Caffè Nero

You'll find this Caffè Nero squeezed into Peters Arcade, that pedestrianised stretch between Bold Street and the city centre that always feels a bit removed from the hustle. It's the sort of café that doesn't make a fuss about itself—no Instagram-baiting latte art or obscure single-origins—but does the fundamentals properly. The coffee's hot, the pastries are fresh enough, and there's enough seating to settle in with a book or your laptop without feeling like you're overstaying your welcome. It's become the kind of reliable pit stop for workers and students who know what they want and aren't after any surprises.