The Best of the East City: Where to Eat, Drink + Shop

What was formerly an industrial-commercial precinct on the outskirts of the CBD, Cape Town’s East City is slowly metamorphosing into a cultishly cool creative hub. Geographically, it’s the tract where the CBD meets District Six – namely Roeland, Buitenkant and Harrington Streets – and it’s where you’ll find cutting-edge galleries, design studios, chic cafés and grungy dive bars hidden away next to sports-car dealerships and mechanics workshops.

It’s got coffeeshops and bakeries, indy bookshops, vinyl and vintage stores, high-end restaurants and eclectic night-clubs (not to mention the tallest hemp building in the world), and keeps community history and cultural memory alive at the District Six Museum. And the gritty, under-the-radar soul that has so far kept it out of the mainstream is all part of its appeal.

Where to eat
Where to drink
Where to go + shop

Where to eat

Belly of the Beast

Since opening in 2018, this wildly popular downtown fine-diner has rarely had an empty seat. With just 30 guests per sitting, owner-chefs Neil Swart and Anouchka Horn explain, “Cooking on a small scale enhances the depth of flavour.” The set menu is whatever is seasonal and inspiring to the chefs, and remains unknown until you arrive, where the culinary journey is mapped out on a blackboard. The newly renovated industrial-modern space is a blank canvas for the food, with an open kitchen lining one side. This, in conjunction with the fanfare with which the dishes are presented and served, makes dining here more than a meal – it’s a gastronomic experience, right down to the after-dessert delight or “last hurrah”.
Good to know Online bookings open on the first of each month for the following month (ie, 1 July for August bookings), require a deposit, and sell out fast.
Opening times Dinner: Monday – Saturday, 6.45pm
Lunch: Tuesday – Saturday, 12.30pm
Contact 076 220 5458, eat@bellyofthebeast.co.za
Where to find it 110 Harrington Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Dias Tavern

The down-to-earth home of traditional Portuguese food since 1988, this Cape Town institution in Caledon Street might look nondescript on the outside, but step inside and you’re met with a cacophony of live music and conversation, and mouth-watering aromas. What it lacks in swanky interior design (although it is colourful), it makes up for in flavour. The menu covers all the favourites: massive espetadas, prego rolls, peri-peri chicken livers, steak, prawns, calamari – with excellent pastéis de nata the star of the desserts. Co-owner Joe Hilario swears that the secret to the Tavern’s success is his secret trinchado sauce…
Opening times Monday, 11.30am – 11.30pm
Tuesday – Saturday, 11.30am – 12am
Contact 021 465 7547, diastavern@cybersmart.co.za
Where to find it 15 Caledon Street, Cape Town
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Galjoen

Sustainable seafood by the boatload is the core philosophy behind Galjoen, a semi-industrial dining space at rooftop level in the heart of the East City. Chefs and owners Neil Swart and Anouchka Horn continue the winning formula that wowed Cape Town foodies at Belly of the Beast: a set tasting menu, a limited number of seats and reservations only, plus of course fabulous local ingredients. “Our approach is to serve only what is responsibly caught locally. If it’s not from South Africa, it’s not going on the menu,” says Neil. Head chef Isca Stoltz rolls out a frequently changing seasonal menu, featuring an intriguing and satisfying series of dishes, such as a bread course of steamed bread stuffed with snoek pâté, or a yellowtail sashimi with octopus marmite – fresh, creative and always something different.
Good to know  Bookings open on the first day of each month at 10am for the following month. It’s up two flights of stairs (with no lift).
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 6.45pm – 10pm
Thursday – Saturday, 12.30pm – 3pm
Contact 079 093 0559, eat@galjoencpt.co.za
Where to find it 99 Harrington Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

The Cousins Trattoria

Three Italian cousins – Simone, Luca and Andrea – decided that the one thing their adopted city was missing was a real Italian restaurant. So in 2012 they opened one. The Cousins Trattoria is a charming and cosy slice of Romagna livening up gritty Barrack Street. The pasta is made fresh each morning – the recipes come straight from nonna, so don’t ask for any changes! You won’t need to, though, because every plate is a hearty feast of flavours: lasagne made the traditional way of their hometown of Cesenatico, tagliatelle with an authentic bolognese sauce, potato gnocchi with gorgonzola, or check out the specials board (where you’ll find asparagus in season). For a touch of theatre, order the Cousins pasta: tagliolini with cream, mushroom and thyme, tossed and served at your table from a giant Grana Padano cheese wheel. Save space for a dolce: strawberry, white chocolate and mascarpone torta; melted chocolate doused beignet; or a lemon sorbet infused with vodka.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 5pm – 10pm
Contact 083 273 9604, dine@thecousinsrestaurant.com
Where to find it The Cousins, 3b Barrack Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Swan Café

Oozing Parisian panache, this sexy crêperie is swathed in romantic mythology, with classical representations of “Leda and The Swan” on its walls. Owner Jessica Rushmere (who grew up in France – birthplace of the crêpe) worked with local designer Haldane Martin to create a traditional French café, with accents of red, white and blue adding fresh appeal. The delicious aromas of crêpe batter, melting chocolate and brewing coffee will certainly lure you inside. Once seated, there are tough decisions ahead… choosing from the line-up of lip-smacking savoury (gluten-free, buckwheat-based) galettes oozing with cheese, or sweet crêpes to wrap around decadently delightful fillings.
Good to know Swan Café is now cashless
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 8.30am – 4pm
Sunday + public holidays, 9am – 2pm
Contact 079 454 4758, contact@swancafe.co.za
Where to find it Corner Buitenkant and Barrack Streets, Cape Town
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Downtown Ramen

Locals have been flocking to this grungy, no-fuss ramen bar since it opened above Lefty’s back in 2014. The rough-and-ready decor, vibey music and tavern-like seating is all part of its appeal but, actually, the ramen is the main event! Authentic broths, handmade noodles and four lip-smacking bowls on the menu, all rammed with flavour: shoyu pork-belly ramen (with a rich smoky broth); kimiko tofu ramen (with a thick, vegetarian broth); braised-beef ramen (with spicy miso) and a katsu chicken ramen. Before you dive straight in, the slow-cooked beef shortrib baos are worth saving space for, as are the chicken (or pork) gyoza, so come hungry.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 461 0407, 068 150 3420, downtownramencapetown@gmail.com
Where to find it 103 Harrington Street, Cape Town

Truth Coffee Roasting

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. Perusing the retro newspaper-styled menu takes some time, with breakfasts such as the Steampunk Benedict, lunches from sandwiches to burgers, and in the evenings grab the 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 Time travel from the 19th to the 21st century by visiting Rapt opposite, a chocolaterie with a difference that is also under the Truth umbrella.
Opening times Monday, 7am – 6pm
Tuesday – Saturday, 7am – 10pm
Sunday, 8am – 4pm
Contact 021 201 7000, cafe@truth.capetown
Where to find it 36 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

The Electric

This former auto-electric shop is now a popular juice bar (with a zero-waste policy), whose bright yellow entranceway hints at the energising vibe inside. Health and sustainability focussed, there’s a small menu of light, healthy meals, as well as the array of brightly coloured juices, nut milks (walnut, almond, cashew and Brazilian), and activated charcoal, ginger and orange shots.
Just as suited to a quickie breakfast, lunch on the go (soups, toasties, sandwiches, salads, burgers), or a chill session upstairs, The Electric also welcomes working nomads, who sit tapping away at their MacBooks while the world buzzes by.
Good to know Return glass bottles and get 2 tokens for The Service Dining Rooms to give to people in need. Dog and bike friendly.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 7.30am – 6pm (winter 8am – 7pm)
Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Contact 0214610916, kay@the-electric.com
Where to find it 48 Canterbury Street, Cape Town

New York Bagels

This family-run deli (originally opened in 1940 in Sea Point) prides itself on being Africa’s only dedicated bagelry: they produce no less than 13 different kinds of traditionally boiled and fresh-out-of-the-oven bagels with a wide variety of delicious fillings. Perch on a stool at a high table in the small inside seating area or out on the pavement, or queue at the street-side hatch for a takeaway. Go for all-day breakfast fillings of scrambled eggs, bacon, smoked salmon trout, pastrami, hummus and grilled veg, or stack up your bagel with slices of brisket, a burger or rare roast beef. Those with a sweet tooth will relish the chocolate croissants and traditional baked cheesecake to go with a brew of Deluxe Coffee.
Good to know There’s also sourdough or rye bread instead of bagels.
Buy ready-sliced bagels to take home and freeze – toast them straight from frozen.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm
Saturday + Sunday 7am – 2pm
Contact 082 697 6061, orders@newyorkbagels.co.za
Where to find it 44 Harrington Street, Cape Town

Where to drink

The Art of Duplicity

You don’t have to love cocktails to love this bar – but it helps! And not just your standard martini, but tipples concocted by barkeeps with a love of rare spirits, experimentation and molecular gastronomy. The drinks change often, but they’ve included ingredients such as butter-washed gin, grape air, quail eggs and bacon. Housed in a secret 19th-century warehouse furnished to evoke a moody 1920s speakeasy, access is via a password supplied (along with address clues) when you book online – the adventure starts before you’ve even arrived… Patrons are encouraged to dress the part. The bar often hosts blackjack evenings, vintage-movie nights and jazz-blues bands, and there is a food-pairing menu as eccentric as the liquid one.
Good to know Try the house coffee-infused gin or coffee liqueur (owner David Donde also owns Truth Coffee).
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 6pm – ’til the last drop
Contact theartofduplicity@170120.co.za
Where to find it Now, that would be telling.
Book through DinePlan

Dust and Dynamite

Stepping through the swing-doors into this candlelit bar, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled onto the set of a Tarantino movie. Decorated from floor to ceiling in Wild West paraphernalia – an old honky-tonk piano against a wall, red theatre curtains and wood panelling everywhere – the bar has been described as the perfect place to sip a cold beer and let your hair down. With a rocking playlist (and occasional live bands) to match the interiors, and cowboy hats for guests to get into character, we recommend you push open those doors – not just for a beer but for an entire experience.
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 6pm – 2am
Friday, 3pm – 2am
Saturday, 6pm – 2am
Contact 066 214 7400, vickyaf@outlook.com
Where to find it 27 Caledon Street, Cape Town

Harringtons

Pick your flavour: this nightlife enclave covers all the bases, incorporating the atmospheric, Havana-ish Rum Runner Bar with its old-world mahogany bar; edgy-punky-surfy dive bar SurfaRosa with ice-cold beer and pizzas; and Harrington’s, an elegant cocktail lounge serving global tapas, with retro velvet seating, glam chandeliers and panoramic views of the East City. District is the main clubbing venue, with a set-up for live gigs, where leather booths surround the gleaming, polished-wood dance floor equipped with a state-of-the-art sound system. A variety of events keep things cooking, from funky-disco nights and live bands (especially East City Sessions on Thursdays) to jazz and a wining-and-dining supper club. (Keep an eye on their website and social media for weekly line ups.)
Opening times Wednesday, 4pm – 12am
Thursday, 4pm – 2am
Friday, 3pm – 4am
Saturday, 4pm – 4am
Contact 078 916 7903, bookings@harringtonstreet.co.za
Where to find it 61B Harrington Street, Cape Town
Book Through DinePlan

Tommy’s Chop Shop

With old cars suspended from the ceiling, parked motorbikes and tools hanging on the walls, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d wandered into the mechanic’s workshop that the name suggests. But hidden behind the outdoor store, Just Like Papa, this is a chilled dive bar hangout, where you can play pool, foosball or darts, watch an old movie on the screen (or a big match) and sip on an aged whisky or a creative cocktail.
Good to know No food is served, except on Wednesdays when there’s a grill with the team from Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants. It’s dog-friendly too.
Opening times Tuesday – Friday, 4pm – 12am
Saturday, 2pm – 12am
Contact 063 681 7957, mel@tommyschopshop.com
Where to find it 50 Canterbury Street, Cape Town

Where to go + shop

District Six Museum

Established in 1994 – the year of our first democratic election – this museum pays tribute to a once-vibrant community that was forcibly removed and demolished during apartheid (it was declared a whites-only area in February 1966). Using family photos, maps, artefacts and storytelling by former residents, it sheds light on this dark episode and celebrates a community finding their way to healing and restoration. Visit the Museum’s The Little Wonder Store, a wonderful product shop featuring ‘Memory Threads’, a range of homeware products developed through community workshops. Site walks in District Six itself can also be booked.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 9am – 4pm
Guided tours: 9.30am, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm
Cost R60 (adult), R25 (children 7–17 years)
Tour with ex-resident/guide: R75 (adult), R30 (children 7–17 years)
Guided site walk: R130 (by prior arrangement, includes museum entry)
Contact 021 466 7200, reception@districtsix.co.za
Where to find it 25A Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
Book Now

The Homecoming Centre and Star Theatre

Owned by the District Six Museum, and spanning five interconnected buildings (with a portion of an old Gothic-style church at its centre), The Homecoming Centre is an amalgamation of arts, performance, learning and community. The six event spaces available to hire host a plethora of workshops connected to the museum, temporary exhibitions and events, film screenings and concerts in the Avalon Auditorium. The Star Theatre (previously The Fugard) hosts a wide-ranging programme from cutting-edge theatre and comedy, to concerts and album launches. Each space has its own story to tell, and like District Six itself, celebrates the rich culture and history of the area.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
Contact 021 466 7200
Where to find it Corner of Buitenkant and Calendon Streets,  Cape Town

StateoftheART Gallery

For art-lovers and collectors looking to discover emerging South Africa artists, or the latest works from an established mid-career visual artist, this boutique gallery is a dynamic delight. Regular group exhibitions mean there are always intriguing new pieces on display across all different styles and mediums.
Opening times Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 5pm (4pm in winter)
Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Contact 061 129 1899
Where to find it The Square, 50 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town

The Book Lounge

A refuge for readers in the innercity, this indy bookshop offers two floors of literary treasures. Well-stocked shelves, well-informed staff and all the latest releases (great coffee, too). An essential stop on any author’s tour, the cosy downstairs hosts many a book launch, reading and signing, and in between those you can settle into a comfortable armchair with a coffee and put together a TBR pile to keep you happy for months.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm
Saturday, 9am – 4pm
Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Contact 021 462 2425, booklounge@gmail.com
Where to find it Corner Buitenkant and 71 Roeland Street, Cape Town

Charly’s Bakery

It’s the stuff that Willy Wonka dreams are made of: crazy colours, glitter and sparkles, and decadent treats by the baker’s dozens. Established by the late Charly Biess and his wife Jacqui in 1989, the ever-popular bakery is now largely run by their three daughters, Alexandra, Daniella and Roch. Order a cake for a special-occasion, or pop by for a decadent slice of cake, dazzling cupcakes, chocolate fudge brownies, and colourful cookies in all different shapes, sizes and colours (including dinosaurs and unicorns) to takeaway or sit at a table with a cup of tea or coffee.
Opening times Tuesday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
Saturday, 8.30am – 2pm
Contact 021 461 5181
Where to find it 38 Canterbury Street, Cape Town

Nude Foods

Nude Foods’ owner and founder, Paul Rubin, was frustrated with the amount of single-use plastic packaging used by regular grocers when he started the plastic-free bulk wholefoods store in November 2017. Nude Foods sells organic fresh fruit and vegetables; non-GMO dried pantry goods, oils, vinegars, honey, tahini and nut butters all on tap – as well as an earth-friendly selection of natural body and home products, and an apothecary of natural wellness products. And there’s a hidden backyard café behind the store where you can chill over a superfood smoothie, a matcha iced latte, a falafel wrap or a sprout salad.
Good to know Bring your own containers to fill (or use the free brown paper bags if you forget).
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm
Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Contact 021 437 3003, shop@nudefoods.co.za
Where to find it 5 Constitution Street, Cape Town

For The Record

When a father and daughter share a passion for music and vinyl collection, there’s nothing for it but to open a record store and share the love. Here you’ll find a fabulous selection of new releases and old classics in a raft of genres from Jazz to Hip Hop, African to New Wave, Pop and everything in between.
Opening times Tuesday – Friday, 10am – 4pm
Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Contact 063 635 9494, vinyl@fortherecordvinyl.co.za
Where to find it 46A Canterbury Street, Cape Town

Just Like Papa

Born out of a love of nature and an insatiable craving for adventure, Just Like Papa was founded in 2016 on Harrington Street. A sanctuary for outdoor lovers, it celebrates adventure and the desire to explore our world. As such, all of its products (from accessories  to outdoor clothing and camping gear) are selected for durability and functionality, so you’re completely prepared for whatever expedition you embark on – no matter how big or small. Just browsing the displays will make even the most urban of city slickers feel inspired to take to the great outdoors.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm
Saturday, 8am – 2pm
Contact 087 470 0216, info@justlikepapa.com
Where to find it 73 Harrington Street, Cape Town

Hemporium

The champion of eco-friendly sustainable hemp products, from clothing and accessories to cosmetics, homeware and textiles, this is the new flagship store of the pioneering South African hemp-focussed company. Even the building is made of hemp… in fact it’s the tallest building in the world made of hemp, in the form of hempcrete blocks, with a Neighbourgood aparthotel taking up the 12 storeys above the store.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Contact 021 702 4988, rifqah@hemporium.com
Where to find it 84 Harrington Street, Cape Town

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