Highness Cafe & Tea Room

Cozy Café with Irresistible Club Sandwiches

Nestled in the buzzing community of Highbury is Highness Café & Tea Room, an enchanting haven for coffee enthusiasts and brunch aficionados alike. My steps through the door were met with a tantalizing tapestry of baked delights and eager welcomes from staff who seem to hold an unerring knack for remembering your name by your second visit. It’s almost magical the way this family-run establishment merges warmth with efficiency — much like being enveloped in a favorite sweater, soft in its embrace and surefire in its comfort. The air is alight with the aromas of freshly brewed coffee; the foamy cappuccinos coupled with their club sandwich — touted as one of London’s finest — can undo the weightiest of mornings.

What etched Highness into heart as much as palette is the undisguised essence of community it promotes. This café hardly feels like just another venue on a street of shops; it’s more akin to an urban hearthstone where routines are cherished and connections nurtured. Upstairs seating captures a quaint old-world charm with designs that invite hours of leisurely reading or quiet rendezvous with a friend. Their assortment of gluten-free and vegan pastries does impress, although caution is advisable with matcha — its texture less so. Yet, for every minor stumble, ten strides of captivating interaction and culinary excellence reaffirm why patrons return several times a week. Save a Sunday afternoon for scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast, plus a moment at this Highbury gem where life slows just enough to savor. — Audrey Al Dente