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Cape Town is one of my favorite cities in the world and it’s easily one of the best destinations for digital nomads. From some of the most beautiful landscapes known to man, to amazing restaurants/cafes, to the most beautiful wine region 1 hour away from you, there’s something for everyone.
Cape Town is also incredibly affordable if you’re earning decent foreign money. The same can’t be said about those working locally in Cape Town however as the cost of living in Cape Town keeps going up.
If you’re planning to spend some time living in Cape Town, or are just passing by, this list will be perfect as it will have all my favorite cafes in Cape Town to do work from.
I have another list of the best cafes in Cape Town but this post is specifically centered around cafes to work from. Not all the options on that list will make it on to this list and vice versa. This is because there are different criteria for cafes to work from (which I will touch upon later in the post).
Note that this list will constantly be updated as I discover more cafes that I like and fit my criteria.
Cape Town Cafe Culture
Cape Town is a city that is crazy about its coffee. There are so many cafes in the city with new ones constantly sprouting up. It shouldn’t be a surprise as so much of the world’s best coffee originates in Africa making Cape town a logical place for the best roasts to be on full display. I still remember buying some of the best coffee of my life at a supermarket in Kigali, Rwanda.
Cape Town cafes also serve amazing brunch food. Aussie style brunch is the name of the game at most of these places so you can expect a great smashed avo or eggs benedict. Many of the cafes also come stocked with various pastries and cakes. These are usually made in house or sourced from a local baker.
Many of the cafes in Cape Town also are spacious with plenty of seating for working as a digital nomad. I loved starting my day out with a flat white at some of my favorite spots while working on my laptop.
What are the prices of coffee and brunch in Cape Town?
Cape Town is known to be a top end but affordable destination, especially when it comes to food and drinks. I’ve written about the cost of living in Cape Town before and while dining out is a significant portion of this budget, in absolute terms, it is not high. Of course each cafe will have a different price structure but you can expect to pay roughy the following:
Espresso: R20-25Cappuccino: R35-R45Flat White: R35-R45Smoothie Bowl: R80-R120Omelet: R80-R120Pancakes or waffles: R100+
South Africa Inflation: Note that the inflation rate is high in South Africa. Much of this is lead by a consistent devaluation of the Rand. As such, these prices here might be obsolete in a few years as the rand continues to depreciate and the prices in Rand continues to go up. These prices are all as of 2024 but large increases in Rand denominated prices is not the exception but the norm.
My criteria for a good cafe to work from
Like I’ve mentioned already, there are many cafes and restaurants in Cape Town that are amazing and where I could definitely see myself working from. Cape Town, while not as abundantly populated with amazing work cafes as say Canggu in Bali, has more than enough options to keep you busy. Nevertheless, criteria have to be created and these are the things I’m looking for when it comes to the best working cafes in Cape Town.
I don’t take cost into consideration because most of the cafes in Cape Town charge the same prices as they are more geared towards foreigners. Expect to pay about R30-R40 for an Americano and R35-45 IDR for a cappuccino. Brunch/breakfast items will cost between R80 and R120 depending on the restaurant and item. I spend quite a bit at cafes in my day to day life but my overall cost of living in Cape Town is still very low compared to other areas of the world.
Size and openness
Like I said above, every restaurant and cafe in looks like a place you can spend extended time in to work from. Everything is inviting in Cape Town so it’s hard to really pick the best option! For the purpose of this post, I will focus on cafes that are larger in size. The larger it is, the more likely it is that you can find a space to work from without feeling like you are taking business away from other customers.
I just work better in large open spaces; think high ceilings and bright light. Many of the cafes in cafes in Cape Town are open air with plenty of outdoor seating but in the winter months, you’ll want to stay inside.
Wifi Speeds
For digital nomads, this is an obvious must. Don’t worry, everyone and their mothers have WIFI in Cape Town so you can expect great wifi to work from. WIFI speeds are generally quite good and unless you are doing serious media content where you are moving gigabytes of data around, the WIFI here will more than suffice.
If the WIFI speeds are not to snuff for you, you could always just hotspot from your phone. With how cheap data plans are in South Africa, you won’t be hurting the bank with sharing data. For reference, I pay about R200 for 50 GB of data.
Crowdedness
The perfect place to work means there are people that visit the cafe because you don’t want a ghost town but also a place that isn’t too hot. If it is too busy, you can’t really concentrate on your work and it will be a nightmare if you actually need to take Zoom calls. This picks up on my previous point about size and openess of the cafe because it is nice to just have your own little space.
Most of the cafes don’t get too crowded so this isn’t an issue but it also depends on the time of year you’re visiting Cape Town. In peak summer months, you can expect many of the cafes to fill up more than during the rainy season let’s say.
Another issue is noise. Most of the cafes play some sort of background music for ambiance purposes and you can’t fault them for that. If you need to take calls in a quiet area, this could be an issue. It’s impossible to rate noisiness and background music because this is so variable depending on the time of day and what that specific cafe is deciding on that day.
Availability of power plugs
While there are countless beautiful cafes all over Bali, you need to have an abundance of power plugs to make it a good workspace. Most cafes look like they would be perfect work spaces until you sit down, have a coffee, and realize you have no power plugs to keep you going.
Not every cafe will have readily available plugs for you to use. This doesn’t mean that it’s not a good cafe to work from however as sometimes it’s just logistically challenging to include plugs everywhere in a restaurant space.
1. Bootleggers (Multiple locations)
Bootleggers is one of Cape Town’s best coffee chains. This local brand has locations all throughout the city including Camps Bay (two in fact), Sea Point, Green Point, and the CBD.
Their locations are great to for digital nomads looking to get work done as they offer spacious, open, and welcoming tables. I would avoid their more busy locations during peak hours as it can get a bit uncomfortable for those looking to get work done.
I’m a bit fan of their Camp’s Bay location as it has that neighborhood vibe along with beautiful views of the 12 apostles. The locations in Sea Point and Green Point are much bigger and more modern which make it more conducive to getting work done. Nevertheless, Bootleggers is a great option if you’re looking for good coffee and vibes. I also like that some of the locations like Camps Bay open at 6am so if you want an early start to the day, you’re covered.
Location: Various LocationsNoise Level: MediumNeighborhood: Various LocationsHours of Operation:
2. Origins Coffee Roasting
Origin’s is one of my favorite cafes in Cape Town. They roast their coffee on the spot in their large vats and the coffee they provide is fantastic. The interior is spacious and beautiful with sleek industrial finishes. I’ve only had their coffee and pastries which as I’ve come to expect from Cape Town are always good.
Origins is a spacious cafe with plenty of seats available for you to get work done. It does get busy at some points of the day or during the holiday season.
Location: 28 Hudson St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001Noise Level: NoisyNeighborhood: De WaterkantHours of Operation:
3. The Loading Bay
The Loading Bay is one of my favorite spots in De Waterkant to get work done. This spacious cafe is multi level and has seating indoor and out. It’s not as spacious as other cafes in Cape Town but it’s certainly enough to get work done.
The Loading Bay offers great coffee and food options so you could feasibly stay here the whole day without needing to leave.
4. Plato coffee
Plato Coffee is one of Cape Town’s newest and best coffee chains. With multiple locations throughout Cape Town and Stellenbosch, you’re never too far from Plato.
Upon entering Plato Coffee, you find yourself in a space that skillfully blends serenity with engagement. The deliberate minimalism of its design reflects careful planning, drawing inspiration from Japanese simplicity and Scandinavian functionality. Every element, from the meticulously crafted furniture to the strategic use of natural light, contributes to an enhanced experience for patrons.
The interior design establishes a symbiotic relationship with customers, paying attention to details like the texture of coffee tables and the ergonomic qualities of the chairs. Thoughtfully curated background music adds to the ambiance, striking a balance between being unobtrusive enough for personal immersion and present enough to dispel any awkward silence.
Whether you’re a digital nomad in search of a peaceful workspace, a student seeking respite from the ordinary, or an individual yearning for quality conversations over exceptional coffee, Plato’s ambiance serves as a versatile canvas catering to a diverse array of preferences.
I find Plato to be one of the best places to get work done as a digital nomad in Cape Town. As they have limited food menus, the crowds are never too large and they never stay for too long. The space is also quiet which means you can really focus and get stuff done.
Location: 28 Hudson St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001Neighborhood: De WaterkantNoise Level: QuietHours of Operation:
5. Ground Art Caffe
Ground Art Caffe is easily one of my favorite cafes in Cape Town. Located in trendy De Waterkant district, this cafe is blessed with views of Table Mountain at the base of Signal Hill. It’s got ample indoor and outdoor seating and is definitely one of the favorite gathering spots of Cape Town locals looking for a good brew.
The coffee here is fantastic as well as its food. I’ve tried their omelette and it was gourmet quality with the fluffiest eggs I’ve had in some time. The coffee was among the best in Cape Town and my flat white was exactly how I liked it. Best of all, this cafe opens at 7am which is perfect for all the early risers like myself.
Location: 160 Strand St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001, South AfricaNeighborhood: De WaterkantHours of Operation:
6. Truth Coffee Roasting
Truth Coffee Roasting is one of the most popular cafes in the city. Situated in the CBD area, this cafe roasts all of its coffee on site with its huge roasters. It’s a proper operation here as you can see coffee roasting machines at work. The coffee is superb as you would expect with a variety of different blends at your disposal.
The interior space of Truth is both spacious and industrial chic. There’s a large communal beach in the entrance with bar seats attached to metal pipes. In the back are big diner style couch seating perfect for big groups.
Truth Coffee Roasting also has a variety of different baked goods that will pair perfectly for your coffee. The carrot cake is to die for and I’ve only heard amazing things about their cinnamon rolls and croissants. It’s the perfect place to have a morning coffee or grab your laptop to get some work done. There’s always space for you to sit and enjoy the view.
As the cafe is so big, there’s always a table for you to grab and get some work done. There is a big communal table at the front of the cafe with 15-20 seats that is perfect for digital nomads. There are even plugs hanging from the ceiling for you to plug in your electronics which means they are screaming for remote workers to grace their cafe.
Truth can get busy in the early morning between 9am and 11am but it generally dies down after that.
Location: 36 Buitenkant St, Cape Town, 8000Neighborhood: City CenterNoise Level: NoisyHours of Operation:
7. Rosetta Roastery
Rosetta Roastery is an award winning specialty coffee roaster with many different type of beans from all over the world. They have multiple locations throughout Cape Town and I visited the ones on Bree street and the one by the V&A Waterfront in the same building as the Virgin Active Silo Gym.
Their coffee is rated as among the best if not the best in all of Cape Town and it’s a claim I can get down with. The coffee here was more full-bodied and aromatic which is what I love. The cafe also has a large selection of cakes and pastries, along with a kitchen that serves brunch food.
I would recommend their Silo location for getting work done as it is much more spacious and spread out. The location is generally less busy as well which will make it more enjoyable for doing work. The only downside is that there are not many plugs to be had.
Location: 101 Bree Street, Cape Town, 8001Neighborhood: City CenterHours of Operation:
8. Kanela cafe
Kanela cafe is a Seapoint neighborhood cafe located next door to Jarryds. I stumbled upon this cute little cafe after a boozy brunch at Jarryds. The interior is beautifully decorated with lots of personal touches. The coffee is great and the food menu is comprehensive with plenty of brunch and vegetarian options.
There is an outdoor courtyard area that the cafe shares with the restaurant next door but I found the vibe to be better inside the cafe.
Location: 28 Hudson St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001Neighborhood: De WaterkantHours of Operation:
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