Where do you go when you’re completely over the view from your desk? A coffice, of course! Here’s our round-up of eateries in Jozi that have speedy wifi, delish snacks and fantastic coffee – everything you need for the daily grind.
Motherland Coffee Company
With branches in Rosebank, Dunkeld West and Parktown North, Motherland’s menu isn’t especially large, but the range of bowls, pancake stacks, salads and paninis is fresh and tasty. The coffee is more than just a full-flavoured brew; Motherland is proud to support Fair Trade and uses beans sourced from the continent, so every cup is a boost for African farmers.
Vovo Telo in Parkhurst
Venture past the harvest table where the day’s baked goods taunt your best Banting intentions, and you’ll find the quieter backroom where freelancers, writers and PR people set up their laptops or woo prospective clients. The coffee is good, the restaurant buzz is balm to self-employed people seeking a bit of company, and the food is reliably tasty. If you’re doing a morning stint, try the Pain Perdu; decadent French toast drizzled with berry coulis, marscapone and honey.
Coffee Exchange in Parkmore
The industrial chic interior might be super-cool, but everything else – from the chill music to the sunshine that streams in through doors opening onto a neighbourhood pavement bustle – sets the scene for an easy and relaxed working session. Oh, and the coffee is easily amongst Jozi’s best.
My Bread and Butter in Parkview
This Parkview café, crammed full of chatting breakfasters, might not seem an obvious choice for a coffice, but walk through to the quiet back room (usually used for functions) and you’ll find everything you need to pass a productive day, including a cosy fire in winter. The morning menu gets a special thumbs up; the salmon Eggs Benedict is particularly good, but there’s an expansive range of build-your-own options, too.
Croft & Co
Visit Croft & Co in the mornings, and you’ll see so many laptops you’ll wonder if anyone still works in an office. This coffee shop’s appeal is easily understood once you’ve sampled the scrambled eggs – believed by many to be the creamiest served up in Jo’burg.
The Whippet
Here’s the deal: you only get 45 minutes of wifi, and after that you have to pay. But you can overlook this once you’ve tasted the cake (try the Jode tart, layers and layers of pancakes sandwiched with Rooibos-infused custard or the Whippet cake, a concoction of milk tart, biscuits and lemon condensed milk). Grab one of the bar stools looking out on to 7th Street so you can watch Linden’s passing parade.
Brewtown in Lonehill
Lonehill’s contribution to coffice culture offers up some irresistible caffeine options – espresso and peanut butter shake, anyone? – solid sandwiches and great cakes.
Urban Grind Roasters
If you’re hungry, best bypass this specialist coffee outlet – you can’t snack here, but what you can do is enjoy a truly superb cup of joe while your emails download in a whizz, thanks to fabulously fast wifi.
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