There really isn’t a shortage of divine brekkie places in and around the Somerset West area – you’re in the Winelands, surrounded by magnificent mountains and a stone’s throw away from Stellies, Franschhoek and Paarl. But few restaurants compare to the quirky, quaint and cosy nature of Chelsea Café and Bean. We popped in for a light lunch to check the place out, followed by a breakfast the following day because the brekkie options just looked too damn inviting.

The Setting at Chelsea Café and Bean

I’ve always loved restaurants attached to galleries and local stores – it’s like a family of industries supporting one another and gives me all the more reason to stick around and peruse the space after eating. Sharing the space with Chelsea Café and Bean is Frames & Things, as well as a little store offering boutique local beauty products, candles and other homey goods.

The restaurant itself has an eco-sensitive farm-to-table philosophy when it comes to sourcing the food they cook with, as well as cooking without preservatives.

Chelsea Café and Bean pride themselves on solely sourcing their ingredients from local artisanal bakers, coffee roasteries, and butcheries. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious brekkie, a comforting curry, or a snack-style lunch.

The terrace outside is gorgeous, with vines wrapping around the exterior, a multitude of quirky potted plants, sun dials and other novelty goods to set the farm style aesthetic – almost reminiscent of a sunny Tuscan villa.

We sat under the pergola, enjoying the last rays of Autumn sun, and ordered a pot of their speciality Herbal Sundown tea, with a blend of lemon balm, peppermint, chamomile, berry leaves, lavender, orange blossoms, lemongrass and heather Rooibos spice.

The Menu

The menu at Chelsea Café and Bean is unpretentious, wholesome and made with a whole lotta love. There is an abundance of brekkie options on the menu catering for the health nuts, the banters, the traditional breakfast lovers and for those looking for something a little more indulgent.

Sticking to their sustainable style throughout the restaurant, all the eggs, veggies and other goods are sourced organically, sustainably or grown in-house. From the breakfast menu, we opted for the eggs Benedict, and the Croque Madame. The eggs Benedict was tasty, with speciality ham and soft poached eggs served on farmers loaf. The Croque Madame was deliciously indulgent, with layers of béchamel and dreamy Emmental cheese, topped with a soft fried egg – a somewhat sinful start to the day but so worth it.

During our afternoon visit, we chose the lamb Rogan Josh, which was so tender and packed full of flavour, and the toasted Boerenkaas with salty biltong and sweet jalapeno jam, which honestly just sounded too interesting to pass up.

Happy Endings

The sweet treats on the menu are a perfect send off after a wonderful morning/afternoon at Chelsea Café and Bean. Try their divine Madeleines with a cuppa tea, or choose from a wide selection of cakes – gluten free options are available too.

For a truly lovely, homey and authentic eating experience, we suggest paying the Chelsea Café and Bean family a visit – don’t forget to check out the local goods inside!

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