Ahh, coffee! That wonderful gift of nature that perks up the day of millions around the globe. Not forgetting us here in Cape Town. Now a fabulous book, The Best Coffee in Town, celebrates the Cape’s dynamic coffee culture with its selection of hotspots to inspire you to caffeine pastures anew. It’s divided into sections such as weather, food and child-friendliness, and each entry tells you which coffee is used, whether you can charge your phone and laptop, and where to park.
Enjoy our selection of 10 great coffee spots from the book and enter to WIN your very own copy of the book right here. PLUS… how about this little challenge? Be the first to send us a photo of yourself at three of these coffee spots and you may just WIN a little something from us. Mail them to editor@thislifeonline.co.za or inbox them to us on our Facebook page. Happy scrolling!
PS Written by Yvette Wilsenach, the book was photographed and designed by Thislife’s very own photographic maestro, Nicky Elliott, so now you can love it even more
Located in Cape Town’s central Buitenkant Street, eclectic Haas not only satisfies the sweet toothed with globally popular staples but stays loyal to local cuisine with offerings such as bunny chow and biltong. Art etc, too, for you to quaff in style
Offering sheltered sea views, indoor and outdoor seating and gluten-free as well as regular nourishment, The Courtyard Café serves coffee connoisseurs in quirky Kalk Bay, right next to its equally quirky theatre
Urban chic at 1987 Eatery at Hertex in Buitenkant Street, Gardens. The new café overlooks Haus home store so you can kill two birds with one stone. Energise yourself with a warm-from-the-oven croissant or praline cheesecake before you work out exactly which cushion will transform your life
Family-run, environmentally conscious Ground Art Caffé offers stylish city caffeine and art that changes monthly in Strand Street, central Cape Town
High Tea, hidden in an alluring fountained courtyard in suburban Wynberg, is best known for its array of cakes that look as if Momma just pulled ’em out the oven. We’re reliably informed that this salmon and scrambled egg number also goes down a treat with regulars. Flamboyant tea cosies for sale here, too
Deluxe Coffeeworks in Buitenkant Street, Cape Town has a minimalist vibe for those who don’t like fuss. The luxury’s all in the coffee. This is the HQ of this successful coffee supplier so you can buy recherché beans there, too
Feeling like something a bit country? Far from the throng, new rural coffee house Nest Deli at Constantia Uitsig wine farm has a fireplace for chilly days
… and here’s what it offers on sunny ones, right next to other converted farm cottages offering sushi, ice-cream and chocolate 🙂
Be daring and stretch your horizons to Scarborough, a fabulous beach village outside Cape Town with a nature reserve and mountainous views that make it worth the drive. Especially when you’ve got The Hub Café to restore you, a relaxed coffee shop offering beautifully fresh food, deli shopping, live music and Saturday talks on nature and cooking (contact The Hub direct for details)
A comfortable modern addition to historic Buitenverwachting wine farm, Coffee Bloc is the stop for anyone feeling the urge to gaze at mountains and trees while chickens forage at their feet. Coffee tastings available, too
Byblos Trading Co. is inspired by Byblos, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, where they know a thing or two about coffee. It’s also where owner Mikhael started off his coffee career. A cheerful drawcard for lovers of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food, it’s to be found in Woodstock décor complex, The Palms. Byblos the city is very close to Beirut and Mikhael says: ‘In a country whose people have weathered war and destruction, the culture has remained warm and friendly.’ This is the vibe you’ll find at Byblos the coffee shop, along with some interesting wooden board games
Indulge in Viennese-style luxury at Coco Safar at the Artem Centre, Sea Point, which serves you coffee with a little something on a fanciable wooden tray. Its newly launched ‘botanical micro-brewery’ also offers a variety of non-alcoholic bottled drinks based on rooibos and coffee extracts that take the traditional coffee shop in a whole new direction
The rarefied patisserie is part of the fun @ Coco Safar
Bob’s Bagel Café, also known as the Damn Fine Coffee Roastery, serves up that cobbled Kalk Bay feel plus fresh breakfast bagels. Sit outside on the bench or in the tiny park next door if you’re still wet from surfing or sport a canine. Dry people are welcome to enter its colourful, relaxed interior
Eager to get your hands on a copy of The Best Coffee in Town? It’s available at all major bookstores in the Western Cape region (Exclusive Books, Wordsworth Books, Bargain Books etc), as well as independent bookstores. All the coffee shops listed in the book also stock it. To learn more about The Coffee Route series, click here