Over the past few years, Cape Town’s Bree Street has steadily overtaken Camps Bay and certainly the V&A Waterfront as the coolest and best destination when it comes to eating and drinking. You could take that 1,19 km walk from lower Bree on the Foreshore, to upper Bree where it blends into Kloof, on any given day and find endless edible distractions to cause you to pause and savour some of the best of Cape Town’s gourmet and cocktail scenes.
Here you can feel the city from the ground up, and get to meet some of the most exciting chefs, alchemists and baristas making waves and putting Cape Town on the culinary world map. This insider guide will help you zone in on the best, and possibly lesser known, places that Bree Street has to offer.
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Tea and coffee breaks
Hard Pressed Café
1 Bree St, Mondays to Saturday, daytime.
Hard Pressed Café is a vinyl café in the Portside Building on lower Bree Street. Casual and relaxed with friendly staff and tasty options for breakfast and lunch. Look to the blackboard for daily specials or ask at the counter.
Hemelhuijs
71 Waterkant Street, Monday to Saturday, daytime.
Hemelhuijs is all about style and ambience, with incredible coffee and meals to match. Taste some of their fine offerings and admire their home-ware collection, which is also for sale. The vintage green wall beckons to be photographed in between coffee orders.
Jason’s Bakery
185 Bree Street, Monday to Saturday, daytime. On Sunday he suggests ‘you go somewhere else’.
Jason’s Bakery is an institution and led the way in the movement that brought the crowds to Bree. There’s almost always a few people waiting for their coffee and pastry fix outside the hatch and the small space is always vibey and welcoming. Jason makes many decadent things, and his peanut butter and bacon croissants, are one of them.
Latitude 33
165 Bree St, Mondays to Saturday, daytime.
Latitude 33 is a casual spot for early morning coffee or a casual meal. As the owners put it, they have found the best of what they love on their travels and brought it together in a collaboration of food, fashion and art. Don’t miss their clothing boutique upstairs.
Fab Lunch Dates
The General Store Kitchen and Grocer
22 Bree St, Mondays to Saturday, daytime.
The General Store Kitchen and Grocer is the sweetest place that you are unlikely to find unless it is pointed out to you. Freshly made gourmet salads and home-style food is served from behind the counter, yet it’s the breakfast that may cause you to fall in love and linger. They have a small selection of carefully selected deli items on sale too.
Chefs Warehouse and Canteen
92 Bree Street, Mondays to Friday lunch and early dinner, Saturday’s lunch.
The award winning Chefs Warehouse and Canteen is where you want to eat if tapas are your preferred style of indulgence. Liam Tomlin is a master and excites with an ever-changing menu, his tapas of the day for two is the most popular dish. Look in his store and take one of his cookbooks away; they give insight into his genius. The no reservations policy means equal opportunity for all and you can have a drink at the cleverly named “no reservations” bar while waiting.
Sababa Kitchen Deli
231 Bree Street, Monday to Saturday, daytime.
If you want to dash in and out and even possibly grab a world-class take away, then Sababa Kitchen Deli is your go to. Their harvest table of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern-style food offers healthy, homemade options in this small, modern space. Find a sidewalk table outside in good weather and please, do yourself a favour and have a chocolate brownie.
Dinner Time
Villa 47
47 Bree Street, Mondays to Saturday, early to late. Locanda is excellent for coffee and breakfast too.
The much talked about Villa 47 with their culinary concept that celebrates Mediterranean and Asian cuisine is a must. Split onto three levels, try Locanda, a relaxed Italian bistro offering regional specialty dishes prepared by Italian Chef Vittorio downstairs. And Stuzzico upstairs, with its ever-evolving menu in a raw setting with the original brickwork and an impressive hand-carved wooden bar and fireplace.
Short Market Club
88 Shortmakret Stree, Monday to Saturday, three meals a day, walk-ins welcome.
Whatever time of day, get to the newly opened Short Market Club where Wesley Randles, previously of The Pot Luck Club, and the country’s number one chef Luke Dale-Roberts, have opened their doors to welcome all. Already creating a buzz in the city, the restaurant is unique and has the look and feel of a very beautifully imagined members-only private club. The food of course is outstanding.
Bocca
Corner of Bree and Wale Street, Monday to Saturday noon to late.
Sometimes all you need is a beautiful thin-based pizza and for that, Bocca and their hand-built pizza oven from Naples is the best option. Try one of their fresh pastas or plates for sharing, all served with Italian flair and more than a touch of love for good food. This is the perfect spot to relax over a good glass of wine and simply be.
Find Mulberry & Prince
12 Pepper Street, Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 10pm.
Find Mulberry & Prince on Pepper Street, where urban contemporary meets Cape Town’s need for the new and the deliciously hip. Offering gorgeous meals by this dynamic pair, New Yorker Cynthia and local foodie Cornel, who have settled into this dusty pink and grey designer touched space and are serving food that needs to be shared.
Specialty Spots
Honest Chocolate
66 Wale Street, Monday to Sunday, daytime.
Honest Chocolate brings you a story of two friends Michael and Ant, who’s dream it was to create fine chocolate. Starting in their kitchen making tiny batches, they are now found in this charming shop where they hand make their bars using only organically sourced products. Their chocolate is also free of dairy and processed sugar, making it a healthier alternative.
Culture Club Cheese
215 Bree Street, Monday to Saturday, daytime.
Culture Club Cheese and its glorious yellow exterior announces that you’ve arrived at Bree Street’s cheese capital. Select one of the tables outside, or sit inside to admire the impressively stocked cheese fridges. You have the choice of numerous cheese sandwiches, or try the traditional raclette or Camembert mac ‘n cheese. If cheese is your thing, get here.
Bacon on Bree
217 Bree Street, Monday to Saturday, daytime.
Bacon on Bree is an ode to all things pork, as prepared by charcuterie legend Richard Bosman, who is known for his respect and passionate approach to organically sourced produce. From bacon and brie croissants, baguettes topped with roasted tomato and bacon and French toast BLTs – if its made from bacon they will have it.
Where to drink the night away
House of Machines
84 Shortmarket Street, Monday to Saturday, early to late.
It is true that House of Machines is as good a place for your fresh green energy juice first thing in the morning as it is for that after dinner nightcap, but I suggest you head over for a drink before dinner and catch some live music too, as they are known to showcase some of the best local talent.
Outrage of Modesty
88 Shortmarket Street, Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to late.
At Outrage of Modesty cocktails are an art. This exclusive cocktails only bar is headed up by Australian bartender Luke Whearty, who brings over 15 years of experience and passion to the mix. The intimate 22-seater venue is a must visit while in the city. That is if the doorman lets you in of course. Don’t worry about recognizing any of the names of the cocktails on offer, order on instinct. It’s impossible to be disappointed given the sheer display of alchemy.
The Gin Bar
64A Wale Street, Wednesday to Saturday 5pm to late and Sunday 2pm to 9pm.
The hidden Gin Bar, found behind Honest Chocolate, is dedicated to the heady spirit that is making an impressive comeback worldwide, and has a strong focus on quality rather than quantity. The selection on offer includes most of the city’s fine craft gins and the cocktails are aimed at providing connoisseurs with much to smile about. You’ll feel like you’ve been let into a precious secret, just by being here.
Shop ’til you drop
Avoova
Cnr Shortmarket St, 97 Bree St, Monday to Saturday, daytime.
Avoova offers unique and exquisitely designed wooden bowls and platters, photo frames and individual pieces all covered in a mosaic style layer of ostrich egg shells, which are gathered from hatched eggs on ostrich farms.
Wild Olive
29 Pepper Street, Open Monday to Friday.
Wild Olive on Pepper Street (opposite Jason’s Bakery) offers an inspiring story to match their hand produced natural soaps and beauty products. Started in 1997, when pharmacist founder Marioara arrived in South Africa, by 2007 they had expanded the product range, as well as employed a large group of women. Authentic, passionate and true to their philosophy, the story is heartfelt and the products pure and blissful.
PS: Many of the places listed are not open on Sundays, so plan your trip with that in mind.
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