Few things beat a good brunch, and Cape Town has hundreds of options. A great brunch is simply sublime, and some places come out on top. They’re the ones that serve breakfast food a little later in the morning, so you can saunter in after a sleep-in, a hike, or a morning dip in the ocean. Where the coffee is delicious, and the food will fill you with all the warmth and satisfaction you need to make it home for a post-brunch nap. These places evoke feelings of comfort and contentment, and they leave you longing for the next lazy weekend brunch. Here we round up some of the top brunch spots in Cape Town.
Starlings, Claremont
Starlings is one of those places you kind of have to be a local to know about (until now). It’s got no signpost and it’s hidden behind a large hedge on an unassuming street. They don’t take bookings, so you’d do well to get there early and grab a table in the garden, in the dappled light from the trees overhead. The food is spectacular—the eggs Benedict is among the best in town, topped with silky hollandaise. Vegetarian and healthy food options are available, and they have delicious carb-free bread as well as sweet baked treats to take home for later. To drink, there is fresh juice and gorgeous coffee, as well as a few smoothies.
Website: starlings.co.za
Breakfast hours: Weekdays 7am-12pm; weekends: 8am-12pm
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The Food Barn Deli, Noordhoek
The Food Barn Deli is located in the Noordhoek Farm Village. The tables look onto the open-plan kitchen where all food is prepared fresh. The adjacent shelves are laden with freshly baked goods, local wines, specialist ingredients, and teas for sale. Behind the tables are rows of high-quality second-hand books, which you can browse while you wait for your food. The breakfast options are simple but delicious, with daily specials. They also serve beautiful local wines and bubbly. Breakfast is served all day, and in the evenings they serve gourmet tapas that will blow you away.
Website: thefoodbarn.co.za
Breakfast hours: 8am-4pm
Signal Restaurant at Cape Grace, Waterfront
*The Cape Grace has temporarily closed for the duration of South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdown.
A buffet laden with treats, freshly shucked oysters on ice, and a hearty main, the Cape Grace has all of the ingredients that make brunch an extra delectable affair. While brunch has a more savoury slant, the meal ends with an array of tartlets, little puddings, cheese platters, and baked goods.
Website: www.capegrace.com
Tobago’s Restaurant, Bar and Terrace, Granger Bay
Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront serves up a Saturday brunch feast at Tobago’s Restaurant, Bar and Terrace. The Dubai-style Breaker’s Brunch has a sushi station, fresh oysters, and a chocolate fountain on offer. The restaurant is located right on the water’s edge so check the weather forecast and book for a sunny Saturday. Brunch includes a choice of house wines, local beers and soft drinks accompanied by live music. For a small extra charge you can get cocktails, mocktails and prosecco.
Website: radissonblu.com
Breakfast hours: Saturdays from 11am
The Larder, Claremont
Just off the main drag near Cavendish Square is The Larder. It’s an intimate spot with quirky décor & warm ambience. The food is prepared fresh, and with love. The Johnny Depp is this café’s answer to eggs Benedict, and one of the most popular items. The coffee is superb, and the baristas make a mean cortado.
Website: thelarder.co.za
Breakfast hours: Weekdays 7am-3:30pm; weekends 7am-1:30pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbbf2klDAI_/
Harveys at Winchester Mansions, Seapoint
*Winchester Mansions and Harveys Restaurant & Bar are currently closed for renovations. You can still make bookings and purchase vouchers online to and visit when they reopen!
Harvey’s is famous for their Sunday brunches, and for good reason. They serve a buffet brunch, with everything from the traditional eggs and bacon to sushi. There’s also a complimentary glass of bubbly and a Sunday paper thrown into the mix. To top the whole experience off, the tunes are provided by a live jazz band. Guests can sit on the terrace overlooking the promenade and enjoy the bountiful feast in the sunshine.
Website: winchester.co.za
Breakfast hours: Sundays 11am-2pm
Green Vine Eatery, Constantia
Green Vine is one of the fantastic restaurants in the Silvermist wine estate on Constantia Nek. The view is spectacular, overlooking the lush greenery of Table Mountain National Park. They serve standard breakfast fare, like eggs Benedict, fresh fruit with yoghurt and granola, and omelettes. What sets them apart, though, is the breakfast pizza, topped with sliced homemade sausage, bacon, caramelised onion, tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella and eggs. And if you’re a particularly late riser, fear not—there is the brunch pizza on their all-day menu.
Website: greenvineeatery.com
Breakfast hours: Weekdays 8am-11am; weekends 8am-10:30pm
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Hemelhuijs, City Bowl
The name literally means “heaven house”, and they’re not kidding. Fresh juices will refresh and rejuvenate, and the menu is full of really different breakfast options. Try the proudly South African mieliepap porridge with karoo honey and butter, or the perfect scrambled eggs served on homemade date loaf. Their unique takes on traditional eggs-and-bacon breakfasts are also worth checking out, and the best news of all is that they serve breakfast all day.
Website: hemelhuijs.co.za
Breakfast hours: 9am-4pm on weekdays; 9am-3pm on Saturdays; closed Sundays.
Jonkershuis, Constantia
Overlooking the expansive Constantia vineyards, Jonkershuis in Groot Constantia is a great choice for breakfast on a sunny day. They serve everything from scones and jam and oatmeal to classics like French toast and eggs and bacon. The Portabella mushroom poached eggs on sourdough is a hit, with bacon lardons, spinach, and tomato hollandaise. For the very hungry, the breakfast burger is a winner—it is topped with a fried egg, bacon, house pickle, fat fries, and hollandaise.
Website: jonkershuisconstantia.co.za
Breakfast hours: 9am-11:30am
Kleinsky’s Delicatessen, Seapoint
Kleinsky’s is first and foremost a bagel joint, serving fresh bagels that are hand-rolled, fermented overnight, and boiled in honey-water before baking. The breakfast bagel is the obvious choice, but don’t overlook the homemade challah french toast and the potato latke benedict. To drink, there are fresh juices and a variety of coffees and teas.
Website: kleinskys.co.za
Breakfast hours: 8am-11am
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The Pot Luck Club, Woodstock
And now for something completely different… The Pot Luck Club is a tapas-style restaurant started by Luke Dale-Roberts, of La Colombe fame. Here, brunch is a fine-dining set menu that kicks off at 11 am, on Sundays only. Tapas platters are served with freshly baked bread, salmon tataki, fish tacos, goat’s cheese, arancini, pork belly sliders, Arnold Bennets, and many other delectable treats. For an extra fee, you can also enjoy bottomless bubbly. This is not the place to go for your traditional bacon and eggs, but if you’d like to try unique dishes prepared by one of the country’s leading chefs, don’t miss it.
Website: thepotluckclub.co.za
Breakfast hours: Starting from 11am
Superette, Woodstock
Superette is located in the trendy and chic Woodstock Exchange. It has a long counter overlooking the main street, which makes for great people-watching. If you’re feeling indulgent the Nutella-stuffed french toast might catch your eye. Their take on eggs benny is next-level—it’s served on a savoury buttermilk and herbed goats cheese waffle, with perfect poached eggs, spinach, hollandaise sauce and crispy bacon. For late risers, there’s the all-day-breakfast sourdough rye sandwich, filled with scrambled eggs, roasted baby tomatoes, bacon, and lemon dressed greens.
Website: superette.co.za
Breakfast hours: Weekdays 8am-3pm; Saturdays 8am-2pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/87c73hHarr/
Whole Earth Cafe, Scarborough
Whole Earth prides itself on catering to everyone. They use seasonal, organic, and locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. All meat is pasture-fed and the chicken and eggs are free range. You’ll find plenty to choose from no matter your dietary requirements—gluten-free, vegan, raw, or many others. They also have fresh juices and can make coffees with non-dairy milk.
Website: wholeearthcafe.co.za
Breakfast hours: 8:30am-12pm
Four and Twenty, Wynberg
Four and Twenty is a pretty spot in the quaint Chelsea Village area of Wynberg. Inside, it’s usually bustling on weekends as people pop in for the all-day breakfast menu. The “Create your Own” section of the menu is where the action is—choose your bread, eggs, and any additions you like, from avo to bratwurst to Belnori goats chevre.
Website: fourandtwentycafe.co.za
Breakfast hours: 8am-5pm
JARRYDS, Seapoint
At JARRYDS they make sure you do breakfast and brunch right. Locally sourced ingredients meet worldly inspiration in this all day breakfast cafe. Speciality coffee, breakfast cocktails and everything eggs is available all day – allowing you to start your day in style, every day or celebrate the weekend with a brunch that delights.
Website: jarryds.com
Breakfast hours: 7am-4:30pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRkiiIFDbEr/
Mulberry & Prince, City Bowl
If you’ve always wanted to brunch New-York style, then this stylish eatery in the Mother City is a must. Mulberry & Prince is open strictly for brunch on Sundays. Think cheddar-chive biscuits and gravy, pork belly hash, jalapeno cheddar grits, or chicken and waffles. Or, for those with a sweet tooth, caramelised banana french toast or the birthday cake pancake stack.
Website: mulberryandprince.co.za
Breakfast hours: Sundays 10am-2pm
Groot Phesantekraal, Durbanville
This working farm just outside of Durbanville is a great choice for people who aren’t that into the average eggs and bacon for brunch. The kitchen is open on Saturdays and serves up a wide variety of dishes. Try the meat and cheese platter with ciabatta, egg fried brioche bread (with chocolate nut spread, bacon and seasonal fruit), salmon trout bagel (with cream cheese, red onion, pickled cucumber and chives) or lunch offerings such as basil gnocchi (with truffled mushrooms, pea mint puree and mange tout), open sandwiches, or a pork belly rosti.
Website: grootphesantekraal.co.za
Breakfast hours: Saturdays 9am-2:30pm
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