. The brunch menu goes well beyond basic bacon butties, with decent eggs Benedict and proper sourdough toast that doesn't taste like cardboard. Weekend queues can be brutal, especially when the weather's grim and everyone's seeking refuge from Exeter's shopping hordes. The cakes look Instagram-ready but actually taste good too, which isn't always a given. Staff are friendly without being annoyingly chirpy, and they're usually quick enough even when it's rammed.