TOP TEA SPOTS IN CAPE TOWN:According to an Englishman
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Cafes & Tea
Capetonians love their coffee fix. For many it's almost ritualistic, every morning at the same time, same place, swinging by to grab their takeaway latte or cappuccino from their favourite café on their way to the office. Tea takes second place on most café menus, with maybe less attention given to the quality or variety on offer. Tea drinking is often a more sedate, leisurely pastime, so the ambience of a café may be a factor for a tea drinker that wants to spend more time savouring their morning cuppa before starting their business day.
As a lifelong tea drinker I decided in January to begin a mission to check out every independent café in Cape Town city centre on my way from home in Gardens, to the office in Strand Street. I also have a passion for the city centre property market, so it's important to me to know my neighbourhood and the best places to hold those all- important business meetings. Surprisingly, there are over fifty independent cafes in the central business district, including some real gems. To date, I've visited and checked out about half of them in my quest to find the very best spots for an 'Englishman and his tea'. Whist the tea itself is important, the venue, ambience, setting, service, presentation are all factors that play a part for an enjoyable experience, particularly at the start of the day. So here is my current four 'pick of the best' from my travels so far.
Company's Gardens Restaurant
For as long as anyone can remember there has been a café in the middle of Company's Gardens. In recent years it has been owned and operated by the Madame Zingara group of restaurants. It's almost impossible to not be seduced by the serene setting of the gardens, an oasis of tranquility and peace at 8 o'clock in the morning. Covered by a canopy of lush green trees, this is possibly the most relaxing place to start a day in the city. It's what leisurely tea drinking was made for, as squirrels, Egyptian geese, and hadedas' meander by. The tea is good, the staff are welcoming and the presentation in keeping with the calm setting. For all of these reasons and more this is a firm favourite of mine.
Swan Café
Over on the east precinct of town is this real gem. Unassuming, and almost easy to miss on the busy, often noisy Buitenkant Street, Swan Café is Cape Towns' first Parisien style café. And it's a real treat. Step off the bustling sidewalk into this compact café, and you are immediately transported to Paris by the music, the French speaking staff, blue décor, and the menu of crepes. Tea is served with a timer, which is always a good sign that loose leaf tea is in use and can be steeped for just the right amount of time. Swan Café is incredibly well located just a twenty metre walk from the rapidly up-and-coming Harrington Street, and will no doubt become a favourite for residents as they move into this vibey new neighbourhood. Right now, Swan Café is my venue of choice in the east city.
Fideli's
Fideli's on Church Square is part of the phenomenal revival of Church Square, helping to finally restore this once run-down public square into a truly city living square, with the equally smart neighbours of Pilcrow & Cleaver, Labotessa and Fyn Restaurant. Fideli's has created a small, but perfectly formed space underneath the Piazza on Church residences, incorporating a courtyard that flows into the sumptuous interior. Tea is served in a clear glass teapot, on top of a tea light, with a classic sand timer, which is probably why this café is already a regular stopping point for me. The staff are friendly and attentive, the atmosphere sophisticated and calm. For the heart of the central city this comes highly recommended for those wanting to start their day in the right way.
Café Frank
Across on the west side of the central city, Café Frank is one of the busiest, most vibrant cafes on the energetic Bree Street precinct. It has the advantage of having an early opening time of 7am on weekdays, which is part of it's attraction for business users, who come and go with their laptops. Already one of my preferred spots for meetings, it has great service, a bustling vibe, and a perfect balance of outdoor/indoor seating. This is easily one of the best 'offices' away from the office, with it's business-like efficiency and location, and a hands-on owner. Whilst the tea is perfectly good enough, Café Frank easily ticks all the other boxes and criteria for a likable independent café that is easy to return to often.
Author: Richard Boxford
