Whether you prefer coffee or tea, Brooklyn has just the spot for you to kick back and relax
Pure Cafe coffee shop
137 Thompson Street West
They proudly refer to themselves as a food spot, brekkie spot, koffie spot, coolspot, and sommer net ’n lekker spot –and with good reason! There are delicious smoothies to choose from (like the monkey punch – dried cranberry, pineapple and banana smoothie sprinkled with toasted almonds), refreshing quenchers (try the berry tea blush – extracted strawberry and vanilla tea mixed with berries and mint, topped with ginger ale) and utterly delicious food on the breakfast menu…
The French affair comprises cinnamon French toast with chopped pecan nuts and maple flavoured syrup, while the Big Boy Breakfast boasts two eggs, two streaky bacon rashers, two lamb sausages, and grilled balsamic cherry tomatoes topped with fresh basil and toast. A favourite is the so-called Spanish Inquisition – a trio of a potato and chive frittata topped with chorizo and a smoked paprika, tomato, onion and green pepper sauce. There are also devilishly good sandwiches (the Mustard Sally features smoked beef and Emmenthal cheese) and the name of the Soutvissie Skop Pasta (cream anchovy and broccoli pasta topped with parmesan and a hint of garlic and chili) is already good enough to get us salivating…
Brooklyn tea garden
132 Murray Street
Reminiscent of English tea gardens, this lovely hideaway is the perfect place to enjoy a much needed respite and cup of tea, cake, breakfast or light meal. Open on weekdays from 8am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 8am to 3pm, Sundays are earmarked for their special home-cooked buffet lunches, which is served from 11:30am to 14:30pm (be sure to book though, to avoid disappointment!) The tea garden also caters for private functions like birthdays, high teas, baby showers and corporate lunches and a highlight is that local entrepreneurs exhibit their crafts in the garden’s “Broeki Mark” daily – so make sure you leave so time to browse through their wares!
Der Zucker Backer
Menlyn Retail Park, Cnr Lois Avenue and Garsfontein Road
This enchanting café and bakery conjures up images of times when breakfast was not a rushed affair, but a time when friends met up at the start of the day to catch up before heading their separate ways. And in true European fashion, the options cater for a variety of appetites. There’s a budget breakfast, a mini breakfast…. and a totally decadent chicken liver breakfast (spicy chicken livers in creamy paprika sauce, scrambled free range eggs, cheddar, grilled tomato and onions). There’s even a Cajun chicken breakfast and a signature Zuckerbäcker-breakfast (two free-range eggs, bacon, a homemade beef patty and fried onion). Other options include a health breakfast, omelettes, toast with anchovy or avo and cottage cheese or French toast. And there are croissants, muffins and scones and classic toasted sarmies too – on a choice of breads and with chips, green salad or potato salad.
