Marks & Spencer

You're battling the Queen Street crowds, arms full of shopping bags, when caffeine withdrawal hits hard. Most people don't think to head upstairs in M&S for their coffee fix, but this café genuinely sorts you out with properly made drinks and food that's several notches above typical high street fare. The Percy Pig cookies are obviously brilliant, but the sandwich selection is surprisingly solid – their prawn mayo actually tastes like prawns, and the soups are proper hearty affairs. It's clean, efficient, and staffed by people who seem to give a toss about getting your order right. Yes, it's still a department store café, but when you're stuck in the Carfax area and need somewhere reliable that won't fleece you, this does the job beautifully.