Images: DAISY DICKINSON
Stylish and sophisticated, Novi is all about specialty coffees, stunning cocktails and an ever-changing foodie line-up
A lot’s been happening at number 12 Regent Street of late. The Fountain, known for its pumping tunes and late nights, has gone, making way for the altogether more refined Novi: an innovative coffee bar and cocktail lounge with some rather exciting foodie plans on the horizon.
Walking in you can’t help but be impressed by the stylish fit-out, with its sleek furnishings, marble-topped tables, atmospheric lighting and air of understated cool. It’s been utterly transformed from its previous incarnation, and now feels more like a glamorous corner of Mayfair than the city centre of Cambridge.
“You can’t help but be impressed by the stylish fit-out.”
By day, Novi operates as a sophisticated coffee bar, serving up speciality espressos, light bites and brunches at the weekend, and if you pop by on a Sunday, as we did, you can sample their irresistible roast dinners.
My partner shotgunned the classic – roast beef – so I went for the local free-range chicken with all the trimmings. I’d assumed it was impossible to make a mound of gravy-soaked meat a thing of beauty, but Novi achieve it effortlessly, presenting a dish that looks as delicious as it tastes. This is a roast for the discerning diner: the succulent skin-on breast and juicy leg of chicken with voluminous Yorkshire pudding, was accompanied by delicately cooked greens with just the right amount of crunch. Add to this roasted baby carrots, sweet, creamy turnip and swede mash, and roast potatoes that were crisp on the outside, hot and fluffy on the inside, and we might just have the recipe for the best Sunday roast in town. Across the table, the slices of pink, tender beef, given a spicy hit by the home-made white onion and horseradish puree, were proving just as big a success.
On the drinks front, we were impressed by the wine list and range of ales, but it’s the killer cocktail list which really sets Novi apart from the crowd. They take their drinks seriously here, offering an intriguing selection of botanical concoctions which range from the sweet and zesty Tickled Pink (rhubarb vodka, rhubarb syrup, fresh lemon juice, lemonade and citrus tincture), to the rich and smooth delights of the Fair Trade (vanilla vodka, Fair Café, Mozart white chocolate, gomme syrup and Aztec chocolate bitters).
The evening food offering is where things get really interesting. Rather than a single menu or style of cuisine, Novi will be hosting a series of pop-ups and kitchen residencies, showcasing the cream of our local food scene and offering a constantly changing line-up of deliciousness to tempt diners. First up, from mid-November, local burger heroes Steak & Honour will be pitching up in the Novi kitchen for a stint over the winter months, so you’ll be able to pop by and sip on an artfully created tipple while you enjoy one of their now-famous gourmet burgers (we approve!). There’s plenty more to come too, from supper clubs to appearances from more local street food favourites. We reckon it sounds like a winning combination, offering a chance to sample the best of Cambridge’s burgeoning foodie revolution in an undeniably luxurious setting. We can’t wait to see what Novi has in store – stay tuned to Edition and keep an eye on Novi’s website and social media for announcements.
