Highland Park is filled with quaint little shops and pretty cafés, so you have to meet a baseline standard to even open up shop in the neighborhood and Kumquat does that and more. The minimalist coffee shop is small but bright, occupying a cozy spot on York Blvd. Inside, it feels like an inviting bungalow, with the barista bar taking up most of the space and sunlight pouring in from the large windows.
The menu is short but covers a lot of ground, a mixture of classics (think: lattes, cold brew, matcha) and creative originals (such as the golden mule, with espresso, lime juice, ginger beer and bitters). On top of coffee, they also have a selection of loose leaf teas (sourced from various parts of Asia) and pastries (Mr. Holmes). With varied seating (small individual tables, bar seats along the wall, communal table in the back, and benches) inside and outside, Kumquat is a low key spot to hang out in Highland Park that is quickly becoming a neighborhood favorite.