15 top places to brunch in Cape Town

Brunch. Is it not the most exciting meal of the day? Where breakfast meets lunch and it is like they were meant for each other all along. These two meals first held hands back in 19th century England where they were served as a buffet style continental breakfast. And so the rest is history, as brunch became a household name and spread its love into Western civilisation.

Cape Town has been holding the brunch torch for a few years now. Weekend brunchers come in all forms from mountain joggers to hungover party-goers to committed dog owners. When brunch is the order of the day, nothing is too large or too elaborate and these 15 restaurants are certainly the brunchiest of the bunch!

The Pot Luck Club and Gallery

The tapas-style brunch is as exciting and tantalising as it gets. It’s Luke Dale Roberts at his finest serving a modern fusion of various cuisines making every item of food an experience to hold on to. Brunch is served only on Sundays for R350 with the option of accompanying a glass of bottomless Graham Beck Brut or Rose Brut for R150. The Pot Luck Club is a serious treat not to be missed, so make a booking as it is most certainly essential.

Loading Bay

Loading Bay is open every day with a specific brunch menu on Sundays. The breakfast and brunch menus consist of modernised versions of classic dishes prepared with high quality produce. The mushroom ragout and poached egg is a must, as well as the traditional breakfast which consists of an array of delicious items on one plate. Finish off the savoury with a freshly baked cinnamon bun. See these on Loading Bay’s Instagram.

Kleinsky’s DELICATESSEN

This Deli is unique to the Cape Town area and is based on a New York-style deli with traditional Jewish influences. Everything on this menu is delicious. You sit there indecisive between the Benedict Latkes, the variety of bagels or the hash eggs to name a few. The dishes are also ideal for brunch and the place has managed to steer away from being overly hip or flimsy, with a strong local clientele of young and old. Kleinsky’s feels like a proper Sea Point establishment; here to stay, and there’s no doubt they will remain this way if they keep serving brunch you simply cannot get anywhere else.

The Blue Café

I was apprehensive about this one at first. Being a Tamboerskloof local and a beloved fan of the old Daily Deli, I didn’t want to like this new blue spot. However I cannot fault The Blue Café, after I sat there in the sun eating my Full Monty it was clear the change was for the best. The Full Monty is their main breakfast served with an open toasted croissant with cheese, scrambled eggs and bacon – cannot go wrong with that. Their croissants are perfectly fluffy and if you live close enough, The Blue Café might deliver these fresh to your door. Follow them on Instagram.

Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room

Clarke’s has become a Cape Town favourite and a go-to spot for city bowlers all week long. It is also one of the handful of places that serve breakfast all day, a serious perk in my books – especially for those late weekend mornings. Clarke’s has recently opted for the option of a build-your-own-breakfast so you can choose your own items accompanied by the sourdough bread, multi-seed or a croissant freshly delivered from Jason’s Bakery. Breakfast is really the way to go here. Clarke’s has a way of making their roast tomatoes and fried mushrooms packed with flavour. If not a breakfast, the burger is one of the best in town, with homemade pickles and twice-fried chips. See all these dishes on their Instagram.

Four & Twenty

Another eatery that does all-day breakfast is Four & Twenty, situated in the quaint suburb of Wynberg. This café serves up the most incredible food, combining flavours in a unique and experimental way. The beer-battered flapjacks are an example of this, as well as the Bangkok Burger where every item and sauce is carefully prepared from scratch. The eggs Benedict is a favourite and since it’s served all day, it’s ideal for a brunchy meal. See their daily deliciousness here. 

Borage Bistro

Opening last year with the finishing of the Portside building in Cape Town, Borage became a well refined and creative brasserie from the get-go. Chef Frank Marks, who was trained by Luke Dale Roberts, becoming somewhat of a prodigy, opened the restaurant with Christian Vaatz. Marks focuses on fine-dining and selects flavours based on quality and experience he has gained from working in highly regarded restaurants around the world. Brunch options are endless with French toast, brioche buns, crispy pancetta, eggs Benedict, potato rostis and the list goes on. The cheese and charcuterie boards are perfect for a shared brunch.

Superette

When I first started eating at Superette I became obsessed with the mushrooms on toast served with avocado and cream cheese, I don’t know how they do their mushrooms but I had to go every late Saturday morning to satisfy this craving. The Saturday brunch menu is inspired by a classic American and classic British cuisine, including waffles, kippers on toast and beans on toast. My personal favourite is the poached eggs with Hollandaise, crispy bacon and fresh greens, and of course the ultimate mushrooms on toast.  Superette’s Instagram.

Hemelhuijs

Hemelhuijs is probably the most unique restaurant in the Cape Town CBD. The menu is inventive, changing from season to season with a traditional South African flair. Chef Jacques Erasmus sources local produce and because it’s seasonal your plate is filled with colour and intense flavour. Erasmus however serves breakfast throughout all seasons and throughout the day. He makes the most delicious mosbolletjie bread, eggs cooked to perfection amongst other favourites like the French toast. Brunch here is the ideal place to try experimental flavouring and high quality, seriously good food.

Skinny Legs Luxury Café

This place is a very special spot in Cape Town CBD. You walk in and the atmosphere is instantly calming, removing you from the haste of the city and into a serene, white space. Skinny Legs recently changed ownership and is now run by mother-daughter duo Dierdre and Donnet Dumas. The Dumas’ and Skinny Legs team are in the process of changing the menu, but judging by their Facebook posts, brunch is going to be delightful as always – so watch this space. Skinny Legs’ Facebook.

Manna Epicure

Manna combines a French-style of cooking and food preparation with a traditional South African twist. For brunch one has a choice of 15 breakfasts as well as a range of gourmet sandwiches and if you’re feeling up for some meat, there is a ‘Braai’ section of the menu – the sticky pork ribs are superb. The breakfasts are all classic style breakfasts prepared simply, the Manna way and are consistently satisfying. 

Jason Bakery

Some of the food items at Jason’s should come with some sort of warning, because they linger with you for months to come and you keep needing that Jason’s croissant fix – they really are like no other in town. Jason’s is open during the week and on Saturdays and bakes bread, croissants, pastries and doussants – yes doussants – every day. Jason’s is perfect for either a savoury or a sweet brunch serving a selection of sandwiches and traditional breakfasts as well. Follow Jason aka Captain Bread on Instagram and watch yourself get lured to the bakery with each experimental doussant Insta he uploads. The bacon croissant is also a winner.

Starling’s Cafe

Starling’s prides itself on being a local favourite due to friendly staff, and food that is selected based on quality. The restaurant strives to serve food that is free-range and preservative-free. Richard Bosman supplies them with premium quality bacon that is both hormone and antibiotic free, air-dried and salted using traditional methods of curing. Starling’s do a range of classic style breakfasts such as eggs Florentine and French toast, or you can make up your own breakfast – they are very accommodating in suiting your dietary requirements. Follow them on Instagram here.

Tamboerswinkel

This little hole-in-the-wall has been standing strong just off Kloof Street for a couple years now. Its quaint, farm house feel is perfect for a cosy brunch on a rainy day, or when the sun is out, you can sit outside and watch the world go by. Tamboerswinkel is well known for their rotisserie chicken, freshly baked goods and their filled croissants and rolls. They also serve Deluxe coffee for those who need that fix. Follow them on Instagram here.