Caffè Nero

You'll find yourself on Spurriergate, one of York's busier shopping streets, and this Caffè Nero does what it does competently—which honestly puts it ahead of plenty of independents who've forgotten how to pull a proper shot. The space has that familiar Nero polish without feeling sterile, and there's enough seating to sprawl with a laptop or just people-watch through the windows. It's become the sort of place where locals pop in for their morning fix before hitting the Minster, rather than a destination in itself, but that's precisely why it works. Decent pastries, consistent temperatures, and staff who actually remember regulars.