Cafe Highgate in Cambridge: photos, reviews

About

Cafe Highgate in Cambridge-Willingham-Over is a charming spot that captures the essence of a cozy and casual eatery. Boasting an impressive Google rating of 4.6, this affordable cafe is a favorite among locals for its delightful offerings. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty breakfast, a leisurely brunch, or a relaxing lunch, Cafe Highgate has you covered with its delicious sandwiches and soothing teas. Not to be missed are their delectable desserts and excellent coffee, perfect for a solo escape or a friendly catch-up. Open daily from 8am to 4pm, the cafe promises quick service with a smile and a welcoming atmosphere. With the option for takeaway or reservations, it's a versatile choice for any dining plan. Founded by local residents, Cafe Highgate often hosts supper clubs, tastings, and a variety of events, making it more than just a cafe, but a community hub.

Price

$$$$ 1 - 20 GBP

Meals

Breakfast, Branch, Lunch

Services

Takeaway, Reservations available, Dine-in

Offering

Serving desserts, Small plates, Serving coffee

Payment

Payment by credit card, Payment by debit card, NFC payment

Atmosphere

Casual, Cozy

How to get here?

The nearest public transport options for your convenience.

Millfield

Bus stop 620 m walk

St Mary's Church

Bus stop 842 m walk

Westmeadow Close

Bus stop 181 m walk

Rook Grove

Bus stop 372 m walk

4.6

based on 46 reviews

Google

4.6/5 34 reviews

Facebook

4.7/5 12 reviews

Riadh Aine

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 4

Every year I have the absolute honour to be Cafe Judge for Velvet* Food & Drink Awards. One thing I LOVE about my visits is that they are not all based in Cambridge. We got to enjoy nearly the full gamut of offerings under Velvet’s distribution area in 2024, and this stop brought me and my guest judge to Willingham. The long awaited and newly opened Café Highgate was founded by Kevin Brittain and Ben Sulston who grew up in the area and played for local football team, the Willingham Wolves! Ben is probably best known for his unparallelled skills as a chef, and his supper clubs, namely Hidden by Puddini, and Kevin describes himself as a serial entrepreneur, most recently founding Runpreneur, a vlogging platform he intends to promote to raise money for children’s charities. These two are just absolute legendary humans to be honest. It is evident that they love their community and their work, and it was heart-warming to see this manifested in their café where we were greeted with a picture-perfect scene of 3 families seated around the first long table at the entrance. This was particularly important to the plus one (and a half) I had joining me on this visit. I had the puppy with me as usual and as per reputation, and my guest had her 2-year-old daughter with her. Niki entered before me to settle the little one, while I brought Truffle next door to the Vet and Pet Shop. When I eventually joined, she wasted no time at all reporting just how wonderful the staff had been in welcoming them, and helping her entertain Ellie. This allowed her to properly peruse the menu, and be able to enjoy their playdate and time together while waiting for the food to arrive. The food and drinks came out quickly despite how busy they were with the next wave of families coming in from the Wellness Centre just around the corner. It is definitely worth acknowledging that Truffle was also looked after with a bowl of water, and a treat (or three) from behind the counter. Café Highgate is a much-loved addition to Willingham Farm and shops, and with its plethora of supper clubs, tastings, and upcoming events in the evenings as Restaurant Highgate, it is already establishing itself as a destination spot. It would be a shame if it didn’t with Chef Ben behind it! The building boasts high ceilings, natural light, and a brick façade behind the counter and along the walls. Through a little online image investigation, it has gone through at least 3 incarnations since 2020 – The Book Warren and Café, Through The Looking Glass (unverified), and finally Café Highgate by day, Restaurant Highgate at night – the interior décor largely untouched throughout. The café side of the business has been open for 8 months (at the time of this visit), with the restaurant more formally establishing itself in February of this year (2024). Café Highgate, the Country Store Farm Shop, the Veterinary Clinic, the Willingham Gym and Wellness Centre and all the other businesses on the site are just a 1 hou...

paul newman

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

lovely breakfast nice staff

Kevin Earl

Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5

A nice cafe to grab a coffee and snack