Now that summer is upon us, it’s time for magnificently bearded baristas to take a backseat as master juicers step into the spotlight. The juicing scene is huge in Cape Town, with stalls popping up at every food market and bars appearing on every trendy street corner. While it’s no secret that we cherish all things sweet and buttery, we can’t resist cold, freshly squeezed juices from these local juice bars.

Crush (City Bowl)

Crush Juice Bar

Located in bustling Greenmarket Square, Crush is a little oasis of health offering healthy lunches, snacks and a large selection of freshly squeezed juices. Their most popular juices are the Green Alkaliser with apple, cucumber, spinach, celery, lemon and ginger (R30 for 340ml; R34 for 500ml); the Pear and Ginger Cleanser with pear, ginger and cucumber; and the Revitaliser with carrot, beetroot, apple, lemon and ginger (both R28 for 340ml; R32 for 500ml). They also offer three-, five- and seven-day juice detox packs.

Dr Juice (Locations in and around Cape Town)

Juice lovers can sample Dr Juice’s freshly juiced fruit and vegetable drinks at the Market on the Wharf at the V&A Waterfront seven days a week or catch them at the Bay Harbour Market (Hout Bay), Earthfair Food Market (Tokai and St George’s Mall), SlowFood Market (Stellenbosch), Blaauwklippen Market (Stellenbosch) and Lourensford Market (Somerset West). Their bestsellers include the eponymous Dr Juice with beetroot, carrot, ginger, lemon, apple and celery; the Veggie Heaven with kale, spinach, cucumber, apple and lemon; and the Fennilicious with fennel, lemon, apple and a touch of ginger (all R25).

ESO Juice (Green Point)

ESO Juice Bar

Find this raw juice and smoothie bar in the bustling Cape Quarter shopping centre. Their bestselling beverage is the Juice of Eli, which is a medley of beetroot, celery, ginger, carrot, lemon and apple (R25 for 350ml; R30 for 500ml; R55 for 1 litre), and their runner-up is the Green Pine, a tropical spin on traditional green juice made with fresh parsley, celery, apple and pineapple (R30 for 350ml; R60 for 1 litre).

Jiji Juice Bar (Woodstock)

JiJi Juice Bar

Step through the doors of this brightly painted building to sip a wide variety of fresh, cold-pressed juices. Customers queue up to order the Jiji Giant with parsley, celery, apple, ginger and lemon; Citrus Storm with orange, apple, cucumber and lemon; and Altona with beetroot, apple and cucumber (all R35 for 500ml).

Orchard on Long (City Bowl)

Orchard on Long Juice Bar

This buzzing Long Street juice bar offers a selection of freshly squeezed and cold-pressed juices. Their juice masters start the pressing process at 1am every morning, using an imported Norwalk hydraulic juicer and fresh produce from the organic rooftop garden above their shop. Their most popular juices include the cold-pressed Panda with lime, avocado, spinach, pineapple, celery, spirulina, apple, cucumber and ginger (R62 for 520ml); the Miss Ginger with apple, mint, ginger and sparkling water (R25 for 360ml, R34 for 500ml); and the Electro – said to be a magical hangover cure – with celery, kale, spinach, apple, ginger, lemon and cayenne pepper (R56 for 520ml). They also offer a three-day activation juice cleanse (R990) and a five-day purify juice cleanse (R1 590).

Tell us about your favourite juice bars in the comments below.