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Food & Drink

Bree Street, Cape Town: What To Do, Eat And Drink

Refurbished colonial buildings in Bree Street © Magemu/WikiCommons
Refurbished colonial buildings in Bree Street © Magemu/WikiCommons
Photo of Lee-Shay Collison
Lee-Shay Collison
21 December 2016
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Bree Street has affirmed itself as Cape Town’s hottest culinary destination and social spot, overtaking Long and Kloof Street in popularity. A walk down the bustling strip will introduce you to a host of trendy restaurants, cafés, art galleries and shops interspersed with beautiful colonial buildings. Read our guide on where to eat, drink and shop on Bree.

Where To Eat Breakfast

Jason Bakery

Bakery, Dessert Shop, Contemporary, $$$
Pastries at Jason Bakery
Pastries at Jason Bakery | Pastries at Jason Bakery

Grab a flat white and croissant at Jason Bakery, one of the most popular breakfast spots on Bree Street. With their specialty pastries, hot breakfast dishes, fresh breads and gourmet coffee, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better place for brekkie.

Bacon on Bree

Who doesn’t love bacon for breakfast (or lunch for that matter)? Bacon on Bree, Cape Town’s first and only ‘baconporium’, serves an array of breakfasts, sandwiches and salads filled with the delicious salty pork.

217 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 422 2798

Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room

Bar, Cafe, Diner, Restaurant, North American, $$$
Person reading a newspaper inside the window of Clarkes Cape Town with a view out towards the street
Clarkes | Courtesy of Clarkes

For the late risers, Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room serves a stellar all-day breakfast. From a simple bowl of muesli with fruit and yogurt to a full English breakfast, Clarke’s has something for all palates.

Where To Eat Lunch

Burger & Lobster

Restaurant, South African, Seafood, Wine, Beer, $$$
Burger & Lobster offers just three main dishes — gourmet burgers, lobster rolls and whole lobster, fresh from the tank. With a limited menu, the restaurant owners are able to focus on excellence, and excellent food is exactly what you get at this rustic, New York-inspired restaurant.

Smak

Cafe, Deli, Patisserie, Restaurant, European, South African, $$$
smak
Smak Delicatessen | © Smak
Smak is a bustling deli, patisserie, restaurant and coffee shop rolled into one. Run by trained chefs, the establishment serves a range of dishes including handmade pasta, burgers, tacos and salads.

Arcade

Bar, Pub, Cocktails, Beer, South African, Fast Food, Wine, $$$
Arcade
Arcade | © Courtesy of Arcade Cafe
You’ll likely find a large crowd of Cape Town’s movers and shakers at this trendy Bree Street resto-bar. With a menu featuring burgers, prego rolls, and pizzas with names like McQueen and Pablo, and a bar with enticing cocktails and craft beers, it’s not hard to see why.

Where To Have Dinner

Villa 47

Bistro, Restaurant, Mediterranean, Asian, Italian, European, $$$
Cheese and cold meat platters at Villa 47
© Courtesy of Villa 47
Villa 47 celebrates Mediterranean and Asian cuisine in three trendy restaurant environments. On the ground floor, Locanda, an Italian-style bistro, serves breakfast, pastas, grills, and shareable cheese and cold-meat platters. On the first floor, Stuzzico’s sleek setting and tapas menu lends itself well to late-night drinks, while the second-floor restaurant offers a fusion dining experience.

La Tête

Restaurant, European, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, $$$
The newest addition to Bree Street, La Tête is a French nose-to-tail eatery run by Giles and James Edwards, who worked under the legendary Fergus Henderson of St. John Restaurant in London. The menu changes daily but you can expect meaty delights such as crispy pig tails and aioli as a preamble; mussels, bacon and beer for starters; and kidneys, bacon and mash for mains. Dinner is complemented by a curated list of top local wines.

Where To Shop

Missibaba and Kirsten Goss

Shop
© Shanna Jones Photography / Courtesy of Missibaba
If you’re looking for something uniquely South African, other than a wooden figurine or wire key ring, pay Missibaba a visit. The local brand produces exotic leather handbags in an array of prints and colors. You’ll also find gorgeous handmade jewelry by local designer, Kirsten Goss.

Avoova

Shop
Avoova designs and manufactures African gifts and accessories handcrafted from ostrich eggshell. The result is a beautiful mosaic effect, adorning everything from belt buckles to ornamental bowls.

Skinny laMinx

Shop
Couch upholstered in Skinny laMinx fabric
Courtesy of Skinny laMinx
Skinny laMinx is home to an amazing range of screenprinted fabrics, homeware and paper goods designed by self-taught artist, Heather Moore. Her strikingly beautiful work will brighten up any home.

Where To Have A Drink

Charango Grill and Bar

Bar, Restaurant, Peruvian, Contemporary, Gluten-free, 0
A Pisco Sour cocktail
A Pisco Sour cocktail | © Cathrine Lindblom Gunas/Flickr
This vibrant Peruvian-inspired bar and restaurant is a hot favorite among the after-work crowd of Cape Town, and for good reason. Tasty Peruvian tapas are served alongside traditional cocktails in an edgy, cool setting. Try the delicious Pisco Sours or the sweet and spicy Rose and Cardamom version. Reservations are advisable as the place fills up quickly.

La Parada

Bar, Restaurant, Mediterranean, South African, European, Spanish, Tapas, $$$
La Parada, Bree Street, Cape Town
La Parada, Bree Street, Cape Town | © Courtesy of La Parada
Situated across the road from Charango, La Parada is a popular bar and restaurant serving Spanish tapas and dessert, a wide range of cocktails, craft beer on tap and a small selection of wine. The interior features eclectic Mediterranean-style décor, long tables, and window counters that offer an ideal spot to watch the comings and goings of Bree Street. La Parada gets really busy at night so be sure to make a reservation before you go.

What To See

Youngblood Africa

Art Gallery
Youngblood Gallery | © Lee-Shay Collison
Youngblood Africa is an arts and culture development program that offers a platform for artists from all genres to showcase their work and become self-sustainable. The three-storey gallery regularly hosts music and theater performances, art exhibitions and dance classes, from swing to tango.

Upstairs on Bree

If you’re in town for First Thursdays, it’s worth checking out what Upstairs on Bree have on show. Peruse local and international art while you have a drink and mingle with guests.

103A Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 422 4147

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