Restaurants

Down a commuter estuary flowing from Liverpool Street's Bishopsgate exit, newly widened walkways house a host of breakfast and lunchtime options. Standing proudly among newer, trendier outfits is the pub-like Market Coffee House, with its stripped floorboards and heavy wood interior. On the walls, a Times from 1797 and an invoice from its fruit shop days in 1947. Brief Encounter-era morning and tea-time sticky treats include Tiptree strawberry jam with English muffins (marmalade or Marmite 30p extra) and Kentish apple among the juices. No grilled breakfasts here. Lunch features Gloucester Old Spot pork pie and salad, stilton ploughman's and some properly hearty sandwiches, roast ham and cheddar cheese or roast beef with horseradish sauce. There's a choice of two hot soups available as well. Finish with a cake from the display on the bar: carrot and hazelnut looked the tastiest.

Time Out Cheap Eats in London Guide 2007