Brunch can be such a good time – no early wakeups, light meals and good coffee, plenty of time to fit other fun activities into your day… it’s perfect! It’s also ideal for a Saturday with friends and family, a solo trip, or a fun date. You’ve just got to find the right spot – otherwise, you may end up with a stale croissant and nothing charming in sight.
After years of hardcore brunching (all in preparation for this moment), I’ve put together the best places to brunch in Cape Town, with information on their neighbourhood location, specialties, and open hours. Find the perfect spot for you!
Quick fix: best brunch by Cape Town suburb
Cape Town is a sprawling city, so you may prefer to find a fantastic brunch spot near you. These are my top picks, as a local who just can’t get enough of brunch.
- City Centre/Gardens – Our Local
- Sea Point – Pauline’s
- Bo Kaap – Against the Grain
- Kalk Bay – Olympia Cafe
- Observatory – Sonder Cafe
- Camps Bay – Azure Restaurant at the Twelve Apostles
- Newlands – The Gardeners Cottage
- City Center — Honest Chocolate Cafe
Our Local, Gardens
- Hours: 08:00 – 16:00 Sunday to Wednesday | 08:00 – 11pm Thursday to Saturday
- Best for: Aesthetic dates, quirky, plat-filled aesthetic and group brunch
Our Local blew me away the first time I stepped inside. I was anticipating an ordinary little cafe, especially after seeing it from the outside. But its lofty, warehouse-like interior, covered in lush plants and art, its antique furniture, and its general vibe defy expectation. It’s picture-perfect!
And of course, the food – I loved their croissants (and tried each of them with my table; no duds!) and their toasties are just wonderful. The coffees, too, are excellent, I can highly recommend the flat white and the cortado!
Pauline’s, Sea Point
- Hours: 07:00 – 16:00 weekdays | 08:00 – 14:00 weekends
- Best for: Relaxed, intimate dates, healthy organic treats and vegan options
I live up the road from Pauline’s in Sea Point, and it has quickly become my favourite brunch in Cape Town. It’s a sliver of a cafe, intimate and warm, with a semi-inclosed outdoor area brightened by creepers and orange bougainvillaea. Their healthy treats (some vegan, some not) are sublime, and I can’t count the number of times my husband and I have returned for a perfect pair of flat whites, a cardamon roll and a slice of pear and polenta cake!
Both their pulled pork roll and burrata and tomato smoor on sourdough are also a treat. And like much of the rest of Sea Point, they’re dog-friendly. If you’re not already in Sea Point I recommend parking on the far end of the seaside promenade and strolling along it to reach Pauline’s. You’ll work up a nice appetite, and you certainly won’t mind walking back again. So beautiful!
Against the Grain, Bo Kaap
- Hours: 07:00 – 17:30 weekdays | 07:00 – 16:00 weekends
- Best for: Stunning views, Cape Malay koeksisters, and large groups of friends
A large, spacious cafe overlooking colourful Bo Kaap and Table Mountain beyond it, Against the Grain is just lovely. For the view alone, honestly. But they’re also one of the very few places in the city where you can buy Cape Malay koeksisters (dreamy doughy balls with cardamon and aniseed, lightly coated in syrup and rolled in coconut) with your coffee. They also make a mean cheesecake! This is the perfect spot for a group brunch, with nice deep booths and plenty of space.
Olympia Cafe, Kalk Bay
- Hours: 07:00 – 21:00 Sunday to Friday | 07:00 – 19:00 Saturdays
- Best for: Baked goods, fresh food, and a beautiful open space overlooking Kalk Bay harbour
I’ve loved Olympia Bakery since I was a little kid, and found out a couple of years ago that the cafe attached to that bakery is just as wonderful. Their coffees are rich, their baked goods absolutely perfect, and for once in my life I ordered a salad here, and even that was fantastic.
The service is also always really lovely, with a real community-knit atmosphere and smiling faces. It’s also, as you see, located in Kalk Bay, Cape Town’s most charming seaside neighbourhood! If you visit, be sure to stroll along the main street and pop into some of the lovely thrift stores and galleries. You also won’t regret stopping in at the bakery and taking some shortbread and/or cinnamon twists home with you! I still dream of those cinnamon twists…
The Gardeners Cottage, Newlands
- Hours: 08:00 – 16:30 Tuesday to Saturday | 08:30 – 16:30 Sunday | Closed on Mondays
- Best for: Charming outdoor seating and a bustling, arty vibe
Despite Cape Town’s stunning indigenous plantlife, most of our cafes and restaurants are very much indoor affairs. Not Gardeners Cottage! Nestled under massive trees and surrounded by greenery, it’s a strikingly beautiful spot. The food is tasty, and the service fast and friendly.
This restaurant is part of Montebello Centre, a semi-outdoor space in Newlands with a nursery, artists’ studios, craft workshops, and even an organic produce stand. It’s a really lovely place to spend the morning. Just be sure to book a spot at Gardeners Cottage, as they fill up quick.
Sonder Cafe, Observatory
- Hours: 07:30 – 16:00 Monday to Friday | 08:00 – 15:00 Saturday | Closed on Sundays
- Best for: Beautiful local art, fresh juices, book swap and board games
If you’re an art-lover, you’ll adore Sonder. I walked in here for a quick fresh juice while strolling along Observatory’s Lower Main, and came away with a little art piece and a new favourite place.
It’s small and sunshiny, with tall walls covered in local art. It has a calm, cosy atmosphere, buttery-soft pastries, and picture-perfect decor. And my favourite part – they also have a little book-swap library and some table-top games, so whatever your vibe, you’re sure to have a good time of it!
Harveys at Winchester Mansions, Seapoint
- Hours: 12:00 – 15:00 Daily
- Best for: Decadent meals in a beautiful setting overlooking Sea Point promenade
Fancy some fine dining late brunch? Harveys opens at 12 pm with a decadent menu and a view overlooking the Promenade and the ocean beyond it. Their food is honestly glorious, but their stuffed sweet potato is an unexpected winner, and the desserts are melt-in-your-mouth.
Firefly Cafe, Camps Bay
- Hours: 07:00 – 16:00 Monday to Saturday | 07:00 – 15:30 Sunday
- Best for: Tasty healthy dishes and perfect flat whites
This trendy little cafe is located right on the Camps Bay strip, a stone’s throw from the tidal pool. With floor-to-ceiling windows, deep green velvet and wood decor, and a menu that switches it up between healthy and decadent, it’s an Insta-worthy brunch spot. It’s also a great spot for vegans and the health-conscious brunchers among us. A few of my favourites here are the chocolate croissant with a cortado and the vegan Mexican bowl!
Azure Restaurant at the Twelve Apostles, Camps Bay
- Hours: 07:00 – 22:00 Daily
- Best for: Fantastic, decadent buffet breakfasts and a stunning sea view
Both the high tea here and the buffet breakfast are absolutely spectacular. My husband and I enjoyed the buffet breakfast the morning after our wedding, and we felt like we were in a movie! Think mimosas, oysters, bottomless cappuccinos, and brilliant cold meats – and that’s just the start. All with a stunning view over the ocean – the Twelve Apostles hotel is nestled against the hill with greenery on either side of it and the far-stretching ocean before you. I highly recommend saving this brunch spot for a sunny mid-morning!
Oh – and the high tea is just as fantastic, with sweet treats and little sandwiches, and such a lovely selection of teas. It’s a real treat.
Honest Chocolate Cafe, City Centre
- Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Monday – Thursday | 10:00 – 21:00 Friday & Saturday | 09:00 – 17:00 Sunday
- Best for: Chocolatey goodness and a cute vibe
This one is for our sweet tooths! Honest Chocolate is an artisanal, organic chocolate company based in Cape Town. Their cafe, located right in the city centre, uses their chocolate in a variety of delightful ways. My absolute favourites are the rich orange hot chocolate, the banana bread bunny chow (featured in the pic), and their salted caramel and choc tart.
This is also a lovely place to go brunching with small groups – we celebrated a friend’s birthday here on a rainy day, and it was perfect.
EarthWorx Nursery, Hout Bay
- Hours: 10:00 – 18:00 Monday – Thursday | 10:00 – 21:00 Friday & Saturday | 09:00 – 17:00 Sunday
- Best for: Fruit-covered waffles and doggy treats
Now this is a bit of a random one, but this is one of my favourite places to be when exploring Hout Bay. The nursery cafe is also a fantastic budget-friendly spot in Cape Town. The waffles here are also our all-time favourite, as they’re simple and fresh, and topped with seasonal fruit, ice cream and syrup.
They also have these doggy icecreams – hooves filled with a dog-friendly stew and frozen – will keep your pup busy and very happy your whole stay. That is, of course, if you have a dog! It’s very human-friendly too, though, and a stroll through the nursery is a lovely way to end off your visit.
Brunch time
Now there’s nothing to do but to pick the perfect one for your day plans, and go brunching! Let me know if I’ve missed any of your favourites, and I’ll try to pay it a visit.
