10 Best Cafés & Coffee Shops in Cape Town
Cape Town has no shortage of coffee shops and cute cafés just begging you to come inside and while away the hours. Whether you’re looking to get a serious caffeine fix or just want to enjoy a cup of tea and a croissant in beautiful surroundings, you won’t have to travel very far to find a spot you’ll love.
But, of course, not all spots are created equal. It’s easy to be fooled into wasting your hard-earned Randellas on weak coffee and mediocre baked treats. So, instead of leaving you to fend for yourself, I bring you my top picks for the best and cutest cafés, bakeries, and coffee shops in Cape Town. I’m always on the lookout for more, but the spots on this list have been tried and tested by yours truly for a guaranteed good time.
Paradise Road
For this quaint coffee shop gem, Table Seven’s Luke and Katie Wonnacott team up with Zeanne Duminy to bring diners a space to enjoy the best baked treats and savoury eats. The menu includes breakfasts, lunch offerings, sandwiches, and quiche. There’s a deli counter peddling pastries, freshly baked bread, and other bakes. If it’s a beautiful and inspiring space you’re after with drool-worthy food to match, then this is the spot for you.
Location: Shop 5, Cardiff Castle, 58 Main Street Newlands | Visit website here.
Superette
With its laid-back vibe and excellent grub, Superette is one of the best cafés to work from in Cape Town. Located in the trendy Woodstock Exchange, this easy-going spot is a go-to watering hole for local designers, artists, and entrepreneurs. The hip café boasts loads of natural light and its clean, simple décor makes it a space where creativity thrives. What’s more, Superette has tons of space, free WiFi, ample plug points, delicious coffee and a fantastic selection of food to satisfy any craving. They serve a mean All-Day Breakfast Sandwich and the Toasted Banana Bread, served with fresh banana and brown sugar butter, is a must-try!
Location: Woodstock Exchange, 66 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town | Visit the website here.
I Love Coffee
A proudly South African social enterprise that educates and employs deaf youth to become baristas, chefs and all learn skills about all things hospitality. Laptop and notebook in one hand and a yummy I Love Coffee almond apple tart in the other equals a recipe for success! The baked goods from this little spot are out of this world, and you’ll be inspired to knock out those deadlines in the buzzing space that is alive with promise.
Location: 103 Garfield Road, Claremont | visit website here.
La Cuccina
If you’re after a cosy winter spot with amazing coffee and great bakes, then this is it. Located at the historic Josephine’s Mill, La Cuccina serves delicious breakfast, lunches, and baked treats for everyone to enjoy. The menu offers plenty of vegan and vegetarian options and even gluten-free fare. The food they create is “real and comforting” and they work with many small, local, artisan food producers to bring the menu to life. From local bee keepers and meat curers, to cheesemakers and free-range chicken and egg farmers, La Cuccina is a champion for small local suppliers. The setting is beyond charming and you’ll want to work from there every day.
Location: Josephine Mill, 13 Boundary Road, Newlands | visit website here.
Our Local
Situated on bustling Kloof Street, Our Local is an all-in-one antique shop, nursery, and coffee spot. If you love a little retail therapy with your coffee dates, then this spot is sure to get you excited. Not only is Our Local a shopper’s dream, but it’s also one of the coolest cafés to work from in Cape Town. If you’re a freelancer looking for an inspirational space to work from, you’ll adore Our Local, with its 10-metre-long banquet table, plenty of smaller tables, seating areas and couches scattered about. Of course, the coffee and eats matter too! Our Local offers a wide selection of freshly baked goods, indulgent sweet eats, and stellar coffee to keep hunger pangs at bay.
Location: 117 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town | Visit the website here.
Four & Twenty Café
Located in a quiet suburb of Cape Town, Four & Twenty is one of Wynberg’s best-kept secrets. With its quirky décor and relaxed vibe, this little café offers the ideal spot for a quiet coffee catch up with a friend. The food is excellent, and you’ll be spoiled for choice with the menu that offers all-day breakfasts, salads, sandwiches, and a selection of sweet cakes and pastries.
Location: 23 Wolfe Street, Wynberg | Visit website here.
Jarryds
Jarryds has become one of the city’s most popular breakfast and brunch restaurants. Located on the popular Sea Point strip, caffeine fiends can pop in for a coffee to go or stay a while and enjoy a delicious breakfast. If you’re looking for something indulgent, then you can’t go wrong with the Instagram-famous pancake stack. But be warned, this very popular spot is often packed with customers. Good thing there’s a second branch just a few blocks away on Bree Street to handle the spillover!
Location: 90 Regent Road, Sea Point | Visit website here.
Starlings Café
Located in an oh-so-sweet heritage home, this quaint eatery is the ideal spot for a laid-back lunch or breakfast, especially on weekends. But, make sure you get there early, as the tables are snapped up quickly! Grab a table in the charming garden to enjoy the sunshine, or sit inside for a cosy catch up away from the elements. The menu offers plenty to salivate over, including open sandwiches, baked treats, and a few must-try vegetarian options.
Location: 94 Belvedere Road, Claremont | Visit website here.
The Gardeners Cottage Restaurant & Coffee Shop
If you’re yet to discover the very popular Montebello Design Centre in Newlands, then consider this your official invitation. Located, in the original Gatekeepers Cottage of the Montebello Estate, The Gardeners Cottage Restaurant and Coffee Shop offers hungry customers a little slice of the English countryside in the leafy southern suburbs of Cape Town. Diners can expect great coffee and a menu offering wholesome eats and freshly baked treats. The Eggs Benedict enjoys legendary status and is said to be one of the best in Cape Town, so if you’re visiting for breakfast, you know what to order. Best known for its alfresco garden dining, the cottage does also have a small indoor dining area for cooler days when you’re looking to dine in a cosy home-style setting.
Location: 31 Newlands Avenue At Montebello Design Centre | Visit website here.
Soet Society Café
This northern suburbs gem sits on the corner of Durbanville’s Oxford Street and Wellington Road. It’s home to the best coffee and designer cakes in the north and is the perfect spot for a business meeting, a coffee date with friends, or even a laid-back birthday celebration. The café is located inside Soet Emporium, which incorporates an array of businesses for coffee lovers to explore including Fynbos Clothing boutique, Say Grace Plant and Flower Shop, Alpine Deli, and even La Vie Arial Yoga and Sound Healing. This exceptional endeavour skilfully combines the love of good coffee with great food, cakes, fashion, beauty, art, and yoga all in one space!
Location: 11 Wellington Road 7550 Durbanville | Visit website here.
