The Pavillion Cafe

Out door park dining great for people watching. Coffee gets a big tick and the breakfast/​brunch menu has a range of pretty traditional items that change a little bit from weekend to weekend. Super laid back and relaxed!
Menu is a little on the bready side but the bread is delicious (and loaves are available to be taken home). Generally on offer is the ‘hollandaise collective’, a big breakfast with at least two different meats, a veggie form of the big breaky and a couple of other bits and pieces. The one exception from the traditional offerings is the Sri Lankan breakfast (GF) with a boiled egg, a light curry and noodles. This is pretty good but it needs a spoon which you don’t get and maybe something a bit more to it (maybe some veg rather than potato?). I’m glad i tried it though! There is also some sweet dessert items and pastries which apparently are pretty good and the pancakes come highly recommended. All pretty generous serving sizes and cost 5−10pounds. Sides are available of most things.
Food and coffee are ordered inside as well as the locally made juices which are ‘pre cupped’ ready to be picked up out of the open fridge during your line up. If you are wanting something sweet to finish with best to grab it when you order your mains so you don’t have to line up again. There is invariably a line up especially on a sunny day so if you don’t like lining up on your own to go with a group so you have a line up buddy or order then find a table. I like to enjoy the people watch opportunity and man the table outside.
I have only had good experiences with the staff they are pretty laid back so i see how people might see that as rude but maybe they get sick of people complaining about lines. So if you want to be waited on maybe this place is not for you. Probably my biggest low light is the toilets which are really public toilets but i guess it is park dining so i’ll have to get over it!

Fantastic setting for lunch right in the heart of highgate wood, however the staff are unattentive and even a little bit rude which spoils it a bit. None the less if you can get over that its a great place to spend a lazy afternoon on a summer’s day.

Quite expensive for a café but the food’s not bad.
Considering that it’s pretty close to the children’s playground and hence over-​run by posh sprogs, it could be a great deal more unpleasant.
Not recommended for anyone who wants a quiet, restful retreat, that’s for sure!
(I think I’d echo the comment about the staff, up to a point. Not the worst I’ve ever come across but some of them are pretty witless.)

Hidden away in the depths of Highgate Woods there is a small cottage style café complete with picket fence where people of all ages can regularly be seen lounging inside or out feasting on ice creams, muffins, coffee’s and herbal tea’s on a backdrop of thick woodland and a lucious green field out in front. A perfect Sunday afternoon escape from the busy roads surrounding the woods. If you’re lucky enough to wander up at the right time you might stumble upon a live Jazz performance or a cricket match on the field out front. Extremely friendly staff spreading from the girl pouring the tea to the park keepertending to the tree’s. A local treaure definately worth a visit if you are passing through.