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21 Coffee Shops in Cape Town to Work Remotely, to Escape Load Shedding
Cape Town – beautiful beaches, amazing weather and coffee shops/cafe’s popping up all over. We’re not complaining!
So can you imagine not drinking coffee? Well, that was Lauren in her early days, before I changed her, or should we say Stockholm changed her…
This was when her coffee relationship began & I will be forever grateful for this, because I now have a coffee drinking sister friend! Going for fika is an everyday thing, where we would find ourselves searching for decent coffee shops in cute towns out of the city. Coffee and cinnamon buns (kanelbulle) from Gateau, Sweden became our new favourite weekend hangout spot, until we returned back to Cape Town.
We love trying out the newest and smallest cafes to support local and small and of course rate their coffee deliciousness.
One way to deal with load shedding in Cape Town is that you have the excuse to leave home in search of a good internet (coffee spot) to work from. We love taking a break from remote working and find we are more creative when working from a coffee shop. Is it the caffeine booster?
If you follow us on Instagram (@offtwowander), you’ll see that we love coffee shop hopping during the week for a remote working spot and on weekends, just to have a coffee and chill.
We’re all about living sustainably and our Huskee coffee cups go with EVERYWHERE.
You can purchase your Huskee coffee cup online on our E-commerce website.
Side note: Remember these Huskee coffee cups for a gift or end of year present for colleagues who are coffee lovers.
“Welcome to the little Paris of Cape Town, CBD. They are located on the corner of Buitenkant and Barrack Street, with lovely lighting and space for remote working.”
Love road trips & coffee? Check out our Shark Bay travel blog where we recently stayed for our birthday weekend. Another alternative, a staycation in Franschhoek, where you can have the best of wine and coffee.
Remote Working Coffee Shops in Cape Town
4 Conference Lane, Century City
Our parents always rave about Gusto Restaurant and we would joke that they have shares in the restaurant, because they are always there – we don’t blame them though! It’s stunning.
We love the fact that the modern design and large windows allow guests to look out onto the islands and waterways (this was the old Ratanga Junction, so lots of good memories popped up while looking out).
The ground floor of the hotel welcomes guests with different seating arrangements for guests to relax, work or dine in.
Gusto restaurant and the Bridgewater Hotel flow into one and create a large area for guests to dine – the evenings get busy!
The stylish Italian themed restaurant has the yummiest wood-fired pizzas, is a great place for you to work remotely and have catch ups with friends after work – which is what we did. We sat in the alcove space overlooking the waterways to finish off some work and invited friends to join us for dinner. The vibe is relaxed, but also sophisticated and a cute date night spot.
Perfect for a post walk brunch, lunch or dress up for a dinner date.
PS: Gusto gives 2 hour complimentary P4 underground parking.
No. 3 Energy Lane, Century City
“Right hand raised, we solemnly swear that starting one’s day with a respectable cup of coffee is the doorway to a happier life.”
Yes, Square Cafe, you got that right!
The Square Cafe have both a deli and cafe section, giving guests plenty of options to choose from, and thankfully includes Vida E coffee. The deli serves freshly baked breads, pastries, pies and salads. The harvest lunch menu has recently opened up again and has a variety of delicious home cooked meals for your lunch options.
Located on the ground floor on the Century City Hotel Urban Square, the interior design team outdid themselves with the classy design and included workstations to the open space. The mushroom pasta and fried hake are dinner winners.
This is the perfect spot to work remotely, book a night or two and dine into the evening – nothing to complain about here.
PS: Check out their Instagram to see their weekly drinks specials.
1 Keurboom Crescent, Plattekloof, Cape Town (NEW address: Soet Emporium, Wellington Road, Durbanville)
Looking for somewhere to work remotely? We found a cute cafe with a generator and wifi, tick!
Beano Coffee Co is a newly opened coffee shop in Plattekloof with white interior decor and big windows creating lots of natural lighting. The staff make you feel at home while they serve delicious coffee. They have a basic food menu and the WiFi is great.
Beano is based in a central location, not too far from the highway and very close to walking areas for post work walks. The Plattekloof duck pond is a lovely green space for walking and has beautiful views of Table Mountain.
Side note: Another Beano will be opening up in November at the Plattekloof Planet Fitness. Keep an eye out on their Instagram to see the opening date!
Shop 25, Plattekloof Village Shopping Centre
Well done to Sweet Beet for creating a healthy food menu and collabing with vida e caffe. The ‘build your own wrap’ is a real winner! Can we have this every day?
We were looking for a spot with clean, healthy food and decent coffee and Sweetbeet ticked all these boxes.
There is secure parking, delicious, healthy food and they also have decaf – coffee on tap please..
Shop 42, Willowbridge Shopping Centre
Willowbridge Shopping Centre is also centrally located, not too far from the N1 highway. If you’re looking for a meeting spot or a break of scenery, then we would highly suggest getting a healthy meal and vida e caffe from Sweetbeet.
There are powerpoints, very good wifi and they have a pay up front & sit down policy.
23 Bakker St, Welgemoed
Alchemy Coffee Roasters is located in the leafy suburb of Welgemoed. They are open during load shedding, have a generator and the Wifi is great! Alchemy loves having remote workers pop in for a work session. Their coffee is delicious and they have such lovely staff.
Alchemy focus on roasting single origin coffee beans to a roasting profile which brings out and highlights its natural flavours.
Great news! They have recently expanded and will now be offering breakfast and lunch with their new kitchen and bigger space.
Pampoenkraal Ln, Durbanville
A freshly baked sourdough bread, with designs on them, and butter. Yummy! These breads are freshly made from Thursday – Saturday on a first come, first serve basis.
*Closed on Sunday’s.
BAARD & Co.Coffee Roasters is a boutique artisan coffee shop, micro roastery and a really cute spot for a meetup. Being a small, cozy spot, keep in mind to not sit all day & take up tables for hours at a time. Sharing is caring! 😉
They are currently working on their website, where you will be able to order items online! Exciting times ahead for the Baard team.
Flamingo Square Centre, Table View
Look out for the green. When driving past the Table View branch, you can’t miss the abundance of greenery in the outside section of Reload. This is inspired by the owner who has a background in environmental science and adds to the atmosphere of the restaurant.
They serve delicious wood-fired pizzas, coffee in the biggest mugs and promote remote working.
14 Leadville Way Leadville Park, Sunningdale
Coffee, food and dogs. Sounds ideal for a serotonin booster. Reload Sunningdale is located at Leadville Dog Park in Sunningdale and also promotes remote working. Just like their Flamingo branch, they have lots of plants hanging, creating a relaxing space for guests.
Reload’s delicious coffee is sourced from Malawi and roasted in a micro-roastery in Cape Town.
Fun fact: The founder & owner is a professional barista and trains Reload barista’s.
Shop 4, Mira Mar Centre, 26 Beach Rd, Melkbosstrand
For those who know us, we love everything about Melkbos and are there almost every weekend. We support most of the restaurants in the small beach town and found The Hart on the front strip.
The drive from Cape Town is worth it when you’re sitting having a meal or drinks, while staring at the ocean. From Wednesday to Sunday, The Hart is open until 8:30pm (3pm on other days) and serves delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Follow them on social media to keep up with their latest specials.
1 Fairway Drive Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, Melkbosstrand
We found out about Milkwood Deli while visiting The Hart – they are sister companies and we liked what we saw on Milkwood Deli social media, so we had to of course try them out.
Milkwood Deli is located on the Atlantic Golf Course and in the Atlantic Golf Estate, making you feel as if you’re in another world and only a two minute drive from the heart of Melkbosstrand.
The salmon wrap was a winner for me, so I have that each time we go, they have work stations and delicious 100% Arabica coffee. Although the deli closes at 5pm, they support remote working and don’t mind you sitting at the work stations. The Sunbird Restaurant & Bar is upstairs for you to have dinner and drinks after work. The views are beautiful!
Side note: If you wanting to have a home-cooked meal and not up for cooking, Milkwood Deli has home-made meal options made to order. Check out their social media to find out more.
13 York Rd, Muizenberg
Not too long ago, we did a planned beach clean up at Muizenberg on a Saturday morning and needed to refuel afterwards. We took a stroll past the coffee shops/cafes along the Surfers Corner strip and ended up at Hans and Lloyd – loved the vibe, so headed inside!
The cozy couch by the fireplace was what we eyed out as we walked into Hans and Lloyd Muizenberg.
They serve healthy, fresh meals and delicious house blend coffee. Great for a post surf coffee or brunch date with friends.
Their ice creams – they sell large soft serve ice creams which seems like a winner for many.
28 Kildare Rd, Newlands
Tucked away in the leafy suburb of Newlands, you’ll find Hans and Lloyd and other restaurants close by.
They have a lovely outdoor section at the back, with a fireplace for the chillier days.
Be sure to check it out!
42 Morningside St, Ndabeni
Looking for something sweet to go with your coffee? Look no further! Hog House sells the yummiest Pastei de Nata’s and we always end up taking extra’s home.
The space is light and bright, with friendly staff and all the great smells coming from the bakery. They have a variety of good food to enjoy whether it be alone or a meet up. There are plug points in certain seats and they have great wifi. Hog House has a generator, which allows for certain items to be made. Make sure to check the load shedding schedule before visiting to avoid disappointment.
So what makes this spot even better, is that they are a craft brewery and have Friday night Barbeque’s (make sure to book in advance).
Cafe / work spot during the day and beers by night – why not?
Have a zoom call or meeting? Hog House has a meeting room which you can book out. Contact them on social media to see the costing.
278 Main Rd, Kenilworth
Fresh produce from the farm to Wildsprout. If you’re looking for healthy, fresh meals and a cute spot to work remotely or a lunch date, this is the place.
Wilsprout have both a cafe and grocery store, where you can enjoy a wholesome meal or buy your daily groceries from – no need to head to the shops afterwards. They also have an online store for you to buy your groceries – check it out here.
The grocery store supplies ready made meals, pantry staples and stock homeware and lifestyle items from local, small businesses.
If you have any allergies, they have this covered with gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, vegan and banting options on their menu.
Wildspout Kenilworth has an inverter, which allows for certain items to be made. Make sure to check the load shedding schedule before visiting to avoid disappointment.
Shop 1, Constantia Village Courtyard, Constantia
If you’re looking for a remote working spot or needing a wholesome meal, head to Wildsprout Constantia. There is a large variety of meals to choose from, including salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and ending it off with a guilt free sweet snack. You deserve it!
Wildsprout Constantia is fully operational during load shedding as they have a generator.
Remember to be mindful of taking up big tables during busy periods and remember to tip staff according to the time that you are there, not just the 5% of your bill…
For those who are looking for a unique farm stay outside of Cape Town, Wildsprout have authentic self catering country cottages located in Wellington, known as BoPlaas.
277 Main Rd, Sea Point
Pauline’s is an intimate coffee bar with the friendliest staff and Bougainvillea plants in their outside section to welcome you.
They have the best kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) we’ve tasted (beats some of the Swedish cafe’s we’ve been to..). We would highly suggest trying these out – they will make you come back for more each week…
Pauline’s are open during load shedding, but keep in mind them being an intimate coffee shop & not taking a large table the whole time during their busiest hours.
136 Bree St, Cape Town City
We love a large coffee mug! These ceramic mugs were the reason we visited The Ladder and made the coffee experience even better. Surely we aren’t the only ones like this??
The Ladder is located in Bree Street and very aesthetically pleasing for your Instagram photoshoots 🙂
A lovely spot to have a break during the day or meet up with friends or family.
Corner Buitenkant and Barrack St
Bonjour! This is how you’re greeted by Swan Cafe staff as you enter the cafe.
Welcome to the little Paris of Cape Town, CBD. They are located on the corner of Buitenkant and Barrack Street, with lovely lighting and space for remote working. They have a generator and are fully functional during load shedding.
Swan Cafe serves Damn Fine Coffee, which is hand sourced from a local micro artisanal roaster.
PS: Most importantly, don’t forget to try out their yummy crepes!
Cnr Upper Maynard and 221 Vredehoek Ave, Vredehoek
We love exploring and always jump into the car with a coffee shop/ cafe in mind (that’s one of the reasons we decided on our name, Off two wander).
Our dad grew up close to Lazari’s, when it was a laundromat back in the day, which encouraged us to support the small restaurant.
We chose the couch spot in the corner, where the large glass windows allow all the natural lighting in and showcase the stunning mountain views.
It is a cute cafe, with some space to work, but keep in mind those who are coming to enjoy their time at the restaurant.
We love the vibe at Lazari & the fact that the owner is very hands on and also so lovely to chat to! Being dog friendly makes it even cuter ;P
85A Regent Rd, Sea Point
mischu is a quaint cafe located in Regent Road, Sea Point, perfect location to escape the office and change scenery.
Their coffee blend, Isabella, is a medium roast & won titles for mischu, including Best Espresso & Cappuccino in Cape Town and Best Cappuccino in South Africa.
They are open during load shedding, with the kitchen being partially closed. Just make sure to check load shedding times to plan your coffee & lunch order before the power goes out.
There are large windows to allow in natural lighting, adding to the ambiance of the cafe.
mischu sells wholesale coffee, has an online shop and sells their own blend in capsules for you to make in the comfort of your own home.
Bootleggers: More Remote Work Coffee Shops
We all know the brand Bootleggers, so we decided to include the locations in Cape Town surrounds which have generators.
Bootleggers in Cape Town with generators:
• Point Mall
• Green Point (limited)
• Cape Quarter
• Harrington
• Woodstock Quarter
• 112 Kloof
• Kenilworth
• Tokai (limited)
Inspiring you to make your travel dreams happen!
Why These Coffee Shops Are Best For Remote Working
We always look for the following to tick off when choosing our cafe to work at.
- Generator: to make coffee, food and wifi for remote working. For the few with no generator, plan your choice according to the load shedding grids.
- Plug point: to charge up our laptops and phones
- Wifi: fast wifi is a winner
- Delicious coffee: with alternative milk options (we love oat milk)
- Bathroom: nearby bathroom is great so you don’t have to stress about leaving your items behind. Having a remote working buddy or someone to sit with helps.
Save Our Coffee Shop Map
Share/save this map for when the day comes where you need a remote working coffee shop to escape load shedding.
The coffee shop options listed are in the Northern Suburbs, Southern Suburbs and Cape Town CBD.
Tips When Working At Remote Coffee Shops
We’re all for remote working and supporting these coffee shops, but remember to be kind to the staff and actually support them.. If you are planning on working for a long period, please keep in mind the table turnover if you weren’t sitting there the whole day. The staff also need to wait tables to make money, just like you are making money while sitting on your laptop.
Be generous on your tip and not just a small % of your bill – think about if you hired a remote work space and how much you would be charged for sitting all day 🙂
Are you fortunate to work remotely / have flexibility during your work day? Save these locations and check out these coffee shops soon!
Remember to take time out of your day to have fika.
Tag us on social media to let us know where you’re at or comment below which coffee shop you visited first!
We’d love for you to share the love by sharing this blog post on social media platforms to reach others who may be looking for their remote working coffee shop.
Julia x
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Your New Favourite Coffee Accessory Must Have
That first sip of coffee hitting all the right spots first thing in the morning. We all know the feeling of a good warm coffee and going “aaaaah”, and then your day can commence 🙂
If you saying, “yes me” then this coffee accessory is definitely for you.
Your New Favourite Coffee Accessory Must Have
New product, so get your Christmas orders in!
We have been working on our product range for some time now and can finally say, hello Huskee! Huskee coffee cups are available to purchase on our E-commerce website and we offer both local and national delivery options. PS: Christmas is around the corner!
Our website and travel blog is a space where we want to promote and sell products that align with us, our goals and ambitions.
The reason that we decided to make this coffee cup accessory our first item to be sold on our website, is because we just love a good coffee. But so often you stop for a quick coffee and end up using so many takeaway coffee cups over a short period of time.
Yes, we know that take-away coffee cups have become more eco-friendly and recyclable, however, there are some elements of the cup that cannot be broken down – for example the plastic lids and the little lid stopper to not make you mess your coffee all over the show.
Going back to our exciting product, this is the perfect gift for any coffee lover. Christmas, birthdays, random gifts just because. Also, running late for work, pour your coffee in your Huskee Cup and hit the traffic, especially those who live in Cape Town…
Our Coffee Story
Lauren never used to be a coffee drinker and would be the boring one, always choosing the tea option.
When Covid-19 lockdowns were in place, the only outing you could go on, was to go for a takeaway coffee, and this is when she got hooked!
One positive that came out of Covid..
Natural and Eco-Friendly
Lauren and I have always been at one with nature and try to be eco-conscious individuals. This was ever since we traveled to Bali in 2016 and snorkled amongst a sea of plastic. This was not fun having plastic bags wrap around your legs, thinking the worst – is it a shark or animal attacking me!? I already have the heebie jeebies about things touching me in a body of water that I can’t see through, but this just topped it off.
We came back home to Cape Town and made a conscious effort to be better.
Our aim for our travel blog is to base them around our three pillars: wildlife, travel and nature
But Why This Coffee Accessory You May Ask
Lauren and I lived in Sweden in 2019 and revolved our weekend trips around our favourite coffee spot, Espresso House.
The perfect cozy spot to read a book, get a takeaway coffee or sit having fika with a friend. We love the word fika and it has now formed part of our vocabulary. (as well as skal – cheers).
“Fika means to take time to relax and enjoy the moment alone or with a friend. It’s a big thing in Swedish culture.”
These cups have a special memory in our hearts. Before returning home, I bought 2 mugs as souvenirs for the both of us. They are a must have accessory and go all over with us – most of you know we are often adventuring all over and stopping at cute cafes along the way. We received compliments about our coffee cups and that’s where our product idea sparked.
6 Reasons Why You Need Huskee Cups in Your Life - They are eco friendly
- Made from coffee husk
- Minimises the need for takeaway cups
- Supporting small businesses
- Great end of year / Christmas gift to your coffee lover friends and family
- Looks sophisticated
Sophisticated Eco Mug + Your Favourite Coffee inside = Winning
We have two size options:
1.) Short 235ml
2.) Tall 350ml
Both of these Huskee cups come in natural and charcoal colours.
Head to our products to purchase your Huskee coffee cup online. Remember to tag us on your social media pages! @offtwowander
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Huskee Coffee Cups
Coffee Cup lovers, this is for you. If you haven’t heard about the Huskee Coffee Cups, here’s the lowdown. The word “Fika” became part of our vocabulary while living in Sweden and we decided to bring the trend back home.
These cups have a special memory in our hearts. Before returning home, Julia bought 2 mugs as souvenirs for the both of us. They are a must have accessory and go all over with us – most of you know we are often adventuring all over and stopping at cute cafes along the way. We received compliments about our coffee cups and that’s where our product idea sparked.
You can read all about our favourite coffee accessory and where our idea originated from in this blog post.
What is Huskee Coffee Cup made from?They are primarily made from the recycled husks of coffee beans & a unique eco biopolymer (eco friendly & biodegradable, resembling plastic visually, but actually biodegradable). This husk by-product would usually be discarded by growers.
Huskee Coffee Cups in South AfricaYes! We deliver throughout South Africa. You can purchase your Huskee Coffee Cups from our online shop www.offtwowander.com
6 Reasons Why You Need Huskee Cups in Your Life– They are eco friendly
– Made from coffee husk
– Minimises the need for takeaway cups
– Supporting small businesses
– Perfect gift to your coffee lover friends and family
– Looks sophisticatedFind out more about @offtwowander on our Instagram page, and we will show you all of our favourite coffee spots. There are quite a few cute spots in and around Cape Town 🙂
