Highlands Cafe in Highlands, New Jersey, is more than just a place to eat and drink — it is a welcoming neighborhood destination where quality food, excellent coffee, and genuine hospitality come together in a setting that feels easy, comfortable, and consistently satisfying.
With a strong 4.80 out of 5 rating from 56 reviews, the cafe has clearly earned the trust of guests who return for dependable service, fresh flavors, and an atmosphere that makes every visit feel worthwhile.
From the first morning coffee to a relaxed midday meal, Highlands Cafe offers the kind of experience people seek when they want a restaurant they can count on for both comfort and quality.
The menu is designed to fit the rhythm of everyday life while still making each visit feel special. Guests can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, quick bites, comforting favorites, dessert, and great coffee in a casual yet thoughtfully styled space that works well for solo dining, friendly meetups, and family outings alike.
Whether you are stopping in for a hearty breakfast, settling in for lunch, or simply looking for a quiet place to enjoy a cup of coffee, the cafe provides a warm and inviting environment that makes it easy to relax and stay a while.
With counter service, catering options, and reservations accepted, Highlands Cafe brings together convenience and quality in a way that supports both spontaneous stops and carefully planned gatherings.
Flexibility and accessibility are also central to the experience. Guests can choose outdoor seating, dine-in service, takeaway, or delivery, making it simple to enjoy Highlands Cafe however it best suits the day.
The cafe also includes practical features that help make each visit smoother, including a wheelchair-accessible car park, a wheelchair-accessible toilet, restroom access, and payment options that include credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments.
Conveniently located at 300 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732, it serves as an easy and reliable choice for both locals and visitors.
For anyone looking for a restaurant that blends great coffee, comforting food, flexible service, and a cozy, trendy atmosphere, Highlands Cafe stands out as a dependable and inviting place to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch, and more. Call +1 732-291-1108 to plan your visit or place an order today.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Highlands Cafe
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
comes with cheese and our house-made home fries, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
comes with 2 - filled with egg, cheese & meat
on a kaiser roll, croissant, bagel or GF brioche
braised pork belly, scrambled eggs, home fries, cheddar, pico de gallo & pickled jalapeños
enjoy a full (3) or short (2) stack of Texas toast, topped with powdered sugar & drizzled with maple syrup
with brown sugar
house-made buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup
Prime flank steak on sourdough rye, two eggs, truffle butter & avocado
white | rye | wheat | GF brioche
sourdough rye, tomato, pickled red onion, red pepper, house ricotta & lime salt
roasted porchetta, two fried eggs, Swiss, arugula, tomato jam, mustard aioli on a semolina roll
bacon, lettuce & tomato on white toast
with jack & cheddar cheese served with pico de gallo
Grilled chimichurri chicken, lettuce, tomato, parsley aioli on a semolina roll and our house chips
Cheddar & American on Texas toast
housemade cheese sauce
Local wagyu beef, sharp cheddar, shallot butter, potato bun w/house chips
Ham, salami, swiss, mozz curd, arugala with tomato pickled red onion and EVOO on a toasted semolina roll
roasted turkey, cherry wood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato & avocado with chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread with our house chips
Crispy gold potatoes coated in Parmesan, herbs, and just a touch of tallow (because why not add some luxury to your carbs?). Warning: may cause you to question all other side dishes.
Made in-house with love, seasoning, and probably some questionable decisions, this sausage will have you wondering why you ever settled for store-bought. Warning: side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to order seconds.
Fresh squeezed
Coca-Cola Original Taste — the crisp, refreshing taste you know and love
Take a Diet Coke break with this refreshing, no-calorie soft drink
Root Beer, orange, black cherry, lemonade
The Highlands Café Holiday Ornament: a small, charming way to celebrate your favorite local café all season long.
Booket & Roddy’s Hot Sauce brings the perfect balance of heat and flavor. Made in-house with a lot of fun and a lot of love, it adds just the right amount of kick without overpowering the natural taste of your food. Spice up your meal with a sauce that’s as flavorful as it is fiery!
Pineapple Thai Chili hot sauce.... Its got a kick
comes with cheese and our house-made home fries, perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
comes with 2 - filled with egg, cheese & meat
on a kaiser roll, croissant, bagel or GF brioche
braised pork belly, scrambled eggs, home fries, cheddar, pico de gallo & pickled jalapeños
enjoy a full (3) or short (2) stack of Texas toast, topped with powdered sugar & drizzled with maple syrup
with brown sugar
house-made buttermilk pancakes with maple syrup
Prime flank steak on sourdough rye, two eggs, truffle butter & avocado
white | rye | wheat | GF brioche
sourdough rye, tomato, pickled red onion, red pepper, house ricotta & lime salt
roasted porchetta, two fried eggs, Swiss, arugula, tomato jam, mustard aioli on a semolina roll
bacon, lettuce & tomato on white toast
with jack & cheddar cheese served with pico de gallo
Grilled chimichurri chicken, lettuce, tomato, parsley aioli on a semolina roll and our house chips
Cheddar & American on Texas toast
housemade cheese sauce
Local wagyu beef, sharp cheddar, shallot butter, potato bun w/house chips
Ham, salami, swiss, mozz curd, arugala with tomato pickled red onion and EVOO on a toasted semolina roll
roasted turkey, cherry wood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato & avocado with chipotle mayo on ciabatta bread with our house chips
Crispy gold potatoes coated in Parmesan, herbs, and just a touch of tallow (because why not add some luxury to your carbs?). Warning: may cause you to question all other side dishes.
Made in-house with love, seasoning, and probably some questionable decisions, this sausage will have you wondering why you ever settled for store-bought. Warning: side effects may include an uncontrollable urge to order seconds.
Fresh squeezed
Coca-Cola Original Taste — the crisp, refreshing taste you know and love
Take a Diet Coke break with this refreshing, no-calorie soft drink
Root Beer, orange, black cherry, lemonade
Fresh squeezed
Coca-Cola Original Taste — the crisp, refreshing taste you know and love
Take a Diet Coke break with this refreshing, no-calorie soft drink
The Highlands Café Holiday Ornament: a small, charming way to celebrate your favorite local café all season long.
Booket & Roddy’s Hot Sauce brings the perfect balance of heat and flavor. Made in-house with a lot of fun and a lot of love, it adds just the right amount of kick without overpowering the natural taste of your food. Spice up your meal with a sauce that’s as flavorful as it is fiery!
Pineapple Thai Chili hot sauce.... Its got a kick
hand harvested local clams on the half shell with cocktail sauce
with cured egg yolk, arugula, crispy shallots, fried capers and house chips
seared tuna belly, spring onion, potato pancake and red pepper coulis
cilantro lime slaw | corn tortillas
arugula, cucumber, bell pepper, confit tomato, spring onion and citrus vinaigrette
housemade linguine and hand harvested local clams in a white wine sauce
with arugula, confit tomato, pickled onion, red pepper, parmesan crisp and balsamic vinaigrette
slow roasted pork belly, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts and pork jus
roasted brussels sprouts, potato au gratin, truffle butter
local Wagyu, double patties, sharp cheddar, shallot butter, roasted potato bun, house chips
Fresh squeezed
Coca-Cola Original Taste — the crisp, refreshing taste you know and love
Take a Diet Coke break with this refreshing, no-calorie soft drink
hand harvested local clams on the half shell with cocktail sauce
with cured egg yolk, arugula, crispy shallots, fried capers and house chips
seared tuna belly, spring onion, potato pancake and red pepper coulis
cilantro lime slaw | corn tortillas
arugula, cucumber, bell pepper, confit tomato, spring onion and citrus vinaigrette
housemade linguine and hand harvested local clams in a white wine sauce
with arugula, confit tomato, pickled onion, red pepper, parmesan crisp and balsamic vinaigrette
slow roasted pork belly, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts and pork jus
roasted brussels sprouts, potato au gratin, truffle butter
local Wagyu, double patties, sharp cheddar, shallot butter, roasted potato bun, house chips
Hear from our valued guests
Great spot for breakfast or lunch! Food is fresh and delicious, staff are friendly and attentive! Turkey club was amazing 👏🏻 homemade hot sauce was outrageous 🔥
Easily the best little hidden gem in Monmouth County. These guys crush breakfast and lunch. It's refreshing to find a place that makes everything in house. I can't give this place enough superlatives.
Great food all around! Pancakes and home fries were the highlights of the meal. The steak and eggs were also great.
Finally… a place that serves a healthy not so expensive breakfast! Amazing service, the food is outstanding. This is a must go to place for breakfast. If I could give an award for best breakfast from a business, it would be you guys.
Just like you don't judge a book by it's cover, don't judge this restaurant by it's location or appearance. The food is FABULOUS! My husband and I enjoyed dinner there this past Saturday and our taste buds were not disappointed. Our picky-eater five-year-old loved the brussel sprouts and special chef sample featuring pork belly and arugula on a crispy homemade chip with a delicious sauce. The empanadas, the clam linguine, the bass tacos...every bite was cooked to perfection. The only thing better than the food is the staff - friendly, engaging and fantastic hospitality!
After our wedding, Highlands Cafe catered our brunch and absolutely knocked it out of the park. Our guests were raving about the steak and eggs. I wish I had pictures, but everyone crushed it with excitement before I could even think about taking them. Perfect food for the morning after a celebration, with huge portions that everyone loved. And the potatoes… iykyk. We also had French toast with whipped cream and fresh fruit for something sweet, and it was the perfect balance. & our pups loved the extra whipped cream! 🐾 Beyond the food, the service was incredible. The nicest guys, right on time, easy to work with, and they truly went above and beyond what we expected. They made everything feel effortless. If you’re planning an event, use them. You won’t be disappointed.
I stopped by Highlands Cafe around 11:00 a.m. on a Saturday and was glad that I did. From the outside, it looks like a small neighborhood café, but it's surprisingly spacious inside. I sat at the lunch counter, which has about five stools, and there are a few tables behind it. There was a steady flow of customers while I was there, but it never felt overly crowded. I ordered the breakfast empanada with ham, and it was a great choice for a late breakfast. I also tried the clam chowder, which was very flavorful, and is definitely worth ordering. During my visit, i thought the staff were really friendly, welcoming, and accommodating to the customers, both locals and tourists. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, making it an enjoyable place to sit and enjoy a meal. Another plus is the location. It's just a short walk from the waterfront, making it a convenient stop before or after exploring the beach/coast. Overall, Highlands Cafe is a welcoming local spot with good food, friendly service, and a comfortable atmosphere. I'd definitely stop by again the next time I'm in the area.
Stopped here just to get some coffee and pastries (apple turnover was phenomenal!) but were impressed but the coziness of the place and the friendliness of the staff. Hope to be back someday for a meal.
Stoped here for a dinner with my wife and in-laws. We had an amazing meal and great conversations. The staff was super friendly and the food was so good and fresh. You can see the kitchen as they cook. We got many items but the fish and chips was very good and the empanadas as well , but the fried chicken really hit it. I highly recommend passing by and grabbing a meal. Pick up a bottle of wine and go enjoy the experience.
I’ve been here for lunch a few times and was delighted to see they are now serving dinner. The dinner menu is really incredible. This may be a “cafe” but The food is sooo delicious, and elevated. Great service and cozy, homey vibe. Will be a regular!
Common questions about Highlands Cafe
Highlands Cafe is located at 300 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732, United States, Highlands, NJ, United States.
You can reach Highlands Cafe by calling +1 732-291-1108.
Highlands Cafe has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 based on 56 customer reviews.
Highlands Cafe features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Highlands Cafe features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
Highlands Cafe features the following highlights: Great coffee.
Highlands Cafe features the following popular for: Breakfast, Lunch, Solo dining.
Highlands Cafe features the following offerings: Coffee, Comfort food, Quick bite.
Highlands Cafe features the following dining options: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Catering, Counter service, Dessert, Seating.
Highlands Cafe features the following amenities: Restroom.
Highlands Cafe features the following atmosphere: Casual, Cozy, Trendy.
Highlands Cafe features the following crowd: Tourists.
Highlands Cafe features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
Highlands Cafe features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Highlands Cafe features the following children: Good for kids, High chairs.
Highlands Cafe features the following parking: Free parking lot, Free street parking, Plenty of parking.
Highlands Cafe features the following pets: Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
Request a table and we'll confirm your booking shortly.
