Malt Cross

You're drinking your flat white in what was once Nottingham's premier Victorian entertainment venue, and the building hasn't forgotten its theatrical past. The cast-iron galleries curve around you like opera boxes, while natural light floods through the glass roof onto mismatched furniture and exposed brick walls. The coffee's properly good – they take their beans seriously here – and the food runs from decent brunches to hearty mains that suit the grand surroundings. What really sets this place apart is the sheer drama of the space. You could easily spend hours here with a laptop or catching up with friends, watching other customers crane their necks at the architecture. It's the sort of place that makes you feel slightly more interesting just for being there.