Coffee should always be a happy experience and the pavement cafés and bars of our continental cousins are something to be envied. All of which makes Horsham’s thriving and cosmopolitan café culture both a delight and a good reason to head into town.
Johansson’s Café
As you arrive from the west via the Bishopric, you come to Johansson’s Café, Horsham’s Swedish café that spills out delightfully onto the square. The café is owned and run by René Fay, from the small town of Orsa in Dalarna, Sweden. Fika is the name of the game here, which roughly translates as “a coffee and cake break”, but is more about a state of mind and about stopping to make time to pause, to socialise, and to refresh the mind.
The atmosphere here is calm and restorative, so start your day with a sense of zen and some Punch Rullar.
The Eye Café
As you wander further into Horsham’s West Street, you come to one of the town’s best-kept secrets, The Eye Café at Dixey CB, upstairs above the opticians but with seating outside. Quirky but the epitome of style, the Eye Café is run by the ever-charming Dirk Bollwerk who describes it as shabby chic meets Italy run by a German, a Welshman, and a British Olympian!
Inspired by an American writer who didn’t want to work in mainstream coffee shops, the team at The Eye Café have created an intimate, hideaway café where you can enjoy fresh cake, superb coffee along with a sense of culture and calm.
Carmela Deli
Continue into the Carfax and you’ll stumble upon Carmela Deli which is packed to the rafters with all the passion and love you’d expect from Italian owner Rossella. Oozing charisma and dripping with wonderful pastries, Rossella is bubbly, warm and welcoming and your visit to Carmela Deli will revitalise you and fill you with energy and joy.
The Carmela counter always teases and tempts the taste buds with something new every day, and Rossella’s top recommendations are the Sicilian cannoli with sweet ricotta cheese and the pistachissimo cannoli with pistachio cream! What’s not to love!
Pretty Things
Last, by no means least, you come to Pretty Things in Park Place which is hard to miss. It’s bright, beautiful, decadent, and glamourous and their afternoon high tea is luxurious. Come here for a bohemian vibe and just a little bit of over indulgence as you soak up the hedonistic decor.
That said, if you do miss high tea, the Pretty Things G&Ts combined with a cheese platter are things of extraordinary beauty and a great way to relax and unwind at the end of a long day. Chin chin and enjoy.
If you’re visiting Horsham, you may also be interested in:
A Pitts-Stop at Kaya in the Park
Horsham Market and other Curios
Fine dining in Horsham
