The Best Cafes in Highbury, Greater London, United Kingdom (2025)

This was the best find we had in London! The owner is a charming character who infuses love into his food. He is a true artisan and his bread was likely the best I’ve had! We found a way to come back a second time right before flight home just to see him and eat this delicious food! I recommend everything about this cafe!

Absolutely delightful experience at Fig Tree Café! After our Saturday run, my friend and I decided to grab breakfast, and we were pleasantly surprised. The avocado toast with salad was not only delicious but also fresh and beautifully presented. The cozy atmosphere added to the charm of the place, making it the perfect spot for a post-workout meal. Moreover, the owner's warmth and friendliness truly made us feel welcome. The unexpected gesture of gifting a fig and a clementine upon departure was a lovely touch that left a lasting impression. Highly recommend this spot for anyone looking for great food and exceptional hospitality!

Everything was great! Food was amazing, the ingredients were so fresh ,and the people who work there are just the best. The place was súper cozy. I went there with a friend who told me this was one of his favorite spots… not dissapointed I’m going again for sure ! 🌈 Photos are for: Jacket pot Scramble egg veg We also got a tiny dessert ✨✨✨

A cosy little retreat with amazing fresh food, the loveliest owner and great prices. Its a real gem

Profile has easily become one of my top three coffee spots in London. It has a really nice atmosphere, the coffees are fantastic and smooth and the food is lovely. We stumbled upon it by chance and decided to give it a go, ordering a Oat milk Matcha, Oat Flat White and a banana loaf to share. All went down a treat, and now I'm looking forward to the next time we're in the area so we can pop in.

Wow I love it here! Excellent coffee, we had a flat white which was chocolatey, smooth and easy to drink! As for the filter, it was naturally processed, and tasted quite fruity, light and sweet! An absolute treat to go down! We also managed to sneak in a pain au suisse! We’ve never heard of it before and it looked divine; it was sweet, chocolatey and crisp on the outside while moist on the inside! There are about 4 tables to sit inside and it’s a such a cute space! The baristas are also so so nice and friendly! Would recommend for sure!

Apart from the nicest decaf coffee I have managed to find in London, great pastries and a lovely atmosphere/interior, whoever's doing the hiring for this place needs another 5 stars. The staff is always so nice, calm and welcoming even at the busiest sunny London weekends at peak times. Plus, their dog-friendly policy is not for show, they genuinely seem to enjoy the dogs that come through their doors.

A perfect flat white. The flavour of the coffee was so good - slightly nutty and fruity, a bit sweet without any sugar just milk. Good looking cakes, didn’t try them yet!

Upping this to 5* after a year since it has really found its pace as a distinctive destination. Coffee remains excellent, and the pastry/sandwich range has improved - with a twist (eg miso and matcha in the cookies, spicy salami in the sandwiches and even small kouign-amann for a lighter take on Breton pastries. Here’s the previous review which still stands, just dialled up! Good coffee from, nice ambience and the coffee/wine/cake combo is quite endearing. Pace is just a little laid-back and disengaged, and it suffers somewhat by comparison with its neighbour. The ‘no laptops’ policy is quite refreshing, even if it’s not contextualised. The layout would soon be cluttered with three homeworkers on a video call, so full marks for making this a more contained experience. Just misses out on that destination/hideaway feel, but could grow into it.

Decent batch filter and a nice selection of pastries, cookies, etc. Open nice and early, light and airy but with a comforting glow, just what you need with your morning coffee :) If evening's your thing then they have wine too. Perfect for Upper St.

Came in the evening, so walked into a wine bar rather than a coffee shop. Came for a glass of wine, and stayed for a few. Staff were very friendly and helpful, picking some really great wines for us to try. I got some crab toast that was absolutely gorgeous, honestly the perfect snack. A super nice, small wine bar for a quiet drink.

A cute cafe that has 2 floors (come in deeper and you can find the stairs that lead you downstairs). I loved their cute latte art🫶🏻 the miso cookie was nice too!

Had a salad bowl (14) with chicken. Tasty, fresh and throughly enjoyed. Good portion size as well and I finished the leftover later. Friendly staff, lovely clean design and ambience which makes for a calming place to sit and eat in if one wants to step away from the office for lunch.

Generous portion of food! Fresh and flavorsome. Staff are great and environment is quiet and calming. I added chicken to my bowl for extra £3 and they were generous with that too. Finally found somewhere in London where you're not ripped off. Highly recommend

A lovely spot for a nutritious breakfast/lunch. Very well priced for Islington. Great service, atmosphere & menu options - especially if you’re a fan of rhubarb! Good coffee & will definitely be back for a smoothie 🥤

Nice atmosphere, very cozy and calm. Great coffee and very friendly barista. Would be great if I could buy coffee next time for my espresso machine too, just to enjoy at home sometimes. Thank you!

Super friendly owner with his son. It was our first time in this neighbourhood, and he made us feel very welcome. Also, really delicious coffee of good quality and tasty sweets. We will definitely be back the next time we’re in London!

Great experience with a friendly open Atmosphere. Staff were welcoming and polite. Coffee was good and Portuguese tart was excellent (see the photo). Definitely coming back for a visit when in the area. Highly recommended

This small, cozy cafe on the corner is great. It’s quiet and has a stylish ambiance. The staff are friendly and they make an amazing chai latte. Definitely worth a visit.

Cosy very nice cafe and lovely staff.

Very cute little place in a beautiful terrace. The food is well-priced and very tasty, although don’t leave it to the last minute as they run out as the day goes on! Sitting outdoors on the quiet road in summer is idyllic.

The Place is a fantastic local coffee shop with a cozy, neighborhood feel. The staff is incredibly friendly and always makes sure you are completely satisfied. The coffee is outstanding, easily surpassing that of big chain stores like Starbucks. Situated on a side road off the main road, this hidden gem is a must-visit for coffee lovers. I was also impressed to see many locals and their furry companions frequenting the shop. I'll definitely be returning to The Place next time I'm in the area

Lovely little local café with great coffee and a nice and homely atmosphere

Really nice food, very good portions and super friendly owner. I had a very tasty avocado toast with feta, and a Gimber to drink, which I really enjoyed too. Was made to feel very welcome and will definitely return soon!

We had a nice lunch at Sawyer and Gray. Reservations is recommended as they are popular. The space is very tight here though. We had a good meal and enjoyed all the orders that we placed here.

The lovely Italian waiter squeezed me in on a busy Saturday morning for some breakfast, which I really appreciated. The service was quick, friendly and on point, and you can see the effort put on the food (and the coffee) presentation. The ambience is really cozy as well, and I noticed from conversations around me that they have a lot of regulars, which is always a good thing. Tutto è stato fantástico. £22.51 for the 3 items + service.

A great spot for brunch close to H&I station. The food and coffee are quality, with friendly service. Reservations are highly recommended on the weekend. Tables are pretty close together, and a smallish staircase to get downstairs. Will definitely be back!

This is a small, cosy and dainty cafe located in a secluded area Islington which made this a lovely spot to go to on a miserable drizzly day. We arrived at 2pm, but sadly they ran out of 4 of the items they had on their menu which I found were unique and interesting. It was a shame, but more of a reason to come back at an earlier time. I ordered the balance bowl with teriyaki chicken and noodles. It quite filling, well flavoured - minus the chicken - and had a good portion size. My genmatcha latte was nice. The rice had a prominent taste than the matcha which is the only slight downside Burnt basque cheesecake was lovely and simple. Service was welcoming and friendly.

Quiet little Japanese café with great vegetarian options, Japanese style cakes and drinks. We had the balance bowl and hot soba noodles, and then cakes after. Wished it was open more days of the week!

We had a fabulous, tasty and healthy lunch here today… and came back for their famous chocolate & sesame cake and a specialty latte (roasted matcha I believe?). Highly recommended! Great service, friendly staff, nice corner a bit away from the hustle and bustle. Thank you.

Passed this a few times when going to Arsenal but never went in because I thought it was just a coffee shop. But it's a little gem. Went in there yesterday as everywhere else was packed, Friday night and Arsenal playing. Food and service are great and I'll be coming here from now on when going to Arsenal.

Always hits the spot! Friendliest staff around & the food is consistently good (excellent brunch options) Can recommend the halloumi breakfast or soup of the day…followed by a grilled sandwich They know their coffee & teas too! And the takeaway cake slices can’t be shied away from either…

This place is a hidden gem💎 Beautiful venue, super neat and tidy, good food, efficient and super fast service. Love it! Definitely 10/10 recommend🫶🏼

Great cafe! Good food and coffee and friendly staff. I recommend the goats cheese on sourdough

I visited this cafe in late December 2023. The variety of the food and drinks on offer is impressive. The quality of all food is the highest I have seen and despite the price for a sandwich are not cheap (£6.95 at the time of visit), the price is justified in terms of ingredients and their freshness. Equally welcoming is the service. Unlike other cafes where service outside the main confinement of the preparation / coffee stand is an afterthought, the staff ventures out of their immediate preparation area to pick used plates and glasses (something rare in the post pandemic era in many cafes). The atmosphere of the place is also nice and the seating area at the back is really bright instead of gloomy in most other cafes. Last but not least, if you are vegetarian or vegan there are options for your in terms of sandwiches which you can inspect before you buy (see photos).

I had a takeaway croque monsiuer and it was delicious. Love the ambiance of the bakery. So many options to choose from. I want to try out everything!Price is reasonable in comparison to the various cafe and bakery on Upper Street.

Love love love. I actually stopped for the price. I walked from Angel down Upper street looking for a well priced normal cafe and finally found it! Everything was central London prices and didn’t feel it was worth £10 for a sandwich. So when I seen Benita Bakery had great quality selection and great price tea and coffee of course I had to choose here. I ordered a mushroom and cheese toastie, chai latte with oat milk to sit in. And it came to just under £10 total! They offered free water in the tap as seen in the pictures I uploaded, nicely much needed touch! We shouldn’t have to keep buying bottled water or ask for water. Lots of seating available. I added in a notice they have in regards to laptop use which is totally fine by me. Saves the seats for everyone else. Very friendly and attentive staff who brought my hot drink to my table. Yes will be back. And it’s dog friendly so will be back with mine!

Great range of hearty pastries and sandwiches, both sweet and savory. The staff were kind and prompt. The indoor area is pleasant, warm and has great natural lighting from the large sunroof.