Novi in Cambridge

Excellent good, and gf/df options

My 2nd visit to Novi, the first was quiet drinks with a girlfriend and this time we enjoyed our staff, of 7, Xmas party with a 3 course Xmas dinner. The whole evening was brilliant. Novi staff were friendly and attentive, the service was prompt and each course was delivered with smiles and chat. The owner himself came to swap our wines as we requested, and throughout our evening, Novi staff were checking we were happy. Most impressive was the quality of the food- the starter canapés were presented on boards, the main course was served with perfectly cooked vegetables and the desserts were delicate and tasty. We were able to enjoy our table in the back room saved for dining customers, close to the kitchen for ease of serving. Absolutely recommend this superb restaurant. Will definitely be returning myself.

Good space, great cocktails - loved Takes Two To Mango 🥭🥭🍸🍸 (Good coffee stop during the day too)

I had my 30th birthday party last night in the middle floor function room. The staff were absolutely amazing and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect - they were so attentive. The cocktails and atmosphere were absolutely wonderful and I am so grateful to Novi for giving us all the best night to remember! Thank you so much!

We held a corporate event at Novi on a Wednesday evening for 80 people. We were given exclusive access to the top floor and shared use of the middle floor. We had a buffet style meal which was superb, the atmosphere was great, the venue was open late and everyone had a great time. Thank you Matt and your team for hosting us!

I cannot recommend the Novi Cambridge enough, my experience from initial contact, to leaving, after a fantastic evening, was nothing less than amazing. I was tasked with organising a private function for 85 people, from all over the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and the Novi was recommended as a potential venue. From my very first contact, Matt and his team bent over backwards to accommodate varying requirements, assisting in any way they could. It was obvious Matt knew what he was talking about and l took his advice with regards the catering, he certainly didn't let me or my party down! The actual evening was superb, everyone loved the atmosphere (we had private use of the middle and top floors) and the food, well it was second to none. It was tasty, varied, there was plenty of it and everyone commented on just how good it was. Definitely value for money. It was clear to see that Matt and all his staff had worked hard to deliver such an evening. Nothing was too much trouble, the staff were helpful, polite, friendly and informative. We couldn't have asked for more. The length of time everyone stayed, was testament to just what a great evening it was, they were enjoying themselves. Fantastic food, superb staff, amazing atmosphere. (Sorry, no photos, we were too busy eating, drinking, socialising, having fun).

I have been there 2 times. The first visit was fine but second one was not. we were 3 people and ordered cheese platter and meat platter to share. The waiter told us there is a combination of both cheese and meat and we agreed it is a good idea to get a cheese and meat platter together and it was even cheaper than getting them separately. However, we got very small board with one little cheese piece and 5-6 slices of meat (also one type of cheese and one type of meat only), with a couple of pickles and olives. That was not even enough for one person.

Returned this week to give the place another go, but unfortunately, I left disappointed once again. The service is incredibly slow, and the staff seem uninterested in attending to customers. The door staff are the only friendly ones; everyone else inside is, quite frankly, rude. It’s a shame, as the venue itself is lovely, but for the price, there are certainly better options in the city.

We were seated at the back area by the kitchen .. the fabric seats were absolutely filthy stained & put me off my food! Why would you not get them cleaned - gross tbh .. staff continually banged the door when moving in & out - a bit bizarre tbh -eggs good, coffee nice enough

The Caesar salad was not an authentic one with the lettuce whole so not coated in dressing

Need to reserve a table before arriving. Good food. The space is not airy, tables and chairs are placed quite close together.

Turkish eggs are awesome! Just make sure you ask for coffees extra hot

Service was so poor, got our order wrong and never apologised, took so long for them to take our order yet alone give us the menus, did not ask how our food was. Chicken waffle was dry and sriracha potatoes were dry. Do not recommend this restaurant at all.

Deco is nice but so loud that you can't talk.

I ordered a simple flat white. Not only was it a bad flat white with weird coffee grounds on the bottom but the waitress spilled half of it and just said oops here's a new saucer. Terrible service.

Asian manager is very rude and unprofessional. Novi was at one time one of the best bars in Cambridge. For the last three years it has plummeted In standing. Awful prices, awful staff = awful experience.

Brilliant for Brunch.. .. cool and trendy..

Arrived to the establishment and things were going well, the waiter approached our table and unfortunately due to two unexpected pregnancys we were two guests down, ohhh now the waiter was not a happy bunny with this, if looks could kill- we understand that this means they’re down £80 but not our fault the pull out technique didn’t work on these occasions. Now we move on the food, well let’s just say the options were limited, and what they did offer was absolutely vile - it was dry as a nuns vagina, it was tasteless and I had severe diarrhoea after. And now on to the drinks - or lack off should I say. God forbid someone comes that doesn’t like Morreti or Prosecco because what else are they going to have - shocking. £40 down the drain - could have got a 0.5 with that. Will not be returning

The servers were so hospital and nice. The etonmess and the paperita drinks were of the chart. I enjoyed them a lot. Also, the food there was so delicious that I have to eat more than I anticipated. I had a wondrous experience there.

I booked a cocktail masterclass here for my hen do and I couldn’t recommend it enough! Alex lead the masterclass and he was brilliant! Such a relaxed and good atmosphere, we all thoroughly enjoyed it!

Lovely atmosphere, great vibes and music! It’s four places into one with good small plates and amazing cocktails. Cameron was great, very friendly and welcoming!!

A great atmosphere to grab a mocktail and have delicious food! Service was exceptional as well.

Great cocktails and great staff.

Previous bad experience, review revised 27Aug: An offer of a couple of complimentary drinks gave us the opportunity to go back and have a different experience. My wife and I were quite the imposition popping in at the weekend with two kids and two dogs. We were made to feel welcomed none the less. The place had a nice atmosphere. The sloe gin cocktails were very nice and we got a few light bites for lunch. We had an omelette for breakfast so didn't fancy eggs and a lot of dishes on the menu included eggs. What you would expect for brunch menu I guess. I enjoyed the SF chicken and buckwheat waffle. I could have eaten more chicken but a good light bite. My wife had the salmon waffle option which was great and generous. Think the kids menu is better for more grown up kids but we had a good time and would go back. Thank you Novi.

Food look good for the 45 minutes that we sat there waiting to have our order filled. We knew there was something wrong after half an hour and they haven’t brought our drinks. Staff were more concerned in taking about straightening their hair serving customers.

Service and atmosphere is great! But for a wine and cocktail bar the cocktails are rank. They are pre made and extremely sweet - they have that fake taste to them which is really disappointing. I asked for one of the cocktails and just asked if change the spirit from bourbon to gin and it's not possible because they are premixed. I tried 3 different cocktails all tasted rank. Lovely venue and the staff were very good!

I had a great lunch with my son at Novi. The food was amazing, and the service was equally matched. I will definitely visit again. Thank you! Jengis @ North London Bathrooms

A very nice place to sit and watch the world go by.

Unfortunately half of the menu was not available The food that was there was just mediocre Wouldn't go again

Food was absolutely amazing!! Wide choice of delicious plates to choose from and so much flavour in every single one. Service was relaxed but attentive, cocktails were really different and top notch, honestly couldn’t fault it. Thanks for a fab evening.

We visited Novi to get something to eat before the theatre performance. My wife is vegetarian, and we asked the waitress for a suggestion. She (I think her name was Megan) was very helpful and advised a few things. My wife decided to get Chargrilled flat bread (Coal roasted beetroot humus, crispy chickpeas) and she was extremely satisfied. I also selected vegetarian option (Buffalo cauliflower wings) and it was also good decision. The portion are not big, but satisfying and priced appropriate. We matched the food with two different flavours of white wines, and had a lovely meal.

Cameron- vasi great experience with these waiters

We love Novi! It’s quickly become one of our regular spots. The food and service is always great.

We visited for the very first time in Thursday from Grantham. The food and service were excellent!

Had an absolutely beautiful Too Good To Go bag from Novi this week. It included a delicious (and I emphasise that it was absolutely stunning) brownie, two large cookies and a BLT focaccia. All the food was amazing, and I ate it over the next couple of days, with the brownie staying as delicious as I would assume it would be fresh. This also comes with the caveat that I am (evidently not the most consistent) vegetarian, but am personally happy to eat the BLT since it stops food waste. Made a great lunch, though the height of the sandwich due to the focaccia did make eating somewhat challenging... Service was friendly and fast, no issues. I always love the atmosphere even when walking past in the evening, so I will definitely return as a customer this Summer. Looking forward to more!

good food, good vibes. really great flatbread with hummus and crispy chickpeas. guava cooler was amaze!

Delicious brunch! 😊 Excellent service - would recommend and return, thank you!

Great atmosphere. Cocktails are lovely and good options for beer and wine. A little pricey but in a prime spot in town so it’s expected.

Interesting twist on breakfast, made a nice change from the norm.

Did the cocktail making for my daughters hen party. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Our host was very friendly and knowledgeable about all our drinks. Would definitely do it again.

Great lunch. Just popped in as we passed it. Never been before but will B back

Good cocktails and atmosphere! And buckwheat waffle was amazing!

Brilliant place, lovely food and service. Went for food and was very very happy would highly recommend :) Service was excellent!

The Turkish eggs were delicious. We will definitely be returning to try the rest of the menu.

What has happened to this fantastic venue? My family has supported this business since Day 1, but this place has really gone down hill. The attitude towards customers is appalling, the quality of food is terrible and the overall atmosphere is non existent. I highly recommend to go elsewhere in town.

We celebrated my sister's birthday here and the service, food, and care from the staff was unparalleled. They helped us surprise her with candles & a cake and we had a great time. The food was delicious and the bathrooms were lovely too!

Great, seems to have settled since the refurb. This bar is an off centre mix of casual coffee with your pet?, to the place to be for drinks and dinner in a group. Could do with some more individual seating. the group tables are not ideal for this solo customer.

Its all good but a little pricey.

Novi informed us that despite our company being several hundred people locally, this was irrelevant and numbers didn’t matter. Drinks were fine and prices were high. What’s the point? Bore off. One of my execs felt like they couldn’t even have a glass of water & I raised with the bar manager… they had zero interest. The arrogance shines through

Personally I’ve always enjoyed this place since it was opened! Great food including really fun and diverse vegetarian options! Vegetarian 🥑 options really deserve extra mention since in most places they’re a boring afterthought but not here. The location is beautiful, I love it, especially when it’s getting warm. I’m not drinking anymore so I can’t comment drinks but I remember that cocktails were good when this place opened and I still thought alcohol was a good idea haha 😜

Never had a bad meal here- try the cookies! They're always friendly and the chef often comes and speaks with us. Served happily by Rheea today- thank you for the good experience :)

Great service and amazing food!

My favourite coffee place in Cambridge! Great coffee, cocktails and food. Best of all staff are amazing. Keep up the good work!

We just discovered Novi today, what a find. Our brunch was really tasty, well presented and the service was great, what a cool place. We'll be back!

Great cocktail bar with live music and games consoles. Arrived late on a Saturday and was shown to a table straight away.

I love brunch here. Service is great. Make sure you get a cookie on your way out - they're delicious too!

Came in with my daughter and doggy for Mother's Day. Really dog friendly, she got lots of fuss. Lovely cocktails and desserts and the lady Sofia who served us was ever so welcoming and friendly :)

A vibrant and interesting venue for all to enjoy. A good selection of cooked and cold dishes presented in a very attractive style. The menu caters for imaginatively described dishes for discerning customers including vegetarian and vegan, and at competitive prices.There is also a good alcohol and soft drinks list and a well stocked bar There is a definite difference between the casual snack area and the more formal dining area which caters to customers who reserve their dining time. The quality can be seen from the fact that both locals and visitors thronged in and many tables were already reserved. The staff seemed to have some confusion over available seating when we only required a simple snack and we were asked to change our table twice. After that the service was pleasant and efficient.

Always a go to spot for brunch. Charlie is a beast in the kitchen.

Beautiful environment and good service, I will recommend a visit when next in Cambridge

We came in here for Sunday breakfast this past weekend. Having had some disappointing hotel breakfasts we were keen for something different & better - we lucked out. The vibe is cool & trendy, but still comfortable. The fella serving was attentive & friendly, went out of his way to discuss the menu & give recommendations. Turns out we probably could have picked anything as the food was amazing. I had the Turkish eggs which were superb, my wife has the eggs & mushrooms, and my son the avocado on toast, both declared them a triumph. They don't just do plain dishes, they add a little more flavour and interest which elevates them. The bill was v reasonable, and we took a chance to look at the evening menu which had us committing to come back another time for cocktails and dinner. Can't recommend this place enough.

Came for Sunday brunch with my daughter. Food was delicious and staff exceptionally friendly and helpful. Prices very reasonable. A great place

Awesome Original Delicious healthy and freshly pepared food Very tasty!

Lovely atmosphere, great vegan options. Staff were extremely friendly and helpful. Coffee was extremely good.

Such a great stop!! We were hungry looking for a mimosa and some brunch- perfect!!

It gets incredibly loud, which isn't my scene but I am sure it's a great spot for a lot of extroverts!

Fantastic! We are having a great time! Really great service, friendly and good vibes.

Taylor and the kitchen staff were a amazing

Lovely evening with great food and vibes, Taylor really looked after us and was amazing. :)

Nice place nice food, clean and airy

Taylor was great and very helpful!

Came in for brunch on a Saturday and we were impressed by the food - probably the best value brunch I've had in Cambridge! Very friendly service from Taylor as well.

Great service and food. Thanks Taylor

The food, drinks and the ambiance at Novi are always great! Taylor was really nice and great service as always.

Came alone for late lunch on a Thursday, ate their brunch special “breakfast taco” with crispy pork collar and crumpled peta with a cocktail. I was greeted with service, introduced to specials for the day and given advice on the menu where I asked. The service wasn’t pushy, very welcoming and accommodating. The food too was awesome. Great flavor and clearly great care put into it for a very decent price. Was also very pleased with the way I was served especially as a solo diner. I definitely recommend!

Me and my husband Boris decided to come here for brunch. Boris was served pink chicken which the “chef” assured us was cooked, and I was served a plate of mush. I would just like to let the chef know he needs to adjust his eyeballs because Boris has unfortunately been on the toilet very frequently and I do not like the sounds coming out of him, they sound like the loudest burps I have ever heard but they are coming out of his bottom! Personally I don’t think mush should be an option on the menu because it’s not a popular texture. We will not be returning and do not recommend anyone else does, unless you are an enjoyer of raw chicken and mush.

Taylor and the team are very kind and the food was amazing

Food was ok. Took about 10 minutes to be served and half an hour for the food to arrive. Might have just been hangry but the overall experience was quite bad.

Very good service for Megan and John Plus good apple juice

Absolutely delicious food. Would 100% recommend a visit. Service was impeccable, & attentive made me feel very welcome. Thank you Taylor

If you enjoy your juice without ice - you only get two thirds of the drink.

Nice Restaurant and good service

Excellent vibe, great food & coffee and Taylor was lovely and very attentive. Great experience!

Taylor was really great and attentive to our needs and requests. Place is nice and the menu is great!

Great food and wonderful service, Taylor looked after us so well and made our dining experience extra special.

Taylor was very attentive and made us feel welcome. Had a great visit!

I love Novi and Taylor was great!

Big shoutout to Taylor for his great service. Avocado toast with marinated tomatoes was sooooo good, saved my lunch

The food was fabulous. Taylor was great!

Taylor was lovely and suggested great drinks for me and my group

Nice food (would have liked more vegan options), very nice cocktails. But main purpose of this review is to shoutout one staff member in particular. I didn’t get his name but he has mid-length, straight blond hair and was wearing a red checkered shirt. Anyway, he was so super friendly and cheerful, just really nice to interact with him and seemed actively keen to make our experience as nice as possible!

Taylor is amazing, really lovely dude

Taylor is a lovely server and bartender, absolute gem of a person

Good food (highly recommend the Turkish eggs) and great service from Taylor as well!

I had a memorable bottomless brunch with friends. Taylor made sure we had a good time. We all had a great time at Novi - wonderful Saturday Brunch :)

Really good brunch here. Taylor or waiter was very attentive and polite. The coffee is excellent as is the avocado toast and apple crumble waffle. Great that you can book as a lot of places do not allow booking for brunch. I’ve been two weeks in a row now - this will become a regular spot!

Brilliant brunch spot! Fun ambience with lots of natural light and good amount of seating. Staff is above and beyond friendly and welcoming! Food is delicious (especially the southern friend chicken+waffle and the cookies -out of this world!) and filling. Will definitely be returning!

First of all we would like to thank the whole team for their craft a shift, creativity, professional and friendly behaviour. When we arrived at NYE there was a small fire in the kitchen. Therefore we’ve been told there will be no food served anymore this evening. We were having a drink or two at the bar and then the chef came to us to inform us that we can have our booked table. The food and drinks was second to none. Highly recommend the team and drinks. Please try out the garlic Wodka drink and the shawarma. Simply awesome. Thanks again. Will definitely come back.

Lovely spot for a late night cocktail!

The food and service were fine. Disgusting toilets. All 3 toilets in gents were overflowing.