When you step inside this quaint little corner café, you forget for a moment that you are in the middle of Cape Town’s CBD. It opened in October 2015 as a daytime diner, and since March 2018 they started offering dinner on Thursdays and Fridays, with live music.
The space is perfect for a fun gathering with friends or family. Or use it as an informal first date option, it’s not too casual and not too fancy.
A Son and Mom Duo
Giulio Loreggian and his mom always dreamed about opening a little corner café. After school he first attempted to follow in the footsteps of his accountant family, but soon realised that his passion lies with food. He shifted over to the SA Chef Academy and completed a one year culinary course.
After completing it, Giulio got a big break — the opportunity to work with Jamie Oliver’s executive chef in London. He stayed there for just over a year, but decided to rather move back to Cape Town. Upon his return he worked as a private chef before taking a leap of faith at age 26, to open the little corner café.
A Home Away from Home
The restaurant serves authentic homemade Italian dishes. All the items on the menu are personal favourites of Giulio and his mom. The pristine white colours and marble finishes remind you of an Italian restaurant somewhere in Rome or Venice.
Giulio’s Italian charm draws people in, and customers soon become his friends. This warm hospitality flows into the vibe of the space, creating a great relaxing atmosphere. The son and mom duo believes in a hands-on approach. They personally painted the tables. And Giulio’s mom, a terrific artist, painted the famous roof scene as well as other artworks scattered around the space.
You might be intrigued with the wreath circle hanging from the roof (which they weaved themselves) It is used to wed couples under. Giulio’s Café has been turned into a wedding banquet hall a few times since its opening. The space can host up to 50 people, perfect for a special intimate event. You can hire the space for other celebrations as well.
Passionately Serving Authentic Italian Food
You know you are in for a feast when the chef is a true blood Italian! Giulio loves keeping the dishes authentic, but he does add a bit of African flair here and there, such as the Peri-Peri chicken livers. A few dishes from their menu to tantalize your taste buds:
Breakfast (available all day): La Colazione — poached egg, crispy bacon, pork apple and sage banger, balsamic-roasted tomatoes, flat mushrooms, wilted spinach, smoked paprika, beans with toast of your choice
Lunch: Panzerotti di Franca — hand-made pasta filled with spinach and ricotta served in a basil and pomodoro based sauce, and parmesan cheese
Dinner: Involtini di Pollo — ricotta-stuffed chicken breast wrapped in parma ham, with potato gratin, pan-fried wild mushrooms, and a whole-grain mustard sauce
They also serve pizza. And be sure to try the Italian Bake of the Day for dinner. The menu is versatile and the space lends itself to being both a daytime and evening eatery.
Visit Giulio’s Café Now
With its handy location in the centre of town, it’s the perfect spot for a quick lunch date or meeting. A night time outing will treat you to the vibe of the city transforming into a more mysterious setting. You will find Giulio bustling about between the kitchen and the patrons on most days. He’s starting a fun new trend for the restaurant décor — if you want to become part of the family, ask him to take a Polaroid picture of you and your friends.
For more information, visit www.giulios.co.za and follow @giulios_cafe on Instagram.
Photo by The Inside GuideFood trucks are fast becoming much more than a trend in the Mother City. These food trucks often flock events, markets, and festivals, and are most likely to pop up at a location near you. From thin-crust Italian pizzas, Middle East delicacies, flavourful Mexican cuisine, to American-style barbeques, Asian street foods, and Afro-French bites — here are some of the innovative and delectable foods being served out of trailers, carts and vintage vans in and around Cape Town.
Earthfire Pizza
Earthfire Pizza serves scrumptious thin-crust, oven-baked pies to events and markets all over the Cape, rivaling even the best pizzerias in town. They specialize in making delicious gourmet pizzas and cater for an array of events and functions, including weddings, birthdays, festivals, schools, corporate and sporting events, or wherever you find you need good pizza. This food truck was born out of a childhood dream of selling pizza out of a silver stream trailer on the Camps Bay strip but can be found in the most amazing, beautiful, quirky and bizarre locations in and around the city. They can be found at Cape Point Vineyards on Thursdays, at The Range Market on Fridays, at Root 44 Market on Saturdays and Sundays and daily at Mojo Market. Follow their Twitter and Facebook accounts for more information.
Shawarma Express
If you ever need a quick meal that’s both filling and tasty, Shawarma Express is the food truck to go to. This popular place for a quick bite serves Middle Eastern traditional delicacies such as shawarmas and falafels which are served along with various local craft beers. They sell the best shawarma in town and make a great falafel at an affordable price. They serve lunch and dinner. Great food, friendly staff, and good value for money. What more can you ask for?
Follow them on Facebook for more information.
Didi’s Bitchin’ Burritos
Didi’s Bitchin’ Burritos serve tasty, quick and wholesome Mexican food in Cape Town through a variety of dishes such as Burritos, Nachos, Quesadillas, Tacos, salads and a whole lot more. These Mexican favourites are served from a 1978 Volkswagen AutoVilla called “Rosie” which was converted into a full service, mobile kitchen and serving station. They specialize in Bitchin’ Afri-Mex Burritos, offering wholesome Mexican cuisine that will not only warm your stomach but also your heart. You can find them at Salt Circle Arcade in Woodstock from Mondays to Fridays. They also offer a delivery service for offices in the area. You can even find them on OrderIn.
Visit didismexican.co.za for more information.
The Good Life
The Good Life is a gourmet food truck serving fresh, fusion food at hotspots in and around Cape Town. Their exciting fusion dishes sound almost too good to eat. You can expect a fusion menu of prawn tempura with sumac aioli, designer beef burgers with truffle infusion, and vegetable couscous pitas. Find this sleek black vintage bus either in Oudekraal or near Charly’s Bakery in Harrington street Monday to Saturday from 8AM to 6PM. They are also available for private functions, events, and weddings.
Follow them on Twitter and on Facebook for updates and info.
Lotus Food Truck
Lotus Food Truck focuses on serving delicious contemporary Asian street food with their fresh salads, succulent Satay’s, delicious beef short rib, fragrant snacks, refreshing drinks, and more. They use seasonal and the freshest ingredients and makes everything from scratch — down to their own dipping sauces and dressings. They offer Capetonians Asian street food that is fresh, tasty and great value for money. Lotus serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and drinks. They visit various business parks and public spaces during the week. Lotus also caters for private/corporate events and make a great addition to weddings and festivals.
Visit lotusfoodtruck.co.za for more information.
Related: Cape Town Friday Food Truck Market
Frozenyo
Established in 2014, Frozenyo is Cape Town’s first frozen yogurt food truck. They serve frozen delights made from the finest locally produced yoghurt product with their turquoise and yellow truck. Frozenyo uses real yogurt that contains live cultures and probiotics. Their products are low in calories and gluten free. Plus it offers the same cold satisfaction of ice cream but in a healthier way. Frozenyo can be booked for private/corporate events and weddings.
Visit frozenyo.co.za for more information.
Jack Rabbit
Jack Rabbit offers delectable gourmet dishes, from Truffle Mushroom Burgers to Pulled Beef Tacos. Their food includes Cubanos, inverted poppers, burger Sliders, pork belly sandwiches, rustic pizza, quesadillas, and more. Jack Rabbit offers basically everything rich, saucy, cheesy, with a balance of crispy to that “hmm” factor. All their sauces are also self-made. Mostly based in Durbanville, this trendy food truck can be seen all around Cape Town at a number of popular events. Jack Rabbit caters for events, the public as well as private functions.
Follow them on Facebook for updates and info.
Scandalous Food Truck
Bringing delicious, indulgent food to the streets, Scandalous Food Truck offers scandalously delicious Italian food on the go. They cater to most tastes and preferences and serves Italian dishes, burgers, and sandwiches. You will find this epic food truck at almost every legit market, music festival and event in Cape Town. They can also be booked for functions and private parties.
Visit scandalousfood.co.za for more information.
Salty Flames
Salty Flames specialises in smoked food menu items. In June 2017, just 6 months after winning the Ultimate Braai Master Season 5, the winners Nick Perfect and Chanel Marais, decided to bring delicious braaied and smoked foods to hungry diners across the Cape. All their food is homemade, flavourful, fresh, and locally made with the use of seasonal ingredients. They offer a good number of vegetarian options as well. Salty Flames is available for all festivals, private/corporate events, and more.
Visit saltyflames.com for more information.
Related: Craving sushi? See our favourite sushi delivery in Cape Town.
Wahine Food Truck
Wahine brings something from the Pacific Islands to you with an array of cuisines from India, China, Korea, Japan, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Fiji to create an ever-changing menu. Their aim is to provide customers with healthy, wholesome, balanced fast food alternatives that are locally-sourced or even grown by the quirky food truck team themselves. Wahine can be seen at all trendy events in Cape Town, offering healthy and delicious Polynesian-inspired eats, with an increasing number of vegetarian and gluten-free options.
Follow them on Facebook for more details.
Mon Ami French Afrik Bistro
This French-Afrik bistro on wheels is a fully functional mobile kitchen and catering service. They serve French and South African fusion dishes such as steak rolls, fresh salads and wraps with beef steak, caramelized onions or coconut, and lime chicken and avocado or roasted veggies and feta from their cute trailer. Mon Ami is available for sporting events, concerts, markets, festivals and expos. This food truck can even come right up to your doorstep to serve its fresh and delicious culinary delights!
Visit mon-ami.co.za for more information.
Coffee is the world’s second-most traded commodity, just-just behind oil. And many people would argue that it can be called human fuel. Exciting news for all the Capetonian coffee fanatics, is that the first annual Cape Town Coffee Festival will be happening the 1st and 2nd of June 2019.
The event takes place in the Castle of Good Hope, in Darling Street. It’s a weekend long family-friendly event full of coffee, coffee, and more coffee! From funky barista art displays, to coffee cocktails. Together with the coffee you can sample delectable local food and enjoy live music.
A Coffee Celebration in Cape Town
The festival will have something for everyone. Whether you simply enjoy savouring a good cuppa Joe or you’re a self-confessed coffee geek – the Cape Town Coffee Festival aims to make high-quality coffee accessible to everyone.
The inaugural event will host more than 65 innovative exhibitors. Meet the faces behind some of your favourite coffee shops in town. You can ask them all the things you’ve wondered about, learning more about why you enjoy their specific coffee flavours. There will be hundreds of different coffees to taste. And you can boost your coffee know-how with informative workshops and interactive demos. Meet the big names in the African coffee scene including artisan roasters and baristas.
Get Ready For a Caffeine Infusion
The two-day festival has morning and afternoon sessions. This is to ensure that everyone gets the most out of the coffee festival experience, regulating the flow of foot traffic. The festival will follow a similar format to the other international coffee events hosted by the Allegra Group, but with added African flair. Events include Latte Art Live, The Coffee Cocktail Bar, Small Business Lab, The African Coffee Experience, a Coffee Art Gallery, and more.
Festival sessions:
Saturday (1 June)
Morning session: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Afternoon session: 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Sunday (2 June)
Morning session: 10:00am to 2:00pm
Afternoon session: 2:00pm to 6:00pm
Tickets cost from R150 (online) and R180 (at the door) per person. If you are very serious about coffee, consider the VIP Single-Day Access at R300 (online) and R400 (at the door) per person. It includes all-day access, a limited edition Cape Town Coffee Festival tote bag, priority access, as well as a copy of The Meaning of Coffee book.
Or the SUPER VIP Multi-Day Access at R480 (online) and R600 (at the door) per person. It includes multiple all-day access for Saturday and Sunday, a limited edition Cape Town Coffee Festival tote bag, priority access, exclusive access to the VIP Bar, two coffee cocktail tokens, and a copy of The Meaning of Coffee book.
To give you an idea of what the festival will entail:
Sipping Coffee for a Good Cause
All the decadent coffee cocktails, delicious food, and head bobbing live music is in aid of Project Waterfall. They are partnering with local life-changing projects, such as Woza. The Woza Coffee School trains South African youth in townships to become baristas. They also connect them to their first job. Project Waterfall has raised over $1.5 million since 2011, to bring clean water to more than 37 000 people across seven countries. Visit projectwaterfall.org and wozacoffee.co.za for more information.
“We are delighted to be bringing the Coffee Festival to the African continent for the first time. Cape Town is a city of culture and creativity, and coffee and food play a huge part in the fabric of the city life. The event is a celebration of the vibrant African coffee culture, of the deep spirit of community that coffee fosters and of the career opportunities that it generates.”
– Jeffrey Young (Allegra Group CEO)
Buy tickets now
Cape Town Coffee Festival Line-Up
The Cape Town Coffee Festival is supported by top local and international coffee brands and personalities. A few of the behind the scenes names include Bunn South Africa, Sanremo South Africa (imported and distributed by Electrical Industries), Ultipure (Brita), Alpro, Tia Maria, Yoco, Origin Coffee Roasters, Father Coffee, Bean There, Truth Coffee Roasters, and Fair Cape Dairies.
At The Coffee Lab you can learn more about the latest coffee trends in the industry. And The Small Business Lab focuses on promoting and supporting local small businesses through interactive workshops and talks.
The African Coffee Experience will showcase the diverse African coffee scene. Three of South Africa’s key coffee roasters will be available for discussion in this section. Representatives from Origin Coffee Roasters, Father Coffee, and Bean There Coffee Company will introduce you to the best African origin cups. Taste coffee under the guidance of these industry leaders.
The Coffee Cocktail Bar will offer you a cocktail with the highest buzz you’ll ever have. Challenge your thinking around how coffee should be served and enjoyed!
The Coffee Art Project Gallery showcases the creative talents of local artists, both established and emerging, who are inspired by African coffee. One of the gallery highlights, is a photography series by local artist Andile Bhala, depicting the rich coffee culture of Soweto.
Latte Art Live interactive zone will showcase the intricate details of latte art. The world-renowned barista Dritan Alsela will be hosting demonstrations and workshops. Learn the tricks of the trade from the professionals. And admire the jaw-dropping masterpieces.
At The Innovation Zone you can rub shoulders with the personalities behind the cutting-edge brands and small businesses of the coffee industry. These range from technology, to apparel, to the freshest micro-roasters.
After all the coffee tasting, you will want to visit The Street Food Market to refuel and relax before heading back to the coffee exploration. The stalls will include artisan street food, offering you the best of the South African food scene
Complement the excellent coffee and delicious food with The Live Music Stage. Throughout the festival talented local artists and bands will infuse the festival with great vibes to celebrate the amazing power of coffee to create a spirit of community.
Buy tickets now
In Conversation with Joel Singer – Origin Coffee Roasters
Joel is a Canadian that found a second home in Cape Town. He’s one of the original pioneers of artisanal coffee in the city, entering the coffee industry 13 years ago. His passion has made Origin Coffee Roasters one of the best in the Mother City.
When he arrived in Cape Town, he noticed a mind-set that he had encountered years before in his hometown of Montreal. Locals believed that if you wanted a high-quality product, you had to import it. And he realised that this mind-set stretched even further, with many people believing that Africa can’t offer the world anything of high calibre.
Challenging Perspectives
But as Joel points out, the fanciful coffees imported from the likes of Italy, are produced from African-sourced beans. So Joel challenged the locals, asking the question “why could we not take African beans, and produce world-class coffee right here in South Africa?”
Being a foreigner in the country, he wasn’t interested in drinking imported coffee. And he was adamant to convince the Cape Town coffee industry that other foreigners felt the same way. During his coffee journey, he noticed people slowly started warming up to the idea of enjoying locally produced artisan coffee. Their taste buds evolved from drinking instant coffee, to searching for better coffee, to insisting on excellent coffee.
Joel wants African people to celebrate what we can offer the world – coffee that’s on the same level as imported brands, if not better. He believes the next big coffee industry trend will be people insisting on high-quality locally produced coffees. And investigating how the coffee is sourced and produced. Plus maybe people will slowly start realising that you don’t need milk to enjoy a good cuppa coffee. You can either enjoy it in its pure goodness, or move across to a plant-based alternative.
Looking Forward to the Coffee Festival
Joel and the other Origin team members are very excited about this innovative event venture. He’s looking forward to being surrounded by people passionate about coffee, who are keen to learn more about the industry. Collaborating with Jeffrey Young (Allegra Group), Joel feels it’s a great step towards Cape Town being included in an international family of coffee fanatics. The next festivals will be a great gathering point, bringing together the coffee industry professionals across South Africa and Africa.
Visit capetown-coffeefestival.com for more information.
Follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The official hashtag: #capetowncoffeefestival
Buy tickets now
Tucked away in the corner of the Artem Centre (formerly known as the Adelphi Centre) a cosmopolitan café experience awaits you. Coco Safar was “conceived in New York, designed in Toronto and made in Cape Town”, after 10 years of meticulous dreaming and planning.
The luxury coffee café has now implemented their final phase to become an all-day café. We got to sample their new bistro dinner menu. Decadence galore!
An Accessible World-Class Café
Coco Safar has managed to strike the perfect balance between sophistication and a relaxed vibe. You can choose to dress up a bit for a luxurious evening outing, or simply impulsively pop in for a quick bite without feeling awkward in your jeans and t-shirt.
The brand creators aim to offer patrons “daily affordable luxury”. When you hear “Coco” you immediately envision luxury. Add to this “Safar” meaning journey, and you will agree that the name choice is very apt. Step in to the restaurant, and you will for a moment forget that you find yourself in Sea Point.
Coco Safar’s décor has a retro chic feel to it, with plush comfy leather seats and warm brown colours. It feels like an infusion of New York sass and Parisian flair. Wilhelm Liebenberg and Caroline Sirois have big plans for the brand. They plan to open stores in Johannesburg, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Tokyo, and Mexico City.
Artisan Coffee Meets Fine Dining
Although coffee is one of the biggest passions of the brand, the evening menu is a step above mere bistro nibbles. Their Espresso Bar features special Spirit Idrocompresso machines designed by Kees van der Westen. The innovative design turns pouring an espresso shot into a true art form.
The on-site Roastery & Coffee Lab gives Coco Safar complete control over the quality of coffee served. They aim to produce exceptional Third Wave specialty coffee, producing micro-lots from award-winning coffee beans. To offer patrons the ultimate coffee experience, Coco Safar’s baristas are highly trained.
Where It All Started
Wilhelm and Caroline have been travelling across the world for about two decades, searching for the ultimate culinary experience and the best coffee. They incorporated their findings into various dining endeavours, opening cafés and restaurants in various cities including New York, Toronto, and Montreal. Coco Safar is a culmination of the journey. They dream of making luxury dining accessible to everyone, not only the high-end market.
They brought Carmen Rueda Hernandez on board as chef. Her passion lies with chocolate and desserts. But she still out did herself with the dinner menu. Her attention to detail is exquisite. She creates interesting taste combinations, breaking away from traditions with flair. She’s travelled extensively. From her home country of Spain, to the UK and France, to Singapore and Australia.
The exposure to such a wide array of cultures is evident in her food creations. She has honed her skills as a pastry chef with training from Oriol Balaguer, a big name in the pastry industry. The other renowned pastry chef that helped her refine her skills in France, was Olivier Bajard. And celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal challenged her talent even further as part of the Fat Duck Experimental Kitchen team.
The other exciting addition to the team, is Marshall Siavash. He brings to the table his cocktail-making expertise, a former bartender at The House of Machines as well as the Cause/Effect cocktail bar. He was also involved behind the scenes with the conceptualisation of the Cause/Effect cocktail bar.
It’s Not Just a Restaurant
The Coco Safar brand reaches beyond simply offering you a dining experience. From the Roastery & Coffee Lab they produce a unique coffee capsule range. What makes it even more special, is the innovative compostable, oxygen tight bio-capsules. It’s a world first, offering environmental-conscious coffee fanatics a sustainable capsule experience. Enjoy the ultimate Third Wave coffee experience in the comfort of your home! The capsules are compatible with Nespresso® machines, manufactured from 2010 onwards.
To complement your delicious cup of coffee, stock up on couture pâtisserie and viennoiseries. Inspired by the French patisserie tradition but infused with unique twists, such as maple-infusions originated in Toronto, and artisan touches from Cape Townian talent. Or, if you’re stopping for a cuppa at the restaurant, try their homemade gelato or sorbets (made on-site).
Coco Safar loves pushing the limits of the culinary world, producing various world-first products. Together with the on-site roastery, they now also have the world’s first botanical micro-brewery. The non-alcoholic beverages are created from brewing rooibos. They’ve also have a tonic water that is infused with the rooibos, available on tap at the restaurant. The range includes the Red Rooibos Cold Brew, Green Rooibos Cold Brew, and a Coffee-Citrus Cold Brew.
Marshall is in charge of overseeing the brewing process. With his extensive experience in the industry, he also creates unique botanical cocktails. And the presentation of these are very tongue in cheek! If you are a cocktail enthusiast, you are guaranteed an exceptional experience.
Dining As an Immersive Experience
Coco Safar has paid close attention to every little detail of the dining experience. Step inside and be transported into a luxurious world. The décor almost feels like liquid coffee, with its strong brown emphasis. The background music meanders from upbeat jazz to sultry French tunes. A special film created by the owners complete the escapist experience. Snippets from Pathé films include a fashion show and exploration of European cities. It plays on a screen in the background, a perfect distraction or conversation starter.
To whet your appetite, before we share with you their new dinner menu. From the breakfast selection: French Toast – seasonal fruit, rosemary-poached pear, caramelised banana, yoghurt cream, almond & almond crumble, and lemon-caramel sauce. Or Brioche Florentine – flaky croissant pastry filled with Anura Estate feta, sauteed spinach & a baked egg, served with a fresh citrus salad.
From the lunch selection: Superbowl 2.0 – quinoa, broccoli, green beans, butternut, avocado, courgettes, radish, beetroot, and mixed leaves. Or Safar Bobotie – free range lamb mince, pineapple, apricot, garden peas, mango chutney, and yogurt.
Visit www.cocosafar.com for more information.
Cape Town Culinary Tours are dedicated to showcasing the flavourful history that Cape Town has to offer. On these 3.5 hour tours, your guide, Ellie, will take you to taste your way through this strikingly unique and multicultural city. You will learn about Cape Town’s rich cultural history through the wide variety of flavours that the Mother City has to offer.
You will get to engage with local food producers, sampling the foods which makes Cape Town a world renowned destination. Enjoy tastings from some of Cape Town’s hidden culinary gems, from the edges of the BO Kaap down into the heart of the De Waterkant and end of in the vast history and culture of the Waterfront.
On this tour, you will become an expert on how the city is pieced together between the delicious tastings.
Tours run Tuesdays – Saturday’s, with the option to book a private tour on Sunday’s and Monday’s. Book today as spots are limited to 10 people per tour!
For further details please contact Cape Town Culinary Tours at:
Website | https://www.capetownculinarytours.com/
Email | hello@capetownculinarytours.com
