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Cape Town isn’t just a pretty face with a mountain backdrop, it’s one of the most exciting coffee cities in the world. From beachfront flat whites to tucked-away roasteries, you’ll find genuinely great coffee almost everywhere you turn.
At TCB, we drink a lot of coffee (for research purposes, obviously), and after spending day after day hopping through Cape Town’s café scene, we’ve put together this updated list of 11 spots worth adding to your itinerary.
Whether you prefer minimalist espresso bars, vibey brunch cafés, or full-on sit-and-sip experiences, this list has something for every kind of coffee lover.
So grab your mug, settle in, and let’s explore Cape Town’s must-visit cafés The Coffee Blog style.
If there’s one spot that absolutely stole our hearts, and tastebuds, it’s Plato Coffee. Warm, welcoming, beautifully designed, and consistently excellent across all their locations, Plato is the kind of place you walk into once and immediately think: “Yep… this is the one.”
Their Sea Point café at 120 Main Road is stylish but unpretentious. The kind of spot where you can grab a perfect flat white, linger with your laptop, or just chat to the friendly team behind the bar.
Plato has been expanding across South Africa, and honestly, we get the hype. Smooth espresso, friendly service, and a vibe that feels like Cape Town distilled into a cup.
📍 Locations: several across South Africa
🔗 Website: plato.coffee
Truth is one of Cape Town’s most famous coffee brands — and for good reason. The moment you walk in, you know you’re not just here for caffeine; you’re here for the full theatrical experience.
Steampunk décor? Check. Award-winning beans? Check. Coffee so good it ruins other coffee for you? Triple check.
Truth’s baristas are absolute pros and can brew your coffee any way you want it, from espresso to siphon to pour-over, and everything tastes like it’s been fine-tuned to perfection.
If you’re serious about coffee (or just like a little drama with your dose), Truth is non-negotiable.
📍 Locations: 36 Buitenkant St, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
🔗 Website: https://www.truth.capetown/
Hidden inside the Time Out Market at the V&A Waterfront, Nøsh Café is a gem you’ll want to keep returning to.
Run by Joel Singer — the same brilliant brain behind Origin Coffee Roasters — Nøsh serves beans from some of Cape Town’s best-known roasters, including Origin, Truth, and Tribe. You can choose your brewing method (Chemex, flat white, you name it), and everything pairs beautifully with their food offerings, like their kimchi cheesesteak sandwich.
Expect quality. Expect flavour. Expect to be impressed.
📍 The Old Power Station, Dock Rd., V&A Waterfront
🔗 Website: timeoutmarket.com/capetown/eat-and-drink/nosh-cafe/
Pauline’s in Sea Point feels like that neighbourhood café everyone wishes they lived closer to.
They champion connection, between growers, roasters, and the community, and it genuinely shows. Even when we arrived just before closing (never ideal), they were friendly, patient, and still made us great coffee.
Their customer service? Outstanding. Their flat white? Smooth and balanced. Their vibe? Warm and relaxed. Put this one high on your list.
📍 277 Main Rd
🔗 Website: paulinescoffee.com
Deluxe is an OG in the Cape Town coffee scene. Established in 2009, they now have locations across SA, Namibia, and even the UK — but their Bo-Kaap shop remains a standout.
Expect strong, well-balanced coffee and a shop that feels like a little slice of culture, with DRUM Magazine artwork decorating the walls. No frills, no fuss — just really good coffee made by people who care about it.
They’re closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
📍 81 Rose Street (Bo-Kaap)
🔗 Website: deluxecoffeeworks.co.za
Half café, half greenhouse dreamscape — Our Local is one of Cape Town’s most unique brunch-and-coffee spots. Their motto says it best: “Imagine the perfect brunch in your botanist best friend’s greenhouse.”
The coffee is solid, but the food is what brings in the crowds: shakshuka, open-faced omelets, anchovy toast, and more. Expect queues, especially on weekends, but also expect to leave happy.
📍 117 Kloof St.
🔗 Website: ourlocal.co.za
Originally from Johannesburg, Naked brought their signature style and quality to Sea Point in 2019 — and Cape Town is better for it.
Their coffee menu covers all the basics, plus a few flavoured latte options. We tried the flat white (obviously) and loved every sip. The staff is friendly, the interior is chic, and the vibe is easygoing — exactly what a modern café should be.
Brunch menu next time? Definitely.
📍 2 Wisbeach Road
🔗 Facebook: NakedCoffeeWisbeach
Mantra Café is the perfect “Welcome to Cape Town” breakfast spot — especially if you’re staying in Camps Bay.
Expect unbeatable sea views, consistent quality, and a menu that hits all the right notes. The marrow-and-potato hashbrowns with kale and poached eggs were a standout, and their flat white was brewed beautifully.
Open all day, every day, Mantra is ideal for both morning caffeine fixes and sunset dinners.
📍 43 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
🔗 Website: mantracafe.co.za
Bootlegger’s everywhere — but they deserve the hype. With locations all over Cape Town (and beyond), they’ve managed to keep quality high while growing big, which is no small feat.
TCB tip: Their Camps Bay pop-up serves surprisingly excellent coffee, roasted in-house at their Ndabeni facility on Giesens. Even when we were too sick to go ourselves (thanks, flu season), the takeaway cup Ed brought back was absolutely heavenly.
If you want reliability, flavour, and a neighbourhood vibe, Bootlegger’s a great shout.
📍 Many locations — check their site
🔗 Website: bootlegger.coffee
Jarryds is a Sea Point favourite with big portions, brunch classics, and coffee worth walking for.
We grabbed a takeaway flat white (and tea for Ed), and honestly — no notes. Creamy, balanced, perfectly extracted. If you’re wandering around Sea Point, this spot fits perfectly into your morning stroll.
Their sit-down breakfasts look incredible — think pancake stacks, gyro bowls, eggs done every way — so pencil this one into your culinary calendar.
📍 90 Regent Rd
🔗 Facebook: JARRYDSEATERY
Shift is one of those places that gets everything right: the coffee, the food, the vibe, the variety.
With 11 locations across the city, Shift has become a reliable favourite for locals and travelers alike. Their artisan coffee menu includes everything from flat whites to red cappuccinos, and they offer great plant-based milk options like macadamia, oat, and almond.
They also serve a killer iced coffee. Perfect for those warm Cape Town afternoons.
📍 Multiple locations
🔗 Website: shiftespresso.com
Cape Town doesn’t play when it comes to coffee — and honestly, that’s exactly why we love it. Whether you’re here for a weekend adventure or a long stay in the Mother City, these cafés are guaranteed to elevate your mornings, brunches, and mid-afternoon pick-me-ups.
Got a favourite that has to be on our next list? Drop us a DM or comment — we’re always on the lookout for new spots to try.
And if you want more guides like this — plus brewing tips, café recommendations, and the best coffee stories in Southern Africa — subscribe to The Coffee Blog newsletter below. We promise: it’s as satisfying as your first sip of the day.
☕ Stay caffeinated, stay curious.
— TCB
