Hermitage Rd. Coffee and Bagel Bar

You'll walk past this unassuming spot on Hermitage Road dozens of times before realising what you've been missing. Tucked into a row of Victorian terraces, this is where Hitchin's bagel obsessives congregate for the real deal – chewy, hand-rolled rings that actually taste like they've travelled from Brooklyn rather than a supermarket freezer. The coffee here comes from their own roastery, which explains why regulars nurse their flat whites for longer than strictly necessary. It's the sort of place where the baristas remember your order and the wifi actually works, making it equally popular with laptop warriors and parents escaping soft play hell. The 7:30am opening means you can grab a proper breakfast before the rest of town wakes up.