Diva only opened a week ago, yet it already fits perfectly into it’s St James Street surroundings. The owner, Bengu Sait, greeted us with a warm smile and we took a seat in the window – a perfect spot for people watching. The stylishly understated décor works really well to create a relaxed atmosphere with white walls, wooden floorboards and beautiful natural light.
Though there are many coffee shops along St James Street offering good food, Diva offers a refreshing choice of Cypriot cuisine alongside the more traditional café options, so this was something that we were eager to try. The food that we sampled at Diva was as fresh as it was delicious, and the punchy ‘Wake Up Brighton’ juice (pineapple, ginger, banana & orange) was divine! As well as great coffee they serve a wide range of dishes – from sandwiches and bagels, to authentic homemade falafel, bulgur wheat salads and an intriguing ‘Cypriot breakfast’.
This bijou espresso bar is definitely worth a visit – for the friendly welcome if nothing else. We’ll be back to try that breakfast.