Looking for your next caffeine fix? Look no further. Here is a list of some of the best cafés that Observatory has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a casual meeting spot, a vibey workspace or a place to grab a light meal with a hot drink, the area has a few great coffee shops to try.
Bean Tree Café
Bean Tree Café is SPAR’s in-house coffee shop. Take a break from your grocery shopping or spend grab a delicious breakfast before starting your weekend purchasing spree at this comfy café.
Bean Tree uses the freshest coffee beans and trained baristas to deliver the perfect cuppa joe every time. If it’s a hot day and you’d prefer something refreshing, Bean Tree also offers fruit juices and icy frappes in a variety of flavours. They have a large selection of milkshakes, include fruit and gourmet flavours. Grab an iced tea, lemonade or a mocktail too - the drinks selection is vast.
Hungry shoppers can also indulge in a range of breakfast and lunch options. From cereals and cooked breakfast to toasted sandwiches and curries - there’s a meal that caters to every palate and diet at Bean Tree. Patrons with a sweet tooth can opt for something sugary, such as pancakes, scones, waffles and ice-creams.
Bean Tree Café is open from 7:30am to 9pm every day of the week. Note that their Sunday times may change soon. Find them on Main Road, adjacent to the Groote Schuur SPAR supermarket.
Phone: +27 (0)21 447 2213 | email: info@obzbeantreecafe.co.za
Cafe Honeybun
This warm and welcoming coffee shop is set on the busy Lower Main Road strip. Cafe Honeybun serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with café classics such as croissants, cakes and pastries.
The selection of beverages is impressive. Besides the usual coffees, teas and sodas, Cafe Honeybun also offers fruit smoothies, skinny smoothies, freshly-squeezed juices, wines and beers. We’d recommend their watermelon and mint skinny smoothy when it’s in-season.
If you’re looking for something to snack on, Cafe Honeybun can whip up a range of cooked breakfasts, french toasts, toasted sandwiches and gourmet sandwiches. They also offer soups, salads and some hearty cooked lunches, such as lasagne, steak and Cape Malay chicken curry.
Cafe Honeybun is open from 7am to 5pm on weekdays and from 8am to 4pm on the weekends. Find them at 107 Lower Main Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)21 447 0606 | email: info@honeybun.co.za
Cocoa Cha Chi
This streetside coffee shop is a hub for people looking for a vibrant spot to work or enjoy a delicious cup of coffee. The food and drinks are affordable and the atmosphere is relaxed with a unique boho touch.
Grab a slice of cake or a giant cookie from the counter, or sit down for a hearty cooked meal such as a burger or pasta dish. Cocoa Cha Chi offers an extensive breakfast menu, complete with benedicts and french toasts. They also serve a range of savoury lunch options such as tramezzinis, pizzas and grills. Try a sweet dessert after your meal, such as flapjacks, cheesecake or a lemon meringue.
The drinks selection is just as impressive. Cocoa Cha Chi offers the usual range of coffees and teas, but they also have fruit crushes, smoothies and fresh fruit juices available. Cocoa Cha Chi is open from 7am to 11pm every day of the week. Find them at 20 Lower Main Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)21 448 3637 | email: enquiries@cocoa.co.za
Good Company Coffee
This relaxed coffee shop on a quiet street is perfect for creatives. It shares a space with a design and printing business. Good Company Coffee has a comfortable lounge with fast fibre internet, making it a great spot for freelancers and creatives who like to work at cafés.
Good Company serves affordable coffees, complete with milk alternatives such as almond milk. They also have a range of milkshakes, smoothies and sodas on offer. Good Company Coffee is open from 7:30am to 4pm on weekdays and they are closed on the weekends. Find them at 14 St Michaels Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)21 276 1793 | email: john@goodcompanycoffee.co.za
Mango Ginger
Mango Ginger is a quaint and cosy bakery and coffee shop. They specialise in nutritious homemade food and decadent desserts. There’s always something new to try as their lunch menu changes regularly.
Mango Ginger are experts when it comes to gluten- and wheat-free cakes. They also bake sugar-free treats and vegan options so they can cater to any diet and preference. The cake selection changes but you can expect some classics like cheesecake and carrot cake, or try something new such as a beetroot and berry vegan cake or a butternut, date and orange cake.
Besides the bakery goods, you can also start your day with a hearty cooked breakfast. Bite into some tasty sandwiches, burgers, wraps or salads for lunch as well. Visitors can even bag a frozen meal to take home with them, making dinner decisions much simpler.
Mango Ginger serves fresh coffees and teas with the option for lactose-free alternatives. You can also grab a pressed juice, fruit smoothie or gourmet milkshake. Mango Ginger is open from 7:30am to 5pm on weekdays and from 8am to 3pm on the weekends. Find them at 27 Lower Main Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)21 448 2500 | email: mangogingerobservatory@gmail.com
Rust Coffee Bar
Creating the perfect amalgamation between a café and a bar, Rust has a great range of drinks for anyone seeking a cosy spot in which to hang out. Rust has a unique house blend of coffee that is created in partnership with Dr G. at Rock & Roller Coffee Culture in Montague Gardens.
Besides the hot beverages and energising coffees, Rust also offers a curated selection of local craft beers, wines and whisky. All their coffee beans, spirits and alcohols are locally-sourced (besides the Scotch whisky), highlighting the quality of South African products.
Rust Coffee Bar is open from 7:30am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9am to 9pm on Sundays. Find them at 79 Station Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)72 337 3218 | email: info@rust.capetown
Saint James Cafe
This trendy coffee shop is your typical neighbourhood café. Trendy, vibrant and well-designed - the space is perfect for a quick cuppa joe on a weekend morning. Saint James serves cooked breakfasts (think eggs benedict) and light lunches, such as bagels and sandwiches.
They also have a range of muffins and café-style snacks. The coffee is delicious and Saint James has racked up some good reviews from happy patrons. Saint James is open from 7am to 4:30pm on weekdays and from 8am to 3:30pm on the weekends. Find them at 43 Station Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)60 976 8252
The Drawing Room Café
The Drawing Room is a renowned coffee shop in the area, hosting many an event and live music session during the evenings. By day, The Drawing Room is a cosy café, but it becomes a buzzing hive after sunset, hosting movie screenings, poetry, live music and dinner parties.
The menu is fairly simple, offering all-day breakfasts, sandwiches and light meals. In terms of beverages, guests can opt for a choice of coffees, tea or hot chocolate. They also serve cold beverages such as juice, lemonade and sodas.
The Drawing Room is open from 7:30am to 2am from Monday to Thursday, from 9am to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays and they are closed on Sundays. Find them at 87 Station Road in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)82 672 0515 | email: info@thedrawingroomcafe.co.za
Vida e Caffè
Vida is a Portuguese coffee franchise that offers the usual teas, coffees and hot chocolates. Try their special blend of coffee - a mix of Arabica beans with a low caffeine content that’s delicate on the palette.
Another must-try is their iced coffee (or gelado). They blend their branded coffee with ice cream to make a creamy and smooth drink that is perfect for a hot day. Vida also serves fruity smoothies and juices.
Admittedly, Vida e Caffè is more suited to takeaways but they do offer seating for the more patient patrons. Try some of their sweet and savoury snacks, such as homemade muffins, pretzel rolls (paozinhos), and sandwiches.
Vida e Caffè is open from 7am to 5pm every day of the week, but they are closed on the weekends. Find them at Black River Park off Liesbeek Parkway in Observatory.
Phone: +27 (0)21 447 4126 | email: brp@caffe.co.za
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Check out some more coffee shops in Newlands.
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