23 editor picks across South Africa.
23 cafes worth the trip across South Africa, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All South Africa guides.
Olympia Cafe and Deli is a no-bookings harbourside room in Kalk Bay, Cape Town, serving all day breakfasts, bread from its own bakery and simple deli plates.
TipYou cannot book, so join the line like everyone before you and read the chalkboard menu while you wait for a table.
Kleinsky's Delicatessen is a New York style Jewish deli cafe in Sea Point, Cape Town, known for bagels, pastrami and all day breakfast plates.
TipOrder a pastrami sandwich or the smoked salmon bagel, which the kitchen prepares by hand over two days.
Deluxe Coffeeworks is a specialty coffee shop on Buitenkant Street in Gardens, Cape Town, roasting its own beans for espresso and filter brews.
TipPick up a bag of the house beans on the way out; the roasting itself now happens at the Deluxe base in Paarden Eiland.
Pauline's is a specialty coffee cafe behind the arched entrance of a former monastery on Somerset Road, Green Point, known for sourdough and cardamom buns.
TipGo on a weekday morning for a quieter visit, take the cloister courtyard when it is open, and ask about the daily pastry special.
Empire Cafe is a double volume neighbourhood cafe in Muizenberg, Cape Town, serving all day breakfast, burgers and pasta near the surf break.
TipThe chalkboard menu changes morning and afternoon; order a BBQ or mushroom burger with hand-cut chips and look out towards the sea.
Loading Bay is an all day cafe on Hudson Street in De Waterkant, Cape Town, cooking organic produce into breakfasts and lunches for a design-led crowd.
TipIts sister grocery, Sans Community on Main Road in Sea Point, sells the same organic produce, and the kitchen closes an hour before the doors.
Hemelhuijs is a chef-run cafe on Waterkant Street in Cape Town's City Centre, cooking a seasonal menu that blends South African heritage with global ideas.
TipSome of the produce comes from the restaurant's own farm in Montagu, so ask the floor staff which vegetables arrived this week.
Starlings Cafe hides behind a hedge on Belvedere Road in Claremont, Cape Town, a Victorian house cafe with a shaded garden and Origin coffee.
TipOrder the peri-peri chicken livers the cafe is known for and take a table in the garden of the Victorian cottage.
Cafe Roux is a farmstyle garden cafe at Noordhoek Farm Village, Cape Town, with breakfast, lunch and evening live music under Chapmans Peak.
TipBook ahead on a dinner show night, and take a table under the umbrellas outside if the wind is calm.
Sonder Cafe is a vintage styled coffee shop on Lower Main Road in Observatory, Cape Town, known for New York bagels and laptop friendly tables.
TipBring a friend for a game of chess over coffee, and order the Hamela Anderson, a bagel with gypsy ham, cheddar and mustard.
Spirit Cafe is a community minded deli cafe in the Constantia Village courtyard, Cape Town, serving seasonal breakfasts, salads and espresso.
TipWi-Fi is free with a purchase, and the cafe stays fully running during loadshedding, handy for a laptop morning.
Oatlands Cafe is a farm style garden cafe on Vissershok Road in Durbanville, Cape Town, popular with cyclists for weekend breakfast and lunch.
TipTime a visit around the Tygerberg mountain bike trails, the lawn playground keeps kids busy while you finish your coffee.
District Cafe is a family run, Muslim-owned cafe on Roodebloem Road in Woodstock, Cape Town, serving bagels, burgers, grills and an extensive cake counter.
TipBook for Friday or Saturday evening, when the grill menu is the draw: the Chef's Platter covers steak, chops, sausage and ribs.
The Lighthouse Cafe is a pavement style eatery on St George's Street in Simon's Town, Cape Town, serving coastal breakfasts and fish and chips.
TipTake a pavement table and order the beer-battered fish and chips, made to Jamie Oliver's recipe, for lunch.
Shift Espresso Bar is a specialty coffee counter at Waterway House in the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, with espresso drinks and a short food menu.
TipIt is built for lingering, with free wifi for work or study, and it opens at 06:00 for an early coffee before the Waterfront wakes up.
The Siba Deli Foodshop and Eatery serves Chef Siba Mtongana's home style breakfasts on Park Road in Gardens, Cape Town, from 07:00 every day.
TipOrder Siba's Famous Chakalaka and Egg on Toast, from R105 one of the cheaper plates on a breakfast menu that climbs to R195.
Big Bay Waffle Company is a family run waffle cafe at Eden on the Bay mall in Blouberg, Cape Town, serving sweet, savoury waffles and coffee.
TipTry a Liege waffle studded with pearl sugar or build your own dessert waffle, and call ahead if you are a group of five or more.
Common Ground Cafe sits above a church in Rondebosch, Cape Town, a glass fronted room and shaded verandah looking out over Rondebosch Common.
TipTake a verandah table across from Rondebosch Common on a mild day, and note the sandwiches use free-range chicken.
Stellski Coffee Bar and Cafe is an espresso bar at 129 Bree Street in the City Bowl, Cape Town, serving coffee, toasties and cake from early until 18:00.
TipThere are no bookings, it is first come, first served, and the Bree Street bar stays open until 18:00 on weekdays and Saturdays.
Coffee Time is a garden cafe at the Astra Centre in Gardens, Cape Town, staffed by adults with special needs serving light lunches and cakes.
TipBookings are essential, and it closes mid afternoon, at 15:45 from Monday to Thursday and 15:00 on Friday.
Good Thyme Cafe sits inside the Stodels garden centre in Milnerton, Cape Town, serving eggs Benedict, milkshakes and breakfasts beside a huge kids' play area.
TipSit on the deck: the play area is attached to the back of the cafe, and both look out at Table Mountain.
Bootlegger XS Salt River is a halal branch of the Cape Town coffee chain on Brickfield Road, serving all day breakfast and coffee to the area.
TipThe white hot chocolate and the peri peri livers are the orders reviewers single out at this halaal branch.
Z.A. Cafe is a coffee stall inside the Bay Harbour Market in Hout Bay, Cape Town, roasting its own Crema Blend beans for market day visitors.
TipIt trades only on market days: Friday until 21:00, and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays until 17:00.
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