Best Breakfasts in Cape Town – Find Your Spot
There’s something so luxurious about eating breakfast out. While seemingly simple, a well-done breakfast can be difficult to master — but not with these restaurants. Here’s our pick of the best breakfasts in Cape Town.
Cape Town & Surrounds
The CBD is buzzing with options from bagels to fry ups.
New York Bagels
These guys were making bagels before they were cool and you can taste it. This old-school Jewish-inspired deli serves up simple food done well. Stop by their Harrington Street shop in the trendy East City Precinct to get your bagel fix or maybe try some of their other tasty deli items.
Make sure you order: The BART — bacon, avo and oven-roasted tomatoes on one of their housemade bagels.
Location: 44 Harrington Street, Zonnebloem
Hours: Tues-Fri: 07h15 – 16h00 | Sat & Sun: 07h15 – 14h00 | Closed Mon
Contact: 082 697 6061
Clarke’s Dining
Ever the perennial brunch spot, there’s pretty much nothing Clarke’s can’t do. While they offer the usual fry-up suspects, we mostly appreciate the simplicity of their tartines. They have some more unusual breakfast options, such as Huevos Rancheros, with homemade queso fresco and pico de gallo or Kimchi Fried Organic Rice with warm mushrooms, crispy kale and sesame seeds.
Make sure you order: Their Bloody Mary, if you’re feeling a little tender. One of the best in the city, for sure.
Location: 133 Bree St, Cape Town
Hours: Mon: 07h00 – 16h00 | Tues-Fri: 07h00 – 22h00 | Sat: 08h00 – 22h00 | Sun: 08h00 – 15h00 | Kitchen closes: 21h30
Contact: 021 424 7648
Hemelhuijs
Hemelhuijs is a feast for the eyes, as much as the stomach – the interiors are reason enough to visit. Luckily, their food lives up to the hype too. The menu follows a strong South African suit, with some farm classics like Mosbolletjie toast and soft mielie pap with honey. Owing to the slightly higher prices, this is definitely the place for a celebratory breakfast or brunch.
Make sure you order: The pap is so comfortingly good. Seriously!
Location: 71 Waterkant Street, Cape Town
Hours: Mon – Fri: 09h00 – 16h00 | Saturday: 09h00 – 15h00 |Closed Sun
Contact: 021 418 2042
Loading Bay
This slick eatery houses an uber-cool boutique, as well as an Aesop store, but you might not even notice those once you sit down to enjoy your breakfast. The breakfast menu is available all day and includes some really interesting and healthy options. They poach eggs beautifully, so you can’t go wrong with the simple avo on toast with poached eggs. If you feel for something a little different, their crushed coconut and almond porridge with quinoa is always comforting and wholesome.
Make sure you order: Their cardamom buns — don’t ever leave The Loading Bay without trying it. Ever!
Location: 30 Hudson Street, De Waterkant
Hours: Mon-Fri: 07h30 – 15h00 | Sat: 08h00 – 15h00 | Sun: 08h00 – 14h00
Contact: 021 425 6320
Against the Grain
This coffee shop serves sublime Cape Malay Fusion cuisine. If you’re looking for a tasty bagel with a Cape Malay touch, Against the Grain is the place to go! Set in Bo-Kaap, you can expect gorgeous views of colourful houses, with Table Mountain peeking behind it. It’s also the ideal spot to grab a coffee and koe’sister on a Sunday morning.
Make sure you order: The Constantinople — their Turkish eggs with a butter chilli twist.
Location: 102 Wale Street, Bokaap
Hours: Mon-Sat: 07h00-17h30 | Sun: 08h00-14h00
Contact: 081 015 6185 (WhatsApp orders)
Labotessa Restaurant
All-day breakfast in a beautiful setting? Yes please! Labotessa Restaurant is set in the beautifully decorated Labotessa Boutique Hotel on Church Square. With a satisfying selection of breakfasts that certainly doesn’t disappoint, their Shashuka is a delightful morning breakfast meal and easily a winner.
Make sure you order: The Aloo Tikki and Poached Eggs, with spiced Indian potato cakes and a tomato chilli jam.
Location: 5 Church Square, 37 Parliament St, Cape Town City Centre
Hours: Mon-Sun: 08h00-16h00
Contact: 021 010 6600
Swan Café
Eggs and savoury breakfasts are great and all, but some mornings require a sweet start before the day takes flight. Swan Café is Cape Town’s first authentic Parisian Crêperie and is a picturesque place to start your day. They have a lovely menu with a variety of crêpes. From classic favourites like cinnamon sugar and fresh lemon, to Swan specialties like their Lili La Gourmand, with caramelised apples, salted caramel and toasted almond flakes. If you don’t have a sweet tooth, they have lovely savoury galettes as well.
Make sure you order: The Sud-Af with crispy bacon, baby roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and Emmental and Gruberg cheese.
Location: Corner Buitenkant and, Barrack St, Zonnebloem
Hours: Tues-Fri: 08h00-15h00 | Sat: 8h00-15h00 | Sun: 9h00-14h00 | Closed Mon
Contact: 079 454 4758
Egghead Diner
Egghead may just be your new favourite spot. This 70s-style diner has a mellow vibe to match your gooey eggs. They have an exciting menu featuring their famous egg rolls, but their eggs Benedict is where it’s at! Their Hollandaise is creamy and delectable. Served to your liking — you could have your eggs Benedict with beechwood smoked streaky bacon, spinach and thyme mushrooms (vegetarian option) or fresh Norwegian salmon.
Make sure you order: Their All of a Salmon egg roll, with cold-smoked Norwegian salmon and wasabi cream cheese. It’s a great alternative, if you prefer scrambled eggs.
Location: 34 Kloof St, Gardens
Hours: Mon-Sat: 07h30-21h00 | Sun: 07h30-18h00
Contact: 021 286 9034
Manna Epicure
With its great outdoor terrace, Manna is the perfect spot to grab breakfast and watch the comings and goings of the ever-vibrant Kloof Street. You can also order some bubbly and treat yourself to a nice lazy brunch on the weekends. Their Zucchini Pancakes with smoked salmon trout is satisfying and a refreshing breakfast bite. Definitely a local favourite!
Make sure you order: Their Zucchini Pancakes with salmon trout, need we say more?
Location: 151 Kloof Street, Gardens
Hours: Sun & Mon: 07h30 – 21h00 | Wed-Sat: 07h30 –22h00
Contact: 021 426 2413
Liquorice & Lime
This little spot is an institution in Cape Town. Sitting right at the top of Kloof Street, Liquorice & Lime quietly serves some of the best breakfasts in Cape Town. They have all the usual breakfast suspects, but they’re also quite experimental – their Eiffel Tower breakfast is a masterful pile of French toast, camembert, fig preserve and bacon.
Make sure you order: Their eggs Benedict, served on a potato rösti. It really can’t be skipped.
Location: 162 Kloof Street, Gardens
Hours: Mon-Fri: 07h00-17h00 | Sat-Sun: 07h00-16h00
Contact: 021 423 6921
Best Breakfast Places — Atlantic Sea Board
Kleinsky’s
Run by two brothers, Kleinsky’s produces food like the Jewish granny you never had! The menu cleverly brings fairly traditional Jewish fare into the modern world and includes chopped chicken liver, homemade bagels and proper latkes.
Make sure you order: The Latke Benedict. Perfectly poached eggs on crispy potato latkes? Count us in.
Location: 92 Regent Rd, Sea Point
Hours: Mon: 08h00-16h00 | Tues-Sat: 08h00-21h00| Sun: 08h00-15h00
Contact: 021 433 2871
Jason’s Bakery
The badass breadmaker has long been known for churning out incredible breakfasts. Saturdays at Jason are notoriously busy because the good food keeps people coming back. Whatever you do, make sure you take away a freshly baked loaf of sourdough for the week.
Make sure you order: Anything off their breakfast menu. While his menu changes fairly often, one stalwart is the breakfast. Science has proven that dipping your pizza crust into a runny egg yolk will cure the worst hangover.
Location: 83 Main Rd, Green Point: Tues-Fri
Hours: Closed Mon | Tues-Fri: 07h00-15h00 | Sat: 08h15-14h00 | Sun: 09h30-14h00
Contact: 021 433 0538
NOAH Café
This stunning in-hotel neighbourhood café is all about fresh, quality food. Their aim is to redefine the modern dining experience with a blend of incredible flavours and beautiful presentation. This venue oozes stylish sophistication and we love it for a ‘joosh’ catch-up with the girls. They’ve got fantastic vegan, sugar-free and gluten-free options available — so there’s something for everyone.
Make sure you order: Their Pretty Beef – roast beef, cream cheese and rucola on sourdough.
Location: 6 Tamboerskloof Road, Tamboerskloof
Hours: Fri, Sat & Sun: 08h00-14h00
Contact: 021 426 2262
JARRYDS Espresso Bar + Eatery
Jarryds marries that perfect balance of good, wholesome food with a little cheekiness. You can expect to find all the classic breakfast offerings, such as eggs Benedict and avo on toast, paired with really good coffee. Also, their bircher oats is as pretty as a picture.
Make sure you order: Their Lotus Pancake Stack. You haven’t lived ‘til you’ve made it through this tower of absolute indulgence!
Location: 90 Regent Road, Sea Point
Hours: Mon-Sun: 07h30-15h30
Contact: 074 076 0474
Arthur’s Mini Super
Arthur’s is a Sea Point local favourite! From their selection of baked goods, delicious sandwiches and darn good coffee, this mini super is the place to be on Saturday morning. Their toasted sandwiches served on ‘ouma brood’ is so delicious, you’ll want to call your gran and tell her just how good it is.
Make sure you order: The brisket bun – it’s to die for!
Location: 15 Arthurs Road, Seapoint
Hours: Mon: 07h30-14h00 | Tues-Fri 07h30-16h00 | Sat & Sun: 08h00-14h00
Contact: 087 702 7470
Staying in? Check out our best breakfast recipes and make your own.
Think your favourite spot should be added to the list? Let us know via email.
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