La Pasticceria Kensington

You'll walk into La Pasticceria on Kensington High Street and immediately clock the pastry cases—they're not messing about here. The cornetti are laminated to within an inch of their lives, with that satisfying shatter when you bite through, and the espresso is pulled with the kind of precision you'd expect from someone who actually cares. It's the sort of place where locals queue up before work, grabbing a sfogliatella or a maritozzo without any fuss. The vibe is proper European—quick service, standing at the bar, no Instagram-baiting nonsense, just excellent Italian breakfast done right.