Best and Most Popular Coffee Spots in Cape Town

If Cape Town runs on sunshine, sea views and good food, then coffee is definitely somewhere in the mix.

The Mother City has a seriously impressive coffee scene.

We’re talking tiny espresso bars, independent roasters, beautiful brunch cafés and coffee shops where people can tell you far more about the beans in your cup than you ever thought you needed to know.

And unlike Johannesburg, quite a few of Cape Town’s best coffee spots are close enough together to turn a morning coffee into a proper coffee crawl.

Dangerous?

Possibly.

Worth it?

Absolutely.

So, if you’re looking for some of the best and most popular coffee spots in Cape Town, here are a few I’d put on the list.

1. Truth Coffee Roasting – Cape Town CBD

Let’s start with the famous one.

Truth Coffee Roasting is probably one of Cape Town’s most recognisable coffee shops.

Walk inside and you’ll understand why.

The steampunk-inspired interior is filled with metal, machinery, leather and industrial details, making the entire place feel more like you’ve stepped onto a movie set than popped in for a cappuccino.

But Truth isn’t just about the décor.

Coffee is roasted on site and you can choose between familiar espresso drinks and more adventurous specialty brews.

This is one I’d definitely recommend to someone visiting Cape Town for the first time.

Even if you’re not obsessed with coffee, the space itself is worth seeing.

Good for: First-time visitors, coffee lovers and seriously impressive interiors
Where: Buitenkant Street, Cape Town CBD
Try: A single-origin coffee or your usual flat white and enjoy the surroundings

2. Origin Coffee Roasting – De Waterkant

If you’re interested in Cape Town’s specialty coffee scene, Origin is an important name to know.

Origin has been around since the early days of the city’s specialty coffee movement and has played a major role in training baristas and introducing Capetonians to coffee beyond the usual cappuccino.

The De Waterkant roastery is where I’d go if I actually wanted to learn something about what I’m drinking.

Ask what’s currently on the bar.

Try something different.

And if the words “single origin” normally make you nervous, this is a good place to start.

Nobody is going to confiscate your coffee membership card because you normally drink cappuccino.

Good for: Specialty coffee and serious coffee lovers
Where: De Waterkant
Try: Whatever single-origin coffee is currently being recommended

3. Rosetta Roastery – Bree Street

Rosetta is another name that comes up again and again when people talk about Cape Town coffee.

The focus here is very much on the bean.

Rosetta specialises in carefully sourced single-origin coffee, and this is one of those places where I’d recommend stepping outside your normal order.

If you always drink a latte, try a flat white.

If you’re already a specialty coffee fan, ask about the filter options.

And if you know exactly what processing method and altitude you want?

You’re among your people.

The Bree Street location also makes Rosetta easy to combine with a morning exploring the city centre.

Good for: Specialty coffee and coffee enthusiasts
Where: Bree Street, Cape Town CBD
Try: One of the rotating single-origin coffees

4. Espresso Lab Microroasters – Woodstock

If your idea of a good coffee shop is somewhere that takes the actual coffee very seriously, Espresso Lab belongs on the list.

Located at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, Espresso Lab has a much more minimalist feel than somewhere like Truth.

Here, the coffee is the show.

Expect carefully sourced beans, lighter roasting styles and brewing methods that allow you to taste how different coffees can actually be.

It’s particularly good if you’re already visiting the Old Biscuit Mill.

Have breakfast.

Browse.

Drink coffee.

Buy something you definitely didn’t need.

That’s basically a successful Cape Town morning.

Good for: Serious specialty coffee
Where: Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock
Try: A filter coffee or ask the barista what’s interesting that day

5. Cedar Coffee Roasters – Woodstock

Woodstock is becoming dangerous for coffee lovers.

You could very easily spend an entire morning here moving from one roaster to another.

Cedar Coffee Roasters is one of the newer names making a big impression on Cape Town’s specialty scene.

The focus is on carefully roasted single-origin coffee, and the team behind Cedar has some serious South African coffee credentials.

This is less about sitting down for an enormous brunch and more about going somewhere because you genuinely want a good cup of coffee.

Good for: Coffee enthusiasts and discovering newer roasters
Where: Woodstock
Try it when: You’re planning a Woodstock coffee crawl

6. Deluxe Coffeeworks – Cape Town

Deluxe has been part of Cape Town’s coffee scene for years.

And one of the things I like about it is that it doesn’t feel as though it’s trying too hard.

Good beans.

Good espresso.

Cool spaces.

Done.

There are several Deluxe locations around Cape Town, which makes it an easy one to add to your itinerary without having to drive across the city specifically for coffee.

The cafés tend to have plenty of personality too.

This isn’t a giant international coffee chain trying to make every branch look exactly the same.

Good for: Espresso, quick coffee stops and local atmosphere
Where: Several Cape Town locations
Try: Keep it simple — cappuccino, flat white or espresso

7. Pauline’s – Sea Point

Sea Point and coffee are a very good combination.

Pauline’s is a specialty coffee spot that keeps things fairly simple.

Good coffee.

Good baked things.

No unnecessary drama.

The Sea Point location makes it particularly useful if you’re staying along the Atlantic Seaboard or heading out for a morning on the promenade.

Grab a coffee, have something freshly baked and then walk along the Sea Point Promenade afterwards.

Or do it the other way around and convince yourself you’ve earned the pastry.

Both approaches work.

Good for: Specialty coffee and Sea Point mornings
Where: Sea Point
Perfect for: Coffee before or after a promenade walk

8. Tribe Coffee Roasting – Woodstock

Yes, we’re going back to Woodstock.

I warned you.

Tribe Coffee has been part of Cape Town’s independent roasting scene for years and is another one to add if you’re interested in seeing where your coffee actually comes from.

The roastery setting gives it a completely different feeling from a polished shopping-centre café.

You’re here for coffee.

And the smell of freshly roasted beans isn’t exactly making it easier to leave empty-handed.

Good for: Locally roasted coffee and casual coffee stops
Where: Woodstock
Buy: A bag of beans to take home

9. Coco Safar – Sea Point & V&A Waterfront

Sometimes you want coffee.

Sometimes you want coffee somewhere beautiful.

Coco Safar leans firmly towards the second option.

This is a more polished café experience, with specialty coffee, pastries and beautiful presentation.

The Sea Point location works well for an Atlantic Seaboard morning, while the Waterfront option is convenient if you’re spending the day around the V&A.

And yes.

This is one of those places where ordering a pastry alongside the coffee feels almost compulsory.

I’m not going to argue with that.

Good for: Coffee dates, pastries and beautiful surroundings
Where: Sea Point & V&A Waterfront
Go when: You want coffee to feel like a little occasion

10. Olympia Cafe – Kalk Bay

Not every great Cape Town coffee stop needs to be in the CBD.

Kalk Bay deserves a mention.

Olympia Cafe is one of those Cape Town institutions where the setting is part of the attraction.

Come for coffee and breakfast, then spend some time walking around Kalk Bay afterwards.

Browse the shops.

Look at the harbour.

Maybe find something sweet.

Maybe have another coffee.

By this point, you’ve basically turned breakfast into a day trip.

Which is exactly how Cape Town gets you.

Good for: Breakfast, coffee and a Kalk Bay day out
Where: Kalk Bay
Perfect for: A slow weekend morning

Where to Find the Best Coffee in Cape Town

The nice thing about Cape Town is that you can actually build your sightseeing around coffee.

If you’re staying around the CBD, you’ll have easy access to places such as Truth, Rosetta and several smaller independent coffee bars.

Head towards De Waterkant and you’ll find Origin and other specialty options.

Woodstock is where I’d go if I wanted to explore Cape Town’s roasting scene properly.

And if you’re staying along the Atlantic Seaboard, Sea Point has enough good coffee to keep you caffeinated for the entire holiday.

My advice?

Pick one neighbourhood at a time.

Nobody needs seven flat whites before lunch.

Best Coffee Shops in Cape Town for Serious Coffee Lovers

If coffee is more hobby than beverage for you, Cape Town is going to keep you busy.

Start with Origin.

Then put Rosetta, Espresso Lab and Cedar Coffee Roasters on your list.

These are the sorts of places where asking about the beans isn’t an annoying question.

It’s encouraged.

Try a pour-over or filter coffee.

Ask what’s currently tasting interesting.

And don’t automatically add milk and sugar before tasting it.

You might be surprised.

Best Coffee Shops in Cape Town for Brunch

Sometimes you don’t want to analyse tasting notes.

You want breakfast.

And coffee.

Preferably followed by something sweet.

For a more leisurely café experience, look at places such as Coco Safar and Olympia Cafe, along with the many brunch-focused cafés scattered around Gardens, Sea Point and the City Bowl.

Cape Town is particularly good at the kind of breakfast that starts at 9am and somehow ends after midday.

Nobody seems particularly concerned about this.

Neither am I.

Best Coffee Shops in Sea Point

Sea Point is one of my favourite areas for a morning coffee because you can combine it with the promenade.

Pauline’s is a great choice if the coffee itself is the priority.

Coco Safar works when you want a more polished café experience.

And the surrounding Sea Point area has plenty of other cafés if you simply want to walk until somewhere looks good.

Get your coffee.

Walk the promenade.

Pretend the walk cancels out the pastry.

It’s basically science.

Best Coffee Shops in Woodstock

If you’re serious about specialty coffee, make time for Woodstock.

Espresso Lab, Cedar Coffee Roasters and Tribe Coffee are all reasons to head this way.

Woodstock’s industrial spaces also suit the roastery experience perfectly.

This is where I’d plan a proper Cape Town coffee crawl.

But pace yourself.

Three coffee shops sounds very reasonable when you’re planning the morning.

Your hands may disagree by lunchtime.

Best Coffee Shops Around the V&A Waterfront

The Waterfront is one of Cape Town’s biggest tourist areas, so there’s no shortage of coffee.

But if you’re specifically looking for specialty coffee, Coco Safar is one option to put on your list.

You’ll also find a Rosetta Roastery coffee bar in the Silo District.

That’s particularly convenient if you’re visiting Zeitz MOCAA or exploring that side of the Waterfront.

Coffee.

Art.

Lunch.

More coffee.

Cape Town itinerary sorted.

Best Coffee Shops in the Cape Town CBD

If you’re staying in the city centre, you’re in a great position for a coffee crawl.

Start at Truth Coffee Roasting.

Then head towards Rosetta on Bree Street.

From there you can explore some of the smaller espresso bars and cafés around Bree, Church, Long and the surrounding streets.

This is one part of Cape Town where I’d actually recommend walking between coffee stops.

Just maybe don’t order a double espresso at every one.

Where to Buy Coffee Beans in Cape Town

If you’ve found a coffee you love, take some home.

Origin, Rosetta, Truth, Deluxe, Espresso Lab, Cedar and Tribe all have strong connections to roasting, making them useful places to look for beans.

Ask when the coffee was roasted.

Tell the barista how you normally make coffee at home.

And if you don’t own a grinder, ask whether they can grind it for your brewing method.

There’s no point buying beautiful beans and then treating them badly once you get home.

What Coffee Should You Order?

If you normally drink a cappuccino, order a cappuccino.

There is absolutely no rule saying you have to drink black coffee just because you’ve walked into a specialty roastery.

But if you’re curious, try something different.

A flat white is an easy place to start.

A cortado gives you more coffee flavour with less milk.

And a pour-over or filter coffee can be a completely different experience, particularly when you’re drinking good single-origin beans.

Ask the barista.

They know what’s tasting good that day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cape Town have good coffee?

Very good coffee.

Cape Town has one of South Africa’s most developed specialty coffee scenes, with independent roasters and cafés spread across the CBD, Woodstock, De Waterkant, Sea Point and the southern suburbs.

What are the most famous coffee shops in Cape Town?

Truth Coffee Roasting is probably the most internationally recognisable because of its dramatic steampunk interior.

Origin, Rosetta, Espresso Lab and Deluxe are also established names in Cape Town’s specialty coffee scene.

Where can I find specialty coffee in Cape Town?

The CBD, De Waterkant and Woodstock are particularly good areas to explore.

Origin, Rosetta, Espresso Lab, Cedar and Truth are useful places to start.

Where can I have coffee in Sea Point?

Pauline’s and Coco Safar are two options to add to your list.

Sea Point also has plenty of casual cafés along and around Main Road and Regent Road.

Where can I drink coffee at the V&A Waterfront?

Coco Safar has a Waterfront location, while Rosetta has a coffee bar in the Silo District.

You’ll also find numerous mainstream cafés throughout the wider Waterfront.

Can I do a coffee crawl in Cape Town?

Definitely.

The CBD and De Waterkant are particularly good for this because several independent cafés are relatively close together.

Woodstock is another excellent choice if you want to concentrate on roasteries.

Which Cape Town coffee shops roast their own beans?

Several of the city’s major specialty coffee names are also roasters, including Origin, Rosetta, Truth, Deluxe, Espresso Lab, Cedar and Tribe.

Where should I go for coffee and a view?

If the setting is just as important as the coffee, consider combining a Sea Point café with a walk along the promenade, visiting the Silo District at the Waterfront or heading out to Kalk Bay for breakfast and coffee.

Sometimes the best Cape Town coffee experience isn’t just about what’s in the cup.

It’s about where you’re drinking it.

Final Thoughts

Cape Town is a very easy city in which to develop an expensive coffee habit.

You start innocently enough.

One flat white in Sea Point.

Then someone tells you that you have to try a roastery in Woodstock.

Then you’re in De Waterkant discussing single-origin beans with a barista.

And before you know it, you’ve bought three bags of coffee and you’re researching grinders.

It happens.

So don’t just grab coffee from whichever chain happens to be closest to your hotel.

Explore.

Visit a roastery.

Try something different.

Have the pastry.

And when you find your favourite?

Go back tomorrow.

Have you found an amazing Cape Town coffee spot that deserves a mention? Let me know — because there’s always room for one more stop on a Mother City coffee crawl.