Potter & Reid

"Visit Potter & Reid for a very civilised morning coffee. Even the biggest of human hurricanes will leave the cafe feeling like they have their lives together. It's ideal for a peaceful break if you're in Spitalfields—we were instantly charmed by the hyper-seasonal-cookbook-brought-to-life aesthetic. There's a strict no-laptop policy over lunch, which means the vibe leans more towards catch-ups, book-reading, and peacefully scrolling. The food is good, with little elevated touches—spring onion and pecorino sprinkled on fried eggs and toast, a chunky chilli jam served with a toastie, and honey butter with banana loaf. photo credit: Potter & Reid photo credit: Potter & Reid photo credit: Potter & Reid" - Sinéad Cranna

"The spiced black treacle cookies at this newish Spitalfields cafe and restaurant from alumni of Allpress, Railroad, and Towpath Cafe are the perfect holiday cookie. Warmly spiced, boasting a teeth-sticking chew and crinkly-crackly turtle shell top, and set off by a dash of black pepper, they are made with Wildfarmed flour, which lends the dough a characterful malty flavour. Salted chocolate cookies and anise biscotti are year-round staples on the counter, suggesting this speciality coffee shop takes the matter of dunking as seriously as it does drinking." - Emma Louise Pudge