Cornish Hearts

You'll find yourself on Market Place, right in the thick of Hitchin's busiest stretch, where this café does exactly what it says on the tin. Walk in and you're hit with the smell of buttery pastry and proper fillings—none of that mass-produced nonsense. The menu leans heavily into Cornish classics (pasties done right, obviously), but there's clearly thought going into seasonal specials and bakes that rotate regularly. It's the kind of place where you catch regulars ordering their usual without needing to ask, and the counter staff know what they're doing. Sit in or grab something for the walk towards the High Street.