The 15 Best Cafés in Cape Town

A neighbourhood hangout with good food and delightful decor that makes you feel like you’re living la dolce vita… Our favourite Cape Town cafés offer more than just good coffee (although that is a must!). They’re enticing spaces with main-character energy… places to gather for heart-to-hearts, where the vibe is welcoming and unhurried, where the setting inspires and elevates the mood, where you feel part of the Cape Town scene. And relaxed enough to kick back all morning or afternoon over cappuccinos and conversation.

Needless to say, it was impossibly hard to narrow down this list to just 15. These are our current favourites!

Our Local

A wonderfully eclectic space converted from an old mechanic’s workshop is now a cool and cosy (and Jamie Oliver-approved!) café that’s brimming with plants, collectables, vintage furniture, and a fountain that wouldn’t look out of place in an Italian piazza. It’s a go-to spot for breakfast, lunch, coffee-and-cake and dinner, with a long communal table down the middle (divided by piles of books and plants) and plenty of quirkily furnished nooks around the sides. From a café-style breakfast menu featuring a classic Arnold Bennett omelette (with haddock), eggs Florentine and heavenly homemade anchovy butter on toast, to the all-day array of hearty burgers and toasties, pasta limone, shakshuka and scrumptious salads, the flavours sing clear and true. And for coffee catch-ups, head to the cake hatch to deliberate over tempting bakes (made in-house): gooey brownies, carrot-and-ginger cake and decadent gluten-free chocolate torte. It’s simple, generous food made with love.
Good to know There’s now a second Our Local with a similarly eclectic vibe in Sea Point (295 Main Road).
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 8am – 11pm
Sunday + Monday, 8am – 3.30pm
Pet-friendly Yes
Contact 064 642 5004, [email protected]
Where to find it 117 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Olympia Café

Bustling, loud, almost always busy and somewhat spontaneous (you can’t book a table but you can stand in line) with a chalkboard for the day’s menu, Olympia is a Kalk Bay institution that has barely changed in decades, where nobody stands on ceremony but all are welcome. People flock here for the laidback vibe, harbour-facing setting and simply delicious food. Buttery croissants and pastries are the stars of the morning show, but there are frittatas, fluffy omelettes and scrambled eggs, as well as old-school classics such as kippers. Fresh fish from the harbour is always on the chalkboard menu for lunch and dinner, whether it’s geelbek and mash, seared yellowfin tuna with crushed potatoes, or the legendary linguine di mare (which has locals coming back year after year). And you’ll find soups and salads (served with a hunk of bread from the bakery), pork belly, pastas and more, according to what’s in season. Finish with the lemon tart and the tiramisu for dessert, or go for one of the decadent pastries with your coffee.
Good to know The bakery around the back (look for the red door) is perfect for a post-walk cappuccino on the benches under the trees (know that you’ll be leaving with a sweet treat in hand).
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7am – 10pm (last orders 9pm)
Bakery: 6.30am – 7pm
Pet friendly No
Contact 021 788 6396, [email protected]
Where to find it 134 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Spirit Café

This Constantia Village favourite is a warm, community-minded café and deli serving vibrant, nourishing food made with care for people, animals and the planet. Everything is gluten-free, free from processed sugar, and prepared with coconut or olive oil. The seasonal menu is crafted from scratch using farm-fresh (often organic) ingredients and oodles of love. Start your day with a punchy juice combo or smoothie (try the chocolate-mocha option), or their delicious organic coffee. Breakfast (served all day) ranges from crustless quiche and exotic-mushroom scramble to superfood muesli, protein pancakes and chia pots, with build-your-own options too. Light meals like gourmet toasties, wraps and Vietnamese spring rolls are available all day, while lunch brings a colourful harvest table of fresh salads. Save room for gluten-free treats: cakes, triple-chocolate brownies, peanut-butter cups and decadent shortbread.
Good to know A daily buffet of delicious, fresh salads is available from 12pm.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 4.30pm
Saturday + Sunday, 8.30am – 2pm
Pet friendly Yes
Contact 083 544 0474, [email protected]
Where to find it Constantia Village Courtyard, Main Road, Constantia, Cape Town

The Blue Café

For 124 years this little gem of a cafe has been a part of the fabric of the Tamboerskloof neighbourhood. Today it’s still an oasis of peace at the heart of the community, tables spill out along the pavement and packed shelves inside stock locally grown and made products that you won’t find anywhere else (vegetables grown in Tamboerskloof gardens, preserves and bakes and much more). Their homemade pastries and cakes are well worth coming for on their own, so after a classic bacon-and-egg breakfast, mushrooms on sourdough toast, their classic chicken pie or a bobotie empanada, leave room for a croissant, cannelé, bombolone, or one of their legendary peanut bombs.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 7am – 10pm
Saturday + Sunday, 8am – 10pm
Pet-friendly Yes
Contact 021 426 0250, [email protected]
Where to find it 13 Brownlow Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town

The Strangers Club

Just off Green Point’s Main Road, in a heritage farmstead dating from 1828, this hidden treasure whisks you away from the bustle. Inspired by a 1940s book about a place in La Paz where travellers met to share stories and trade goods, The Strangers Club is an ode to exploration and storytelling. Housing both a restaurant and retail space, the lush courtyard eatery is the perfect spot to recharge, but don’t leave without wandering through the maze of rooms to discover the treasures inside. The menu is based on seasonal local ingredients, ranging from hearty dishes such as a full English breakfast, Turkish eggs, summer rosti and various eggs Bennie, to things on toast, fresh fruit bowls, granola and chia pots. And easy-going lunch options include burgers, salads and grilled sandwiches.
Good to know There are vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options. The breakfast menu is served until 11.45am on weekdays and until closing on Saturdays.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Pet friendly Yes, on leashes
Contact 021 434 3540
Where to find it 1 Braemar Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Naked

A vibey emerald-tiled industrial-chic spot in a side street just up from the Sea Point Promenade, where trendy locals pop by after gym, with dogs after their prom walk, or to work remotely, Naked Coffee is all about the artisanal single-origin El Salvador coffee (try their cortado). And of course the array of delicious brunch and lunch dishes (and cocktails) add to the appeal. New York buttermilk pancakes served with with maple syrup, double cream yoghurt and sour cherries; pumpkin flapjacks (vegan and gluten free); shakshuka; Bella’s prego; and the seared tuna and black rice bowl are just a few crowd pleasers. Not forgetting the all-too-addictive banana bread.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 6.30am – 5.30pm
Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Pet friendly Yes
Contact 021 433 1648, [email protected]
Where to find it 2 Wisbeach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

Clarke’s Dining Room

Clarke’s was ahead of the curve when it opened back in 2011, with its Scandi decor, carefully sourced ingredients and artisanal kitchen luring hungry hipsters for all-day breakfasts and lazy brunches. The familiar white canopy and copper sign on Bree Street is still of-the-moment… real grass-fed meat, vegan-friendly, balancing healthy choices with sinful temptations (not to mention their famous mimosas made with freshly squeezed OJ). Most of what’s on the menu is made in-house, including the croissants (the sourdough and rye breads are from Woodstock Bakery). The kitchen shows off a dozen interesting takes on eggs (such as fire eggs baked in a tomato-chickpea stew) for all-day breakfasts, and segues easily into sourdough Reubens, salads, a beloved four-cheese mac ’n cheese and their legendary burgers on fresh-baked buns. A smaller dinner menu features salads, burgers, West Coast oysters, bar snacks and a dinner omelette.
Good to know It’s cashless. Out back is a large area (with unlimited wifi) that doubles as a takeaway-and-grocery space. Dubbed the “Bree Street Community Hall”, it hosts weekly comedy shows, music nights and is available to hire for talks, events, birthdays and so on.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 7am – 11pm (kitchen closes 9.30pm)
Saturday, 8am – 11pm; Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Pet-friendly Yes, but no more than 2 dogs per table.
Contact 087 470 0165, [email protected]
Where to find it 133 Bree Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Café Sofi

Sofia Electra was the indomitable mother of Natasha and Savva Sideris (of Tasha’s fame). This beautiful new café (lively stripes, soft yellows, deep manganese blues) is their tribute to her beautiful contradictions, designed to reflect her unique blend of elegance and eccentricity. She lived like her recipes, they say, eclectic, irreverent, inexplicably perfect. And that is the spirit channelled in Café Sofi, with a menu that takes you from lavish breakfasts through salads and sandwiches to café lunches, snacks to accompany aperitivi and generous dinner dishes… All honest-to-goodness food shaped by a refined sensibility. In the new Longkloof precinct just off Kloof Street, with outdoor tables at the front and side, it’s a charming addition to the Mother CIty’s café society.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 7am  – 11pm
Saturday, 8am – 11pm
Sunday, 8am – 9pm
Pet-friendly No
Contact [email protected]
Where to find it 2 Park Road, Longkloof Precinct, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Truth Coffee

Steampunk takes it to the max in this quirky coffee roastery and eatery, centred around a vintage roaster adorned with copper dispensers, gauges and contraptions (and fired by bio-fuel). Co-founder David Donde says the concept was a natural choice, considering the relationship between coffee and steam, and the eye-catching decor pulls in visitors from around the world. As does the excellent coffee in a plethora of blends and roasts (including single-origin beans). They take their food seriously too, with their own sourdough bakery and a patisserie counter. The cosy leather booths at the side are perfect for laid-back gatherings with friends (or perch at the long table below the bar). Settle in for an unhurried read of the retro newspaper-styled menu, with breakfasts such as the Steampunk Benedict, lunches from sandwiches to burgers, and in the evenings there’s the appealing Play Date menu, featuring dishes such as oxtail curry, French Onion soup, beer-battered linefish, Tomahawk steaks to share and a menu of cocktails too.
Good to know Flour Market, a few minutes away on Hope Street, is a bakery/coffee shop offshoot of Truth (sans steampunk) with the same excellent coffee and a fabulous pain au chocolat.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 7am – 6pm
Sunday, 8am – 4pm
Pet-friendly Yes
Contact 021 201 7000, [email protected]
Where to find it 36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Hemelhuijs

Design and travel – twin passions of owner Jacques Erasmus – are evident in this urban oasis (it means “heavenly house” in Afrikaans). A sophisticated modern café, it’s a sublime place to escape the innercity bustle in aesthetically exquisite surrounds, as Jacques plays with nostalgic local cuisine and global flavours, using ingredients sourced from the orchard at his Montagu guesthouse Jonkmanshof. The all-day breakfast menu includes farm eggs with lemon roast artichoke and Hollandaise; Vin Santo baked stonefruit with toasted pannettone and creamed burrata; custard-filled caramelised crêpes with macerated strawberries and sour-cream gelato; and more… Linger to explore Italian-inspired antipasti and mains, such as veal with artichoke, beef shortrib with cavolo nero or squid fritto misto, plus fresh juices, divine brunch cocktails and Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk.
Good to know Pop into the Hemelhuijs store, which is now opposite the restaurant, for Jacques’ own range of homeware and floral bouquets.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm
Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Pet-friendly Yes, on the verandah outside
Contact 021 418 2042, [email protected]
Where to find it 71 Waterkant Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Chardonnay Deli @ High Constantia

Set in a century-old farm building near Groot Constantia, this deli-eatery oozes warm hospitality and good vibes. Add magical forest views, friendly staff and an owner (Charmaine Lilje) who cut her teeth working with some of Cape Town’s top chefs and you’re all set. The menus change often but you’re always assured of top-notch goodness all through the day. Think smoothie bowls, flapjacks, croissants, kippers on toast, green omelette Caprese and sticky pork belly with poached egg for breakfast; and homemade pies and quiches, salads, wraps, burgers and bowls for lunch with a piping hot casserole or dish of the day. And take your shopping bags to fill up at the deli before you head off: grab-and-go frozen meals and soups, eggs, cheeses, cold meats, and a huge choice of in-house baked breads, croissants, sweet treats and flowers. Warning: the cakes are too good to resist.
Good to know If you’re in Kalk Bay, pop into its sister café opposite Dalebrook pool; and there’s a third branch at Constantia Uitsig, too.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7am – 6pm (kitchen 7.30am – 5.30pm)
Pet friendly Yes, at High Constantia and Kalk Bay (not at Uitsig)
Contact 021 795 0606, [email protected]
Where to find it 87 Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Cape Town

Mantra Café

Beautiful views, beautiful decor, beautiful people, Mantra Café epitomises the spirit of Camps Bay with a vibe that manages to be both chilled and happening. For the best views of palm trees, beach and ocean (people-watching, too), grab a table on the open wooden deck, or enjoy the gloriously plant-swathed interior, all upstairs at the heart of the Camps Bay strip. The café menu comes in generous portions – think smoked yellowtail crudo, butter-basted ribeye steak, seafood linguine, or grilled prawns – with an extensive wine list and excellent cocktails, and there’s an enticing breakfast menu too. A fantastic spot for brunch, sunset cocktails, date night or dinner with friends.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 8.30am – 10pm
Pet-friendly Yes
Contact 065 823 3901, [email protected]
Where to find it 1st Floor, 43 Victoria Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Sonny and Irene

Dressed in pastel pink, marble and oak, this delightful café blends Art Deco nostalgia with up-to-the-minute accents – brilliantly echoing what Sea Point was and is. To match the gorgeous interiors, the menu combines retro, classic and contemporary flavours, from breakfast and all-day brunch to lunch and dinner dishes, sultry sundowners and an array of breads, bagels and bakes from the in-house bakery. Steak frites, grilled lemon sole, beef carpaccio, lush salads and blackened trout Niçoise continue the nostalgic Mediterranean vibe, and the truffle mushroom jaffle on the brunch menu is a winner. Naturally, there’s a tantalising sweets and pastries trolley, too.
Good to know There is secure underground parking in the Station House building. Breakfast is served until 11.30am and a brunch menu runs until 5pm.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7.30am – 10pm
Pet friendly Yes, on leash on outside terrace
Contact 021 745 6600, [email protected]
Where to find it Station House, 19 Kloof Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Lily’s

Combining lavish furnishings with views across the Mouille Point promenade to the ocean, an ample terrace and a carefully curated menu, this café is a neighbourhood favourite for post-promenade breakfasts, lunches and sunset meet-ups with friends. Decadent breakfast staples such as eggs Benedict, pancakes and smoked salmon bagels segue to crunchy wraps, bagels, burgers (buns optional) and light bites like popcorn chicken and bang bang shrimp. Then there are more substantial mains such as prawn linguine, butter chicken, prawn curry, fillet with truffle butter and fries, epic fish and chips and more. And of course summer cocktails for shooting the breeze as the sun dips below the horizon.
Opening times Daily, 8am – 11pm
Pet friendly Yes, on leash
Contact 021 204 8545, [email protected]
Where to find it Shop 1, East-West Building, corner Beach Road and Surrey Place, Mouille Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Loading Bay

Since it opened in 2007, Loading Bay has become known as a veritable temple of sustainable and ethical living, with spaces devoted to understated high-quality clothing, skincare (Aesop) and fragrances (Perfumer H), in addition to the industrial-chic daytime café. Here they blend the modern aesthetic with a warm and unpretentious vibe, and a strong emphasis on sourcing ingredients from regenerative farming practices. The hot beverages run from matcha to mesquite lattes and coffee with health-boosting add-ins, perfect to pair with the simply divine cardamom buns. From breakfasts such as Green Goodness (blanched greens with poached eggs and asiago cheese) and sourdough bread with delicious spreads, to nourishing bowls and simple burgers, there’s a mouthwatering option for every time of day.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm (kitchen closes 3.30pm)
Saturday, 8am – 3pm (kitchen closes 2.30pm)
Sunday, 9am – 2pm (kitchen closes 1.30pm)
Pet-friendly Yes for outdoor seating
Contact 021 425 6320, [email protected]
Where to find it 30 Hudson Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town

Café du Cap

A fixture on Newlands locals’ map for breakfast, easy lunches, tapas, or bubbly and frites, Café du Cap has just moved around the corner onto Kildare Road. The new space continues their famous harvest lunch table, which runs every weekday until the bounteous dishes of roast meats, fishcakes, baby potatoes, roast vegetables and salads have been devoured. There’ll be pizzas, cocktails and tapas to go with a glass of Veuve Cliquot, plus a deli section and a boutique selling silk kaftans. And, of course, café tables on the pavement ideal for a dog-walking pause with a coffee and croque monsieur.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 7.30am – 9pm
Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Pet-friendly Yes
Contact 021 054 8578
Where to find it 51 Kildare Road, Newlands, Cape Town

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