The best restaurants in Highbury East Islington London

This is a very nice casual local eatery on Highbury Corner. Our last visit followed a dog walk in Highbury Fields. We shared the halloumi fries which were great and then I had the beef taco and OH had the kebab. Everything was really tasty. A handy spot that provides good value,

Amazing food and lovely place. Chicken was gorgeous, generous portions. We’ve already been twice in the last week since we discovered it!

The best coffee I have had since being back in England and I’ve been living off great coffee in Greece!! Thank you for the pleasant welcome I haven’t stopped thinking about it. Wish I lived closer!! Keep doing what you doing. Also love the dog biscuits!!!

I have been using 129 HRD for a couple of seasons now . It is a great stopping point between Highbury and Islington Station and the Emirates Stadium . I have been there for both lunch and dinner and sometimes just for a quick drink after the game . The food is of a good standard and fairly priced - and they have a decent selection of wines . But the place is made by the service and the warm welcome by the manager and his team . Thank you !

Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine & Great Hospitality! This was the second time I tried Ethiopian cuisine, and it did not disappoint. We visited Mesi Kitchen as a group of 22, and the experience was fantastic. Since Ethiopian food is traditionally shared, we split into smaller groups of four to enjoy the meal. Our group ordered a sharing platter for four, along with lamb tibs and doro wat. The food was flavourful, well-prepared, and truly enjoyable. I definitely recommend having a sharing platter, as the portions are much larger, and I feel you get more variety. A couple in our group shared a platter for two, and it seemed much smaller in comparison. We had a few Ethiopians in our group, and they were really happy with the food, which is always a great sign of authenticity! The staff were incredibly friendly and easy-going, even with our large group moving around to chat. They were helpful and patient, which I thoroughly appreciated. One thing I’d recommend for the future is avoiding a single large bill at the end. Unfortunately, I forgot to mention this in advance, and it made splitting the payment quite tricky. If one person makes a mistake, it can leave others trying to figure out who owes what, which can take away from an otherwise amazing experience. The owner did mention that they could have handled it differently had we informed them beforehand, but for large groups, it would be helpful if the staff gave a polite reminder about this option in advance—it would definitely save a headache when it comes to paying. Overall, Mesi Kitchen delivered an excellent Ethiopian dining experience with great food and welcoming service. Highly recommended for anyone looking to enjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine in a friendly and relaxed setting!

The most delicious coffee in town I recommend you head to this coffee bar if your ever near by

Been going here for years and it’s always 10/10

Nice place for affordable sushi in a relaxed environment. The salmon teriyaki is very nice! Friendly staff, good prices and nice atmosphere

Arrived late on a Saturday night, had an absolutely fantastic meal. It's been years since I ate here (before they renamed it), but the standard is just as high. Very polite and helpful service and incredibly delicious food. The sticky spicey ribs, the grilled pork and rice, and the shaking beef were all packed with flavour. Top tip: order extra rice to soak up all of the incredible sauce.

Love this place. Great food and coffee and the friendliest staff. Corn fritters are ace! 🙂

Best brunch, a hidden gem! We'll keep coming back! Thank you guys!

Amazing masterclass Teja, what a legend, it was a really fantastic experience. Wouldh highly recommend to anyone xoxo

We visited this café/restaurant around 11 AM and were seated right away. From the moment we arrived, the staff seemed unfriendly, almost as if our presence was an inconvenience. Despite this, we ordered breakfast, coffee, and soft drinks and asked if we could work on our laptops. They agreed but mentioned they might ask us to put away our laptops if it got busy, which we found reasonable. However, throughout our visit, the atmosphere remained unwelcoming. While other guests received friendly service, we were met with coldness—no smiles, no basic manners, and a general feeling that we were not wanted. It’s shocking behavior from hospitality staff. When we arrived, the table wasn’t reserved, and no one mentioned a later booking. Yet, at 1:30 PM, a waiter abruptly placed a “reserved” sign for 1:45 PM, giving us barely any notice before essentially pushing us out. We had been ordering food and drinks the entire time, so it wasn’t as if we were just taking up space. To top it off, we paid £47 for two breakfast buns, two coffees, and two soft drinks (including service charge), despite receiving some of the worst service we’ve ever experienced. The food was decent—nothing special—but the treatment we received completely soured the experience. If you’re looking for a warm and welcoming environment, I’d steer clear. But if you’re after an overpriced flat white and the feeling of being unwelcome, this might just be the place for you.

Love the old school cafe vibe, food was good, prices are good, staff are great, the lady who looked after us and the guys in the kitchen. Thanks, would happily return.

Wonderful as ever. A wonderful find for that different dining out experience. Friendly welcome, coupled with a lovely lamb shank. Chocolate Mousse a must for a naughty end to the night. Will be back for another dinner when the opportunity arises.