Monty's Café

You'll find this brilliantly unpretentious spot right on the Barbican, where the morning queue of dock workers mixing with tourists tells you everything about what makes it work. The full English here is exemplary – proper thick-cut bacon, eggs cooked exactly how you ask, and black pudding that doesn't taste like sawdust. But it's the daily specials board that keeps locals coming back, whether that's a cracking fish cake sandwich or whatever seasonal soup they've knocked up that morning. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance between bustling and welcoming, with mismatched furniture and staff who remember your order after a few visits. Yes, you might queue at weekends, but that's because word's got out about their homemade cakes and the fact they do proper coffee alongside hearty food that doesn't cost a fortune. It's exactly what a neighbourhood café should be.