Coffee Shops of Cape Town

Stop and smell the coffee

by Emma Gass, 1 September 2007

Lola's

Where: Long Street

What to go for: People watching and good vegetarian food

Lola's is the grande dame of Long Street; still seductively sexy in that lived-in kind of way. With the linoleum countertop, and mismatched chairs that spill out onto the already crowded sidewalks of Long Street, it's the perfect people-watching vantage point.

Pull up a plastic, padded (or previously padded) chair, order a decadently frothy cappuccino or macchiato produced from the pink coffee machine and watch Long Street swirl around you. Order from the exclusively vegetarian menu, but come hungry - the portions are large and you could drown in Lola's enormous, thick smoothies.

This lady wakes before most of Long Street and she carries on to compete with the nightlife. Lola's stays open until late by turning up the funky beats, and pushing the tables aside for a bit of boogying.

When: 7:30 / 8am - 12pm

Afro Café

Where: Church Street

What to go for: The subtle, Africa-inspired teas

The eclectic African kaleidoscope of colour hits you the moment you enter this tiny café; discarded collectables hang from the ceiling, along with chandeliers made from bottle tops and vibrant plastic tablecloths featuring skinny women with afros, soccer balls and sunglasses.

There is fresh Ethiopian coffee for the caffeine junky, and tapas-style nibbles and dips for the peckish, but devotees go there for their teas. There's a long list of choices, infused from ingredients like rooibos, lemongrass, marigold blossoms, fruit peels and ginger, each with wonderfully evocative names such as Addis Ababa, Mombassa, Casablanca, Arusha and, of course, Cape Town

After browsing the antique stalls and art galleries of Church Street, find a sunny table on this pedestrian thoroughfare or curl up in the window seat to enjoy a steaming tumbler of tea from an unusual black iron teapot.

When: 8am to 5pm

Giovanni's

Where: Somerset Street, Green Point

What to go for: Strong coffee and Italian deli goodies

Giovanni's espresso bar, wine bar and deli would not be out of place in Milan or Rome, it feels that authentically Italian. Looking crammed and intimidating from the outside, especially in the early mornings, it's really surprisingly calm within. Well-groomed, vaguely continental-looking clientele crowd the sunny bar counter to read their newspapers and drink their freshly ground double espressos with no real urgency.

Within Giovanni's is a treasure trove of deli delights; tinned and bottled delicacies are piled high, local and imported meats and cheeses fill the cool counters and a wonderful assortment of pre-made meals are available. Everything from marinated carpaccio to spaghetti bolognaise is prepared daily with quality ingredients. Giovanni's is the perfect place to stock a picnic basket before hitting the beaches or mountains of Cape Town.

When: 7:30am - 8:30pm

Vida e Caffé

Where: All over Cape Town, but our favourite is the original, in Kloof Street.

What to go for: Delicious coffee and snappy service.

Don't think I'm biased just because this Portuguese-style coffeeshop is metres away from the Go2Africa offices, but Vida e Caffé does have the best coffee in Cape Town.

Started only a few years ago, these slick and booming coffee outlets have opened all over the country, supported by the upwardly mobile trendy types and laptop-tapping creatives.

Vida e Caffé gives you a kick, before you've even sipped your creamy meia de leite or foamy cappuccino. The sexy, chapéu-wearing team of male barristas have enough upbeat energy to shift the most melancholy Monday blues, yelling orders to each other to get you your coffee in record time.

When: 7am to 6pm

Olympia Café and Deli

Where: Kalk Bay Main Road

What to go for: Out of this world chocolate brownies

This unassuming, slightly bohemian café on Main Road in Kalk Bay has a place in many a Capetonian's heart. With its simple counters, wooden furniture and views of the quaint harbour across the road, it has the comfortable ambience of your local. It also produces the best-ever chocolate brownies and flaky pastries from its bakery - get there early to find them piled high on the counter and various cooling racks.

This is the place to indulge in pick-me-up coffees, energy-giving baked goods or even a big cooked breakfast before hitting the quirky antique and bric-a-brac shops of Kalk Bay.

Always bustling, but maybe best avoided on weekends when most of Cape Town queues for its slice of the pie.

When: 7am - 9pm (3pm on Sundays)

Balducci's

Where: V&A Waterfront

What to go for: Views of Table Mountain

Balducci's is a café in the sense of that stylish Parisian phenomenon that serves light meals and decadent cakes in a refined and elegant atmosphere. Think clean white tablecloths, wicker chairs and chic waiters in bow ties and long white aprons.

Choose a table on the covered terrace, overlooking the marina and staring into the face of Table Mountain. Sip on illy coffee and ogle the layered cakes in the display case, or opt for the healthier choice of crisp green salads or delectable sandwiches.

When: Café menu served from 9am-5pm but the restaurant is open until 10pm.

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