A chance detour on a sunny Sunday morning led us right to the doorstep of Jarryd’s Espresso Bar and Eatery on Regent Road, Sea Point. Our noses, which are highly trained in seeking out coffee and fresh pastries, was immediately alerted to this new spot, and what a happy chance detour it was.

Set in what we call ‘the sweet spot’ on the Sea Point strip, right between the trendy Point shopping centre and Piazza Da Luz, which houses the Sea Point Spar, it is perfectly positioned to serve foot traffic, as well as the many boutique hotels in the area.

Brothers Jarryd and Ariel Segal, originally from Camps Bay, left SA at a young age to live in Australia, and have now returned to Cape Town to make their mark on the coffee and café culture in the Mother City. The pair are refreshingly open and approachable and greet customers at the door, making every effort to ensure that every patron has an enjoyable experience. They have clearly put a lot of thought into their new establishment – the style is contemporary and minimalist, with open cement walls in tones of grey with soft, leather clad seating along one wall. The stylish café is located in a courtyard in the centre of the surrounding buildings. The roof is enclosed in clear glass and what makes it quite special is that even though it’s enclosed, the light coming through gives it an outdoorsy feel – it’s the best of both worlds. In the winter cold the space is warmed by heaters, cosy blankets and the friendly, welcoming character of the brothers.

The menu is café-style food elevated to a new level, portions are generous and what really stood out for us was the exceptional freshness of the ingredients used. At our table we enjoyed a beautifully dressed Caesar salad with crispy bacon and pecorino. We also tried the house made hash browns with smoked trout, shaved fennel, poached egg and a sublime dill cream cheese. The allure of a sweet treat was too much to bear, so we tried both the lightly toasted banana bread served with espresso butter – utterly heavenly – and the fluffy organic pancakes with berry compote, vanilla mascarpone and maple syrup. Everything we tasted was genuinely delicious, super fresh and just downright yum.

The foundation of the menu and the café is conscious consumption and this is evident both in the food and the way things are done. Orders are placed via a digital system with your waitron and on payment you can opt to have your slip SMSd or emailed to you versus receiving a printed copy. Food is sourced from some of the best local Cape Town suppliers and it really shows.

Although in Cape Town we are spoilt with many great places to eat and drink, what is sometimes lacking is a human element. It is exactly this that will set Jarryd’s apart. Jarryd and Ariel are passionate about their business and about lifting people’s expectation of dining out. The only way to do this is to be present and involved and this is exactly their mantra. This is the kind of place that will become a ‘local’ for many; it kind of feels like mine already.

90 Regent Street Sea Point, Cape Town

www.jarryds.com

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Exceptional, fresh food and great service