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

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.

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.

The tea at Kissa Wa Café is definitely the highlight! We had the matcha and hojicha lattes, and both were aromatic and perfectly brewed. The food isn’t as flavorful as typical Japanese cuisine, but it’s great for those seeking a healthy meal. Their cheesecake is also excellent—soft, moist, and not too sweet. The only thing was the slow service. We waited up to 30 minutes for our food.

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

Good coffee, good service, and fair prices

Cosy very nice cafe and lovely staff.

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely love Black Sheep Coffee! The quality of their coffee is unmatched, with rich flavors that keep me coming back for more. The staff is always friendly and attentive, making my visits enjoyable every time. The cozy ambiance of their cafes makes it the perfect spot to unwind or catch up on work. While the prices are slightly higher, the exceptional quality and service are definitely worth it. Highly recommend to any coffee lover!

Great coffee and friendly staff. Well worth a visit.

I visited this Black Sheep Coffee branch l for the first time, and it had a good experience. I ordered the iced strawberry and cream matcha latte, and it was ready in no time. The staff were friendly and helpful, and the service was good. There's a good range of food and drink options here.

The cafe where I felt the warmth of home for the first time in London🌸 As an atmosphere, you feel yourself in a cafe by the sea in the south, I guess that's why it makes you feel good in the cloudy weather of London☺️.Their salads were both healthy and delicious. It is a place where you can come with your friends and family with peace of mind, I highly recommend it. we will go again and again…

Such a delightful lunch!! A great little spot for healthy and tasty salad or grab a coffee and homemade sandwiches. I am not really veg lover but even I had a delicious salad. The patato one and aubergine one is a must have. Also very lovely staff and good service 💕

Nice place and pastries. We couldn't stay inside because it was crowded, neither outside because of rain. We need to come back and enjoy the place. Filter Coffee was nice and the pain chocolate with pistachio was insanely good.

I had a fantastic experience at this charming café! The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, perfect for a relaxing break. The coffee was exceptional—rich and perfectly brewed—and the pastries were fresh and delicious. The staff was friendly and attentive, making it a great spot to unwind. Highly recommend!

Simply perfect for an intimate cafe lunch.

I must admit that I haven't been so delighted for a long time when it comes to breakfast. We liked it so much that we also came back the next day and we will probably go back there every time we are in London. i highly recommend this place. there is delicious food and amazing decor

Another cozy cafe in the finsbury park area. I come here often to get a coffee and once in awhile I get some breakfast. Such a wonderful find! Not only is the atmosphere amazing, but the service is too! I ordered a sage lemonade, a green smoothie, and avo on toast with scrambled eggs. All of these were amazing! The drinks were refreshing and perfectly combined, and the food was flavourful and cooked to perfection. Overall I would 100% recommend this cafe to anyone in the area!

Sage Kitchen is a delightful spot with a fantastic menu and a warm, inviting atmosphere. The food is always fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented, and the staff is friendly and attentive. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to come back again and again. That said, I noticed there’s an opportunity to enhance their online presence—there doesn’t seem to be a dedicated social media channel or a fully optimized website. These tools could help more people discover and enjoy this amazing spot. As someone experienced in social media management and website development, I’d be happy to help showcase the charm and quality of Sage Kitchen online.

Best station coffee in London and lovely friendly crew. I commuted through Highbury & Islington 2015-2019 and was seriously missing the Coffee Run when my office moved to Farringdon. I eventually switched jobs and am now going through Highbury again since Nov 2020, I was so pleased to still see the same crew, after the lockdowns, was like homecoming. In all seriousness, if you come through Highbury & Islington, get yourself a coffee on platform 7. Edit Jan 2025 - had many more coffees all over London, the Coffee Run's oat milk flat white still goes unmatched! And try the filter coffee, so good one doesn't even need sugar!

A nice place to stop and get coffee between trains! I bought a drink yesterday morning and the lady serving me was so happy and friendly. She made the effort to say good morning to everyone she served, asked how they are, and asked about the book in my arm. Personal things like this keep you going back!

I stayed overnight in London, and upon my early morning return I had a lovely emental omelette and two very fine coffees at this friendly little place before my 3hr journey home. Highly recommended as the guys are superb and being gluten free, the omelette made the mark.

A lovely local independent cafe. My two flat whites and my crushed avocado in toast with an egg was perfection. It is so much better than cage chains that are everywhere. Go and find an independent out and see the difference!

Really nice brunch place, really cute and cozy. Staff really helpful and friendly, always kept an eye on everyone. Only thing I would mention is the cold inside as the main door is open, but there is a covered terrace which is maybe warmer. I didn’t have to wait for a table nor waited too much for food. I would come back 100%

Wanted somewhere nice to eat before the Arsenal game on Saturday. Don’t know the area so googled the night before, pics looked good so thought we’d give here a try. We weren’t disappointed 😍 My son had an amazing omelette & I had the scrambled eggs on sourdough, both were so tasty. Service great, I had an amazing kombucha to drink, good variety of flavours in stock. Would def visit again if we get tickets in the ballot next season.