Bree Street, Cape Town: What To Do, Eat And Drink
- Lee-Shay Collison
- Updated:
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
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.
185 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 424 5644
Pastries at Jason Bakery © Pure Narcotic/Flickr
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
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.
133 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 424 7648
Where To Eat Lunch
Burger & Lobster
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.
105 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 422 4297
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.
22 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 824 5023
Arcade
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.
152 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 60 861 0511
Arcade © Courtesy of Arcade Cafe
Where To Have Dinner
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.
47 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 418 2740
Cheese and cold meat platters at Villa 47 © Courtesy of Villa 47
La Tête
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.
17 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 418 1299
Where To Shop
Missibaba and Kirsten Goss
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.
17 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 418 1299
Missibaba shop interior © Shanna Jones Photography / Courtesy of Missibaba
Avoova
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.
97 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 422 1620
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.
201 Bree St & Buiten Street, Cape Town, +27 21 424 6290
Where To Have A Drink
Charango Grill and Bar
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.
114 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 422 0757
A Pisco Sour cocktail © Cathrine Lindblom Gunas/Flickr
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.
107 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 426 0330
La Parada, Bree Street, Cape Town © Courtesy of La Parada
What To See
Youngblood Africa
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.
70-72 Bree St, Cape Town, +27 21 424 0074
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