The Top 10 Cafés of Johannesburg

The African continent is a major exporter of coffee, even though they do not consume much apart from the politicians. Africa produces 12% of the world’s coffee, according to figures from the International Coffee Organization (ICO).

The market remains dominated by Ethiopia (39% of African production and 6.4 million bags of 60 kg of green coffee produced in 2015-2016) and Uganda (23% of production). Kenya was fifth with 5% of the market behind Côte d’Ivoire (13%) and Tanzania (6%).

South Africa’s coffee scene is relatively young, but this does not mean necessarily bad. In fact, a major coffee revolution was taking place in the last decade. Today, there are many hip cafés in the country where locals can quench their thirst for the mighty caffeine.

In South Africa, Cape Town is the leader in terms of coffee, but Johannesburg is quickly getting head to head. There are several good coffee roasteries in Johannesburg, and newbies are opening their doors day to day. We compiled a list of the top 10 Johannesburg cafés for you:.

10. Patachou Patisserie

• Address: 329 Rivonia Boulevard | Shop 44A Rivonia Village, Rivonia, Johannesburg 2191, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 234 0700
• Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sun 8:30 am – 3:00 pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/patachoupatisserie/

Do you have a taste for sophisticated Parisian elegance? Are you craving for a good coffee and tasty desserts? Patachou Patisserie might be the place for you, which is a little piece of France in South Africa. Something similar to Lenotre, Dalloyau or Angelina in Paris.

When you walk in, you will suddenly feel like you are in heaven, that is for sure. When the weather permits, its lovely to sit outside under the brollies. The vibe of the atmosphere is simply great, the service is polite and friendly.

The coffees are so delicious! Especially the cappucino… So full of flavor, with the right amount of milk. Try it with a tasty almond croissant, it is so yummy! Don’t come here if you are on a diet, because you won’t be able to resist the temptation! The macaroons are just fabulous!

They also offer a dessert which consists of meringue layers, incorporating nuts, interspersed with layers of custard and a layer of fresh raspberries and the top is drenched in icing sugar. Imagine it… The butternut and blue cheese quiche and the open salmon sarm on sourdough toast are also worth a try. So lovely, don’t miss it during your Johannesburg trip!

9. JoziBlue

• Address: 4 Kingswood Centre | 9 Northfield Ave Glenhazel, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 440 2798
• Opening hours: Mon-Thu 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Fri 7:00 am – 3:00 pm, Sun 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
• Website: https://joziblue.wordpress.com/

Jozi Blue is a kosher place, but it is open for all! The relaxing, chilly vibe of this Johannesburg café will definitely blow your mind. Shmuel and Natalie are so warm and welcoming, very attentive, which makes the ambiance great!
The perfect place to sit in with a book and read or surf the internet with the help of their free wi-fi, but you may even invite your friends or colleagues to chat and laugh for a few hours.

You can what’s app while you are heading to the café to have your take away waiting for you, which is a nice plus. There is ample free parking, just relax and listen to the vibey mid east tunes while you sip your steaming cup of coffee. They offer a wide variety of coffees, their coffee is strong, at the correct temperature to bring out the flavor and aroma of the bean, the foam is so creamy and nice on lattes and capps etc.

Neither the kids will be disappointed, a Hot Chocolate in a Cone will definitely satisfy them! You can combine your coffee with very good snacks, muffins and other delicacies such as read/tye toasted sarmies banting seed bagel. Don’t miss this Johannesburg coffee house, it will be a great experience.

8. Nice on 4th

• Address: 37 Fourth Avenue | Parkhurst, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 788 6286
• Opening hours: Tue-Sun 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
• Website: http://www.niceon4th.co.za/

Nice on 4th is a typically successful urban breakfast place. The ambiance is nice with the buzzy family and yuppie crowd, the decoration gives it a homely feel. The café is so welcoming, the staff is very friendly. The service is fast, despite the fact that the place is often crowded.

Prices are reasonable. Sitting outside and watch people passing by while you drink your lovely coffee besides a fabulous breakfast: an amazing experience! They are busy on weekends, so you have to be careful with parking. The old fashioned tea pots will make you feel in Alice in Wonderland.

Coffees are fabulous, all full of flavor and not too acidic. Try the cappucino with it’s tasty cream! The juices are freshly squeezed, the watermelon juice is so delicious in the watermelon season.Their menu is so huge (including a lunch menu), you won’t be able to decide what to have. They also do organize Stork parties, birthdays etc.

The Roulade (strawberries and marscorpone rolled up in soft meringue baked with a touch of rose water) is definitely a must try! Is your mouth already watering? The ‘Half n Half’ (half egg basket portion and half a crumpet portion) option may also be a good choice. Be careful, the portions are not too big, so if you are hungry, probably you should try another place. Highly recommended.

7. Woolworths Cafe Rosebank

• Address: 50 Bath Avenue | Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 788 5530
• Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9:00 am–7:00 pm
• Website: http://www.rosebankmall.co.za/

Woolworths Cafe Rosebank is a cozy, newly renovated Johannesburg café situated just inside Rosebank mall. The café is open to the shopping centre, so it can get a little bit noisy if the hustle and bustle starts, but this also makes it an ideal spot to sit in for a coffee and watch people walking in the street after a long and tiring shopping day.

Take away is possible. The staff is super attentive and friendly, the food is of high quality. Their menu offers many casual dining choices. Woolworths is a food chain, so you can try other ones if you become a real fan of them.
Their flavorful coffees are made from locally sourced coffee beans, which provides you a quality experience.

The cappuccino is freshly brewed and so delicious, the iced latte is prefectly made! A good selection of foods, sandwiches, salads, muffins and cakes is available. You can have the salads from the self service salad bar. The scrambled egg is light and fluffy, the three egg omlette is huge and tasty. Smoothies are fabulous, just as the freshly made juices, the red juice is a must try! Don’t miss this Johannesburg café, you will not regret it.

6. Dolci Cafe

• Address: 28 Clarence Avenue | Craighall Park, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 10 900 2274
• Opening hours: Tue-Wed 7:30 am – 6:00 pm, Thu-Sat 7:30 am – 9:30 pm, Sun 7:30 am – 2:00 pm
• Website: http://dolci.co.za/

Do you dream of a place with a personal touch and authenticity? In Dolci Café you will find it. This authentic Italian Johannesburg coffee shop located in the Parkhurst/ Craighall border offers you a fresh and welcoming ambiance.
The atmosphere is so relaxing, cool and laid-back with an artistic flare.

The perfect spot for a quiet little family dinner, the staff is very attentive, always keen on fulfilling your wishes. But Dolci Café is also suitable for a romantic date night! The dinner menu looks so appetizing that you will immediately feel the urge to try it!

If you like that typical light, airy Italian coffee, you won’t be disappointed, they are the specialists of this style. You can even linger over your coffee, they won’t force you to leave in order to make place for the new customers.

A huge menu (lunch and dinner) with „home style” Italian food is also available, it will be hard to decide what to eat. One thing is for sure: the omelette and the meat and cheese platter is just marvellous! Taste the pastries too, especially the custard tart! You would be out of a great culinarry adventure if you missed this Johannesburg coffee shop.

5. Motherland Coffee Company Rosebank

• Address: Shop G22 | The Zone Phase 2, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 447 8125
• Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:00 am–7:00 pm, Sun 8:00 am–6:00 pm
• Website: http://www.motherlandcoffee.com/

Do you look for a convenient place for a quick coffee after work or during lunch? Try Motherland Coffee Company Rosebank! The atmosphere is great and trendy in this small, comfy venue with work spaces, pleasant couches and a few small tables. Good vibes, funky décor.

Here you can have an authentic experience, this is definitely a company with a conscience! The concept is very cool with an offer of 2 hours free high speed WiFi, which attracts a lot of of think tanks, bloggers and virtual workers. This gives a quite modern feel. Prices are decent.

Their coffee is simply outstanding with a good cafe menu sourced from fair trade coffee producers. The cappuccino is awesome, which is in fact a double shot cappuccino. „Dictator” is prepared with condensed milk and cream. There is a loyalty system which means that after your tenth visit you get a free coffee.

The ‘leave a friend a coffee’ wall is so lovely (you can buy a coffee for a friend in advance and they can pick it up when they visit, so nice idea). Try their croissants too… The cappuccino muffin is simply amazing. This is definitely a top Johannesburg coffee shop, you have to try it!

4. Olivia’s Coffee Bake

• Address: 175 Beyers Naude Drive | Northcliff, Johannesburg 2195, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 888 8395
• Opening hours: Mon-Sat 7:00 am–5:30 pm, Sun 7:00 am–1:30 pm
• Website: http://www.olivias.co.za/

Located in the Northcliff/Linden/Fairlands area, Olivia’s Coffee Bake is definitely an ideal place for a lazy morning brunch or a festive lunch. You can sit both inside or outside on the pavement under umbrellas to watch the hustle and bustle of the area in the balmy Johannesburg weather.

The owner is always there and so interactive with clients. Everyone will find something that will satisfy his or her cravings: the menu is extremely extensive. This Johannesburg coffee shop is a popular spot for cyclists. Invite your friends here for a nice chat with a steaming cup of coffee in a lovely atmosphere.

You will adore the hot coffee, especially with scones! The brew is so fresh, made from carefully selected quality beans. The espresso is flavorful. The portions are huge, so if you are on diet, probably you should avoid this place. The bakery section is very popular, they have a fine selection of cakes, tarts and breads, all made from fresh ingredients.

Try the fabulous combination of milk tart and tea! For lunch you should order Beef Curry Wrap or Chutney Chicken salad. Sesame and honey glazed chicken salad is also marvellous. Definitely one of the best Johannesburg cafés, don’t miss it.

3. Cnr Cafe Bistro and Deli

• Address: Corner Buckingham and Rothesay Avenues | Corner Rothesay Ave, Craighall Park, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
• Phone Number: +27 11 880 2244
• Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sun 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Website: https://www.cnrcafe.com/

Cnr Cafe Bistro and Deli is a cozy Johannesburg café with a lovely, impressive atmosphere. This bistro takes place in an excellent neighborhood. Both indoor and outdoor seating is available (with a fair number of outdoor tables, where you can enjoy the weather in a „village” feel). Sometimes they add to the ambiance with live entertainment, such as a three piece jazz outfit or other formations. Vibes are nice and cool.

The place is usually so full, that you can hardly hear the other speaking, so if you desire to chat with your friends in a quiet, calm environment, maybe you should opt for other cafés. Even though service is friendly and quick, they regularly put new items to their menu, which can always be a nice surprise. Just have a look at the specials board! Lunch or dinner, family or friends, this place has it all.

Coffee is great, with a great texture and a lovely taste. Oh, that creamy cappuccino with the perfect amount of milk! Delicious. The size of the food portions are acceptable, extremely well made with various ingredients. Don’t forget to taste their homemade pasta! Vegetarians will also find their calculations here. Eggs Benedict is called „Hollandais”, we recommend it a lot. They offer local beers, Savanah cider beer is great! Definitely a must try.

2. The Whippet

• Address: 34 7th Street | Linden, Johannesburg 2195, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 782 7310
• Opening hours: Tue-Thu 6:30 am – 4:00 pm, Fri 6:30 am – 4:30 pm, Sat 7:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Website: https://thewhippetcoffee.com/

The Whippet is a cozy Johannesburg coffee house located in the centre of the old “Boere Houghton” , that is to say Linden. The environment is clean and well-run, the vibes are cool and trendy, the whole place is very impressive. The waitress is so accomodating and she will always help you in deciding what to choose with her awesome recommendations.

She seems like someone who really enjoys what she is doing. One little disadvantage: the space is little, so it can be crowded (even though that this is usually a good sign). They will offer you free champagne while you wait, which is a nice gesture. The place is easily approachable, parking is free.
Coffee is well-brewed, the food well presented. The filter coffee and the cappuccino is simply delicious. .

The eggs benedict with a good flat white is a perfect combination.The menu is cleverly varied and will satisfy all tastes. Great brakfast options are available, such as the breakfast burrito, the avocado on bread with onions and the breakfast flatbread. Burgers are perfect. Cocktails exceptional. The chicken livers and the creamy mushrooms are unbelievably tasty. We certainly would not miss this place if we were in Johannesburg…

1. Bread & Roses Cafe and Bistro

• Address: 80 4th Ave | Cnr 4th Ave And 7th St, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa
• Telephone: +27 11 482 1858
• Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat-Sun 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
• Website: https://www.facebook.com/BreadandRosesCafeandBistro/

This super cool Johannesburg café has such a good atmosphere! It was typically designed for the bohemian chics, so if you are one of them, don’t miss it! The charmingly eclectic mix of mid-century furniture and the touches of African colour is so impressive! This trendy decor will make you feel you are actually in Africa. There are loads of wonderful African fabrics covering the benches and chairs.

The laid back vibes is so attractive for the crowds. The friendly staff just adds to the good atmoshpere. All day breakfast, simple -but delicious- dishes. You can even watch the hustle and bustle on the streets of Melville from this spot. And the prices are reasonable! One negative side: finding a parking lot will not be easy, so probably you should arrive by foot. This is a laptop friendly space with free wi-fi, so you can even work from here.

Coffee is proper, made from quality beans. Both single and double espressos and cappuccinos are available. The coffee and the milk is mixed so perfectly in café latte! Don’t miss the freshly squeezed fruit juices and the milkshakes, they are simply incredible! Burgers, Thai style fish cakes and other special delicacies wait here for you. If you are veggie, try the veggie omelette. Do you have a sweet tooth? Opt for a banana pancake. We highly recommend this Johannesburg coffee house.

Summary:

Johannesburg is full with fabulous coffee shops, both locals and travelling business people visit these places. In fact, coffee means more than just a drink here, it is a form of lifestyle in the South-African capital and they really know a few things about preparing a perfect brew.

There are many independent coffee shops trying to find new ways, to offer something else, something more special than ordinary coffee chains. You will surely have a special experience if you decide to discover the decent coffee scene of Johannesburg. We wish you good luck with that.