Caffè Nero

Right there on Hitchin's main drag, this Caffè Nero pulls in the town's regulars and passing trade with competent espresso drinks and the kind of reliable comfort you'd expect from the chain. It's become a proper pitstop for weekday commuters heading to the station and weekend shoppers taking a breather between browsing Bancroft and the independent shops dotted around. The High Street location means you're sandwiched between the bustle of town life, so it's never quiet, but that's rather the point—you're people-watching over a flat white, not seeking sanctuary.