Costa Coffee

You know the drill with Costa—it's consistent, unpretentious, and does exactly what it says on the tin. This Whitechapel Road location sits in the thick of things, making it ideal for a caffeine hit between browsing the markets or ducking out of the office. The space is functional rather than Instagram-worthy, but that's kind of the point. You're here for a proper coffee and maybe a pastry, not to spend three hours nursing an oat milk latte whilst pretending to work. Staff are generally efficient, and during the morning rush it moves at a decent pace.