Stand aside Starbucks

Address: The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, W1 (tel: 020 7563 9500)
Open: Mon - Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 12 - 5pm (last orders 4.30pm each day)
Nearest tube: Bond Street

5: Harvey Nichols Fifth Floor Cafe
Keep an eye out for celebs as you sit back with a filter coffee (£2) or a cappuccino (£2.75) in this chic hangout at the top of one of London's trendiest stores. If you want to combine your caffeine fix with retail therapy, make your way up to the cafe floor by floor. If you can't wait, or can't bear the thought of drooling over designer clothes you can't afford, use the express lift by the Sloane Street entrance.

Address: Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, SW1 (tel 020 7823 1839)
Open: Cafe open: Mon - Sat 10am - 10.30pm, Sun 11am - 6pm
Nearest tube: Knightsbridge

If you must go to a chain, choose one of these two:

Costa, Cafe on the Square, Trafalgar Square Part of the newly pedestrianised Trafalgar Square, this Costa has outside tables where you can sip your latte as Nelson looks down on you from his column and you can soak up one of the most famous cityscapes in the world. But please don't feed the pigeons.

Open: 8am - 8pm daily
Nearest tube: Charing Cross

Caffe Nero, Jermyn Street
This is in the dinkiest little building, next to St James' Church, Piccadilly. A tiny staircase leads to the upper level, where you can look out of the windows at Jermyn Street's wonderful shops. If the weather's good, take your drink outside - the courtyard is a beautiful oasis next to bustling Piccadilly.

Address: 35 Jermyn Street, SW1 6DT
Open: Weekdays 7.30am - 7.30pm, Sat 9am - 7.30, Sun 9am - 6.30pm
Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus