Cape Town
Clarkes, CBD
Few can steer away from this over the top, beyond delicious French Toast. In true Clarkes style, decadence is not spared with their French toast, made from Jason Bakery croissants with Mrs Butterworth’s maple syrup, Nutella, bourbon bananas and fresh apple slices.
Manna Epicure, Gardens
It’s only right that this fusion café combining French and local cuisines, makes a mean French toast. The chic white interior provides the perfect space for relaxed, yet stylish dining in the heart of the bustling City Bowl. The French toast is made with croissants, topped with streaky bacon, caramelised banana and maple syrup.
Origin, De Waterkant
One of Cape Town’s pioneers in the coffee roasting scene, Origin’s fragrant coffee blends waft through Hudson Street, pulling passerby’s into their unassumingly large coffee shop. They combine excellent coffee with café food to match, which includes killer French toast. Indulge in their bacon, banana and peanut butter French toast, topped with maple syrup, crème fraîche and toasted almonds. And, it’s served all day!
Starlings Café, Claremont
Starlings is a neighbourhood favourite and one of the sweetest cafés in the Southern Suburbs. Their ethical approach to cooking and accommodation for dietary requirements has earned them a loyal following. Their secret garden is also a draw card in the Summer. Don’t miss their extra special sourdough French toast, which is the perfect symphony of sweet and sour with berries, crème fraîche and lemon curd.
La Belle, Camps Bay and Constantia
La Belle offers an elegant country feel both by the sea and in the Constantia winelands. On the menu you’ll find wholesome, comforting dishes which include a wide array of breakfast options and their sought after cakes and sweet treats. Their French toast is made from ciabatta served with banana rum jam and cinnamon crème fraîche.
Stellenbosch
Meraki
This delightful café soothes the soul the moment you walk in. Its soft interior, scrumptious brunch and pretty cakes keep customers cheerful on every visit. Their French toast is easily one of the best in town, served in the classic style with maple syrup and crème fraîche, with the option of adding bacon, bruleed banana and/or Nutella.
Schoon de Companje
Schoon embraces the concept of artisan in every way, with owners Fritz and Chanelle Schoon, involving themselves in all aspects of food production, preparation and cooking. Quality ingredients are a pinnacle part of their ethos, which is why their bread is made from heirloom flour which is milled on the premises and baked in wood-fired ovens. Order their incredible brioche French toast with grilled apple, clotted cream and buchu syrup.
Johannesburg
The Whippet Coffee, Linden
Located in the old farming neighbourhood of Linden, this charming café prides itself on fostering the spirit of neighbourhood eateries. The food is simple yet wholesome and flavourful and there are always new and exciting items on offer. Being one of the city’s hottest breakfast spots, their French toast – hot cross bun inspired bread dipped in cinnamon and vanilla batter and pan fried ’till golden brown and drizzled with maple syrup – unsurprisingly does not disappoint.
Warm and Glad, Craighall Park
Recently revamped and relocated this conventional coffee/brunch hangout by day turns into a pan-Asian restaurant/bar by night. During the hot Summer months their leafy, fairly-lit courtyard pulls in the masses and in Winter it’s their Ramen Thursdays that are a hit. Their brunch menu is quite small with a good balance of health-conscious and indulgent meals. The French toast is made with brioche bread and served with strawberries, banana cream and smoked cinnamon syrup.
JB’s Corner, Melrose Arch
This street café style restaurant is known for being a firm favourite in Joburg. Their menu is large and varied with a little bit of everything and it shows strong American and Italian influences. Their French toast – homemade brioche topped with grilled banana and maple syrup dusted with cinnamon and the option of adding bacon or Nutella – is not to be missed.
Voodoo Lily Cafe, Birdhaven
This family café was one of the first Joburg restaurants to introduce Banting-friendly options to their menu. They also strive to use local, organic ingredients as far as possible. Their French toast is served three ways – with bacon and maple syrup, grilled banana and cinnamon sugar or cream cheese and berry compote.
Licorish Bistro, Bryanston
Intimate and upmarket, this bistro offers seating inside on their red leather cushioned booths or in the open-plan section that’s part of the mall. Their menu pulls inspiration from Cape Malay cuisine with a representation of contemporary classics and modern influences. Their French toast is out-of-this-world indulgent – babka French toast with ginger biscuit ice cream and bacon chips with maple syrup.
Pretoria
Grounded Coffee and Gathering, Villieria
This is a cosy home away from home or office for your mobile desk, with free wifi and an easy-going environment. The industrial-like windows, allow much sunlight to trickle in as you sip on good coffee and a classic style French toast either with cinnamon bananas and walnuts or streaky bacon, cream cheese and chives.
Ginger and Fig, Brooklyn
A trendy, yet unpretentious and welcoming café, serving well-considered tasty dishes, Ginger and Fig offer an extensive menu, but don’t miss their French toast! It’s served with their house-cured and smoked bacon, as well as grilled banana and milk jam. They also serve Doubleshot Coffee, hailing from the not-too-far Braamfontein.
Café Beyritz, Magalieskruin
Café Beyritz is the Parisian answer to Pretoria, with that quintessential French bistro feel. Although French toast isn’t technically French, you can still enjoy it as if it were. Here they serve it with bacon, berry compote and Mascarpone cheese.
+27 Café, Hatfield
The café sits in a very unique complex in the Pretoria area, a space that encourages creativity and design through it’s café, attached shop and general ethos prescribed by the brothers who own the +27 brand. The space hosts many jazz evenings and exhibitions and patrons are invited to bring their work and make use of the free wifi and great coffee. Order the French toast which is served in a classic maple syrup style or with berries and double cream yoghurt.
Durban
Market, Greyville
This lovely garden café offers a peaceful escape for diners throughout the day. Food is simple and unpretentious, yet wholesome, with dishes that satisfy both health and comfort. Breakfasts are served all day, and the French toast is made from croissants, topped with honey and cinnamon banana and finished with almonds and berries.
Freedom Café, Greyville
Freedom Café is a firm favourite in Durban, partly due to their abundance in brunch options, from Benedicts to fry ups to French toast. Sit in the open air café and enjoy one of two French toasts, either the savoury of bacon jam, grilled mushroom and kale pesto, or the sweet of sliced pear, Nutella and whisky raisins.
Delish Sisters, Ballito
We’ve featured this beautiful café in our restaurant guides a couple of times, because of their countryside location and their scrumptious farm-style fare. Their food embodies that farm-to-table quality, with a significant amount of originality. Try the pecan-crusted French toast with cream cheese, berry compote and maple glaze.
Port Elizabeth
Blue Waters Café, Beachfront
Blue Waters offers a versatile menu that is suited for any time of the day. The unrivaled location makes it a winning spot for breakfast, as the beachfront catches it’s first rays of morning sun. The French toast is done in a classic style with bacon and maple syrup.
Bocadillos on 1st and on 6th
Bocadillos is like a reliable best friend to PE locals, serving consistently tasty food, that stick to a simple fuss-free approach. The result is classic dishes that diners keep coming back for. This includes their French toast either served the classic way with maple syrup and bacon, or to spice things up, order it with Bolognaise and Cheddar cheese.
Have we missed a spot out? Let us know in the comments section below!
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