Anelde Greeff

Food
The ever-changing menu offers a vast variety of breakfast options and a two-part ‘afternoon’ section with inventive sandwiches, rotis, quesadillas and wraps, and a range of bowl foods (salads, poké bowls and warm bowls).

As you’re swept past the jaw-droppingly beautiful cake display, remember this. You know how some people dress from the shoes upwards? Well, here you need to eat from dessert backwards. Or at least plan accordingly. Visitors bottleneck here, ogling cakes under giant cloches that deserve royal titles like Lady Gabrialla, Lady Bubbledot and Lady Humpty Dumpty (as well as their R80 price tags).

Breakfasts are show-stopping, all-day affairs. Start your day with something traditional (mosbolletjie beef and smoor), exotic (cardamom and nut French toast) or vegetarian (grilled shimeji mushrooms, brown rice and poached eggs). Even the trusted fry-up is transformed into salbitxada-drizzled quinoa cakes served with the famous P+J gingerbread.

For lunch you may gravitate towards the crackling-topped pork and sweetcorn poké bowl served on sticky rice and slaw (a very reasonable R110). The pork is melt-in-your-mouth good and so packed with flavour that there’s no need to involve the accompanying sriracha mayo and soy sauce. Another great choice is the teryaki marinated beef fillet served with peas, glazed beets, tatsoi, almonds and dates. It’s succulent and perfectly cooked. Portions are generous, leaving just a tiny spot for the Lady Patchouli caramel and guava cheesecake.

Drinks
Expect a dizzying array of teas, coffees, raw juices, vegan smoothies, milkshakes and cordials. Their liquor licence is still pending so bring your own wine at a R40 corkage fee.

Service
Service is efficient and friendly as you are greeted by the door and whisked off to your table. Expect things to be extra busy on Saturdays when you can’t book. However, you never wait too long to be seated and there's so much to look at while you wait.

Ambience
Step inside the De Villiers family’s stylishly curated treasure trove and you’ll wonder for a moment if you’re in a cool Brooklyn warehouse or a whimsical Parisian café. You can tell that every single detail – down to the quirky lab beakers and nonchalant palm leaves - has been carefully considered for your pure enjoyment. Think worn Persian carpets, a mishmash of tables and chairs, chandeliers and cosy fireplaces.

Best for…
Legendary weekend brunches with friends, a special working lunch or stocking up on some seriously Instagrammable sweet treats, flowers and freshly baked bread.

(August 2019)

Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.