In a quiet pocket of Highbury, Fink’s Mountgrove has been a much-loved local fixture since 2014. What began as a corner deli dreamed up by Jess and Mat - who famously left their sensible jobs and never quite looked back - has evolved into a laid-back, ever-so-slightly obsessive all-day café, takeaway and pantry shop with a cult following.
The ethos is simple: serve delicious food made from scratch, source thoughtfully, and stock shelves with things you’d actually want in your kitchen. The sandwiches are standout—built on sourdough from Fink’s own bakery in N4 and filled with punchy, layered flavour. Think chicken, bacon, Caesar, anchovy and crouton on white sourdough, or the excellent fig chutney, goat’s curd, walnut and chicory combo that hits sweet, creamy, and bitter all at once.
Salads, made fresh daily, showcase seasonal veg from Natoora and are anything but an afterthought. The hot smoked salmon with garlic baby potatoes and caper ranch is especially popular, while the rainbow chard, puy lentils and roasted pepper dressing keeps the vegetarians happy without feeling like a compromise.
Cakes, cookies and brownies are crafted using Wildfarmed flour, and have a sort of sturdy, wholesome indulgence about them. There’s pumpkin, cardamom and dark chocolate cake, chocolate devil’s cake with burnt caramel icing, and two kinds of cookies - oat sesame or buckwheat choc chip - sold in packs, ideal for gifting (or hoarding).
Coffee comes courtesy of Scenery Coffee Roasters and pairs neatly with a sit-down on the kerb outside or a quick pop-in en route to Clissold Park. Inside, shelves are lined with natural wines, small-batch spirits, sauces, oils and pantry goods, many of which are made within walking distance.
Whether you're here for the sandwich, the cinnamon bun, the locally made vermouth or just to catch up on neighbourly gossip, Fink’s Mountgrove feels like a perfectly pitched corner of North London: thoughtful, tasty, and just the right amount of offbeat.