Amatuli in Kramerville, a treasure trove of art, artefacts and furniture sourced from across the globe, has recently expanded to open up its newest foodie outlet, Milk Bar. A relaxed, vibrant eatery that serves amazing coffee and simple but delicious, food – this is perhaps Johannesburg’s most magical coffee shop yet.

It’s 8h30 on a cold, wintry public holiday and we arrive at a very quiet Desmond Street in Kramerville, Johannesburg. None of the fabric and design shops in the area have opened their doors yet, but you can see cars parked around the classic Katy’s Palace blue Cadillac parked outside the doors to Amatuli and a few tables are already filled with people enjoying their morning coffee.

Amatuli is home to the popular Katy’s Palace – a gorgeous venue-for-hire decorated top to toe in Amatuli finds which serves lunch on the first Sunday of every month – as well as the more recently opened, Sir James van der Merwe – a private function venue that opens up as a pub on Wednesday evenings.

Milk Bar is situated in an open-air courtyard right at the entrance to Amatuli, and despite being outdoors, the space is very warm and inviting with a roaring fire and big gas heaters.

You can choose to sit on a couch at the fireside or at the mismatched tables and chairs dotted around the space. Art adorns the colourful walls and everywhere you look there is an interesting sculpture or beautifully carved and crafted reclaimed wood detailing. You order directly from the counter and the choice of eats and drinks are displayed on a big, yellow retro-style menu board. The espresso is made using single-origin Ethiopian coffee beans from Bean There, which the baristas masterfully brew into the coffee of your choice.

We ordered cappuccinos and I tucked into a croissant with Parma ham, mozzarella and tomato and my coffee date chose the breakfast ciabbata with eggs and bacon. Fresh, warm and lightly toasted, this was a perfect light breakfast. We were soon on to our second cappuccinos and opted for an apricot Danish to share. Other food options include decadent cakes (the dense carrot cake with cream cheese icing looks divine), pies, soups, salads and gourmet toasted sandwiches, to name just a few options. On Friday evenings, you can order African-style flatbreads to enjoy with craft cider, beer or wine. A cosy coffee shop by day, Milk Bar is also a great spot for a boozy lunch or early after-work drinks. I was thrilled to see that they stock the delicious local Sxollie Cider which is made from Elgin apples.

A no-fuss café with plenty of flair and exceptional coffee, Milk Bar is a very exciting addition to Joburg’s vibrant coffee shop scene.

African-style coffee shop, warm and quirky.