If your sweet tooth is nagging you for a bit of coffee and cake, there’s no reason to ignore that call for decadence.
We’ve rounded up the best spots for coffee and cake, because you deserve a treat:
Joburg
Dolci Café
With a hearty Italian respect for all things butter and sugar, this eatery is the perfect place for a well-deserved break. You’ll be charmed immediately by the light and airy interior, which feels more like a friend’s beautifully maintained house than a café. Peruse the display case before settling down for a cappuccino and the agony of choosing between a cannoli, zabaglione, or fresh fruit tart.
Where: Shop 5 & 6 at Lancaster Village, cnr of Clarence and Lancaster Avenues, Craighall, Johannesburg
When: Tuesday to Saturday, 7:30 am – 9:30 pm; Sundays, 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Contact: 010 900 2274, 082 683 8243, [email protected]
If you like your cheat meals a little spicy, check out our round-up of curry restaurants:
Cape Town
Jason Bakery
One of the Mother City’s hippest patisseries, Jason is renowned for its innovative baked goods and dynamic flavours. Although there’s a cornucopia of delicacies on offer, there’s no arguing with the fact that the true stars of this bakery are the croissants. Flaky and golden, the fillings and flavours are constantly being reworked, but past highlights include peanut butter maple and bacon, cranberry Danish, and almond.
Where: 185 Bree Street, CBD, Cape Town
When: Monday to Friday, 7 am – 3:30 pm, Saturdays 8 am – 2 pm
Contact: 021 424 5644, [email protected]
Lekker Kalk Bay
If you like your coffee and cake with a touch of seaside ambience, this is the bakery for you. Grab a seat at the counter overlooking the unconventional streets of Kalk Bay, or perch on a colourful stool and eagerly await your slice of chocolate marshmallow cake to arrive. There’s a great selection of cakes and pastries on offer, but the croissants, hummingbird cake and brownies are firm favourites.
Where: 106 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town
When: Monday to Sunday, 6:45 am – 9 pm
Contact: 021 788 3424, [email protected]
Looking for a decadent treat? Visit one of these spots for a delicious freakshake
Durban
Antique Café at Churchill House
A go-to among the locals, this classic coffee and cake house is one of Morningside’s gems. Part patisserie and part antique shop, browse a mosaic of porcelain and menagerie of vintage glass before being presented with fresh juice or a patterned china cup steaming with hot beverage of your choice. The beesting cakes are legendary, but be sure to get a baked cheesecake or chilli chocolate pot for the table as well!
Where: 93 Churchill Road, Durban
When: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; Saturdays, 8:30 am – 4 pm; Sundays, 9 am – 2 pm
Contact: 031 303 5959, [email protected]
The Chocolate & Cheesecake Bar
Sweetly intimate and colourful, this institute of indulgence is mecca for the dessert lover. The rainbow of delights in the display case may well hypnotise you as you debate the merits of Turkish delight cheesecake, chocolate-dipped macarons, and cream and caramel Swiss rolls. Relax under the signature checked ceiling, sip on a Belgian chococcino, and let your sweet tooth take centre stage.
Where: Shop 7, Second floor, 565 Peter Mokaba Ridge, Swift Centre, Durban
When: Monday to Thursday, 9 am – 5 pm; Fridays 2 – 9:30 pm; Saturdays 10 am – 10 pm; Sundays 12 – 6 pm
Contact: 081 412 5366, [email protected]
