Hulya's Cafe Bethnal Green

Walk into Hulya's on a Saturday morning and you'll immediately understand why this spot's been pulling queues since forever. It's the kind of place where the regular at table three is having a full debate in Turkish with the owner, the coffee's strong enough to wake the dead, and you genuinely can't tell if the vintage décor is intentional or just what happens when you've been doing the same thing brilliantly for decades. You'll find yourself wedged between builders on their break and creative types from round the way, all united by the simple fact that the food is honest, the portions are generous, and the vibe is completely unpretentious.