New Piccadilly
8 Denman Street, London W1, 020-7437 8530

The Sistine Chapel of cafes, this has seen out Macmillan, Profumo and the Lady Chatterley trial, yet retains its Festival of Britain elegance. A former haunt of gangsters, writers and artists, this Mecca for postmodern hipsters exudes charm. The cheese and spinach cannelloni is a culinary classic for all of £5.50, the coffee is superb, while the tunny fish salad is a killer health option. Forget the 'latte-u-like' impostors. This is gloriously authentic.
John Kelletto
London SE21

Canaletto's
36 Beak Street, London W1, 020-7437 8597

The formula for a good cafe is affordable sustenance and an ambience reminiscent of a bygone era. Pleasing an array of hungry workers, from tradesmen to media folk, this offers the usual cafe fare: fry-ups, gourmet sandwiches and Italian staples of pasta and risotto, and the big portions do not come at the expense of taste. Your £5 will not only go far but be well spent - and of where else in Soho can you say that?
Gemma Atkinson
London SW12

Coffee@
154 Goswell Road, London EC1, 020-7336 6538

Technically, I'm against chains, preferring the more personal approach of indendent cafes, but Coffee@ is the best of both worlds. Although you can't always get a seat, it's worth the wait, especially if you get one of the sofas. Dubbing filter coffee 'chav coffee' does entice you to go for a more exciting drink, and you feel you're doing your bit for the environment by drinking organic coffee. Their slogan is 'come happy, leave edgy', but I often leave both edgy and happy, which can only be a bonus.
Charlotte Seiglow
London SE14

Hilliard
26a Tudor Street, London EC4, 020-7353 8150

The platonic ideal of the workers' caff, for City types and legal eagles. Behind the black-and-chrome counter, black-aproned ladies serve hot slow-roast Tamworth pork with cavolo nero and quince salad to eat in or take away - no coleslaw dressed with engine oil here. There's a hot dish and a soup every day, terrific sandwiches and great espresso. The patissière astounds daily, too. Thoughtful, affordable wines by the glass or bottle. Sometimes there are oysters and, on Fridays, heavenly crab sandwiches. If you work within the sound of Bow Bells, you must go.
Sylvia Millar
London N1

Ishta's Cafe
61 Cleveland Street, London W1, 020-7637 0389

A childhood in Alexandria fed Abdul Said his love of good Egyptian food. He boasts the finest coffee in London. No dispute. Only personally selected Costa Rican enters his 1950s brass espresso beast. Top nosh is the roast vegetables with goat's cheese or the hot vegetable salads with rocket. But the fried aubergine and mozzarella ciabatta laced with homemade chilli sauce is divine. His fetish for falafels, perfect pesto and spicy dried tomatoes in olive oil hint at other Arabesque delights. He makes chocolate brownies and carrot cake as comfort food, and freshly squeezed orange juice. Oh, and bacon sandwiches.
Christopher Robbins
Bath