Pavilion Café
Highgate Woods Muswell Hill Road Highgate London N10 3JN
The traffic may thunder along Archway Road 10 minutes’ walk away, but the old cricket pavilion in Highgate Woods is a small slice of country in the city. Given its setting amidst ancient forest, it’s no surprise that this is all about al fresco dining on the wisteria-clad terrace – there are only a few tables inside anyway. Expect fresh homemade soups, toasties, filled pittas and dips, perhaps a seasonal main course at weekends such as winter braised belly pork, as well as the usual afternoon tea with homemade cakes. So what’s the downside? Just one: on sunny weekends it is besieged by young families with boisterous tots – tranquil it is not.