Billy's Cafe

Head down Pritchard's Road in Hackney and you'll find Billy's tucked away doing exactly what a good cafe should: keeping things simple and nailing the fundamentals. The breakfast menu is the real draw—proper eggs cooked how you want them, generously buttered toast, beans that taste like beans. It's the sort of place where you'll spot builders, freelancers, and retired locals all rubbing shoulders over strong coffee. The clientele tells you everything: people come back because the food's honest and the prices won't make you wince.