Looking for the perfect café at which to enjoy a quick breakfast or lingering lunch? Whether you prefer a leafy table tucked away in the suburbs or a spot on a busy city sidewalk, we’ve saved you the search by compiling a list of great cafés in your area. For this list, we consulted the 2015 Eat Out 500, the top restaurant in South Africa featured in Eat Out magazine.

Free Food Diner and Takeaway (Birnam/Melrose)

Previously a retail-only vegan meal range, Free Food Diner is now a quirky café serving playful, flavour-packed dishes. All meals incorporate owner Ariel Cohen’s signature range of condiments. Highlights include the kale, cauliflower and ginger soup; brown funghi and calamata olive pizza; the chickpea burger; and the quinoa tofu with shiitake. Everything is free from gluten, sugar, wheat, dairy, preservatives and animal products. The average main meal is R70.

Fresh Earth Food Store (Emmerentia)

This vegetarian and vegan produce store doubles as an eatery, serving up nutritious veggie favourites, including veggie burgers, falafel wraps, sandwiches and a miso-marinated mushroom and walnut salad. For something sweet, try the dark chocolate cake. The average main meal is R65.

Grand Central Café, Restaurant and Bar (Melrose Arch)

This popular urban eatery and after-work drinks spot offers a vast, café-style menu packed with breakfasts, burgers, pizza, pasta, light meals and salads. The burgers and the beef fillet on the bone served with skinny fries and roast vegetables are definite highlights. The average main meal is R95 and corkage is R80 for wine and R120 for sparkling wine.

The Greenside Café (Greenside)

This vegan café sources fresh local produce to create innovative vegan and raw meals. Try their ironically titled Burger King made from mung beans, mushrooms, nuts, seeds and vine leaves, or order the ‘mince’ and veggie pie with minty, mushy peas, mashed potatoes, pesto and harissa. Alternatively, choose from a variety of salads, wraps, pizzas and gluten-free pastas or try something sweet like their raw chocolate mousse and maple cheesecake. The average main meal is R93.

JB’s Corner (Melrose Arch)

Industrial chic décor collides with 70s retro glam at this trendy Sandton eatery. Menu items include pizzas, pastas, burgers, nachos and sticky, smoky barbecue wings in a spicy sauce – a clear highlight. You can also look forward to an impressive cocktail menu. The average main meal is R125.

The interior at The Kitchen at Weylandts. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Kitchen at Weylandts (Fourways)

Simple and sophisticated décor complements the café’s small menu, which changes daily according to what produce is available. Enjoy a light meal like their freshly made cordon bleu chicken salad or satisfy a big appetite with the steak or beef burger. Those with a sweet tooth can tuck into a range of cakes and chocolate croissants. The average main meal is R45 and corkage is R30.

Love Food Café. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Love Food Kitchen, Deli, Café (Braamfontein)

Foodies flock to this popular venue for the upbeat vibe and the famous harvest table lunch. Chef-owner Jamie Lorge’s salads are a highlight, with interesting combos like chilli nori with shaved carrot, radish and sesame oil, or beetroot and pink grapefruit with green onion, baby spinach and lemon zest. Gourmet sandwiches and daily specials are also on offer. You can look forward to a monthly dinner club with three courses for R330 per person. The average main meal is R70 and corkage is R20.

Nice on 4th (Parkhurst)

Homely décor, porcelain teacups and friendly service make this quintessential neighbourhood café popular for brunch. A clear highlight is the breakfast basket comprising toasted bread fashioned into a basket shape and filled with eggs, bacon and tomato, or scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and tomato relish. The lunch menu offers a great selection of pastas, sandwiches, salads and freshly baked pies, while their roulade with strawberries and rose water cream is a dessert worth waiting for. There’s also a deli takeaway service. The average main meal is R80.

The Patisserie (Illovo)

Enjoy a breakfast and light lunch or go straight for the sweet stuff at this pretty café and patisserie. Highlights include the bourekas (filled phyllo pastry) and pain au chocolat, but the star of the show has to be owner Helen Theo’s freshly baked cakes, cupcakes and petit fours, which can be bought or enjoyed at one of the high teas. Alternatively, peruse the lunch menu for a choice of pies, quiches and plum salmon fishcakes with rocket mayo. The average main meal is R80.

Post. Photo by Leon Krige.

Post (Braamfontein)

Take a seat at the window counter or settle down in the courtyard to enjoy an all-day breakfast. Alternatively, choose from a menu of large sandwiches, burgers, salads and desserts. Order the chocolate and Nutella flapjacks as a treat or tuck into the eggs and brie crostini with napoletana sauce for breakfast. The average main meal is R40.

The Pudding Shop. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Pudding Shop (Parktown North)

The relaxed ambience and emphasis on vegetarian and vegan fare makes this café a popular breakfast and lunch venue. Order the fishcakes with beetroot purée and mash, or try something different with the Indian/Egyptian tasting plate. More highlights include the avo and red bean burger with spicy tomato lentil sauce and the preserved ginger and toffee pudding with coconut and pineapple cream and lime and raspberry coulis. The average main meal is R123.

Outside section at salvationcafe. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

salvationcafe (Milpark)

This fashionable meeting place bustles with activity, while serving up a great selection of breakfasts and lunches. Breakfast favourites range from the halloumi burrito to American pancakes, while the gourmet beef burger, made with grass-fed beef patty and topped with caramelised onion, bacon and guacamole, makes for a filling lunch. The average main meal is R75 and corkage is R60.

tashas (Melrose Arch). Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

tashas (Melrose Arch)

Frequented by businessmen and socialites, this vibey eatery offers an eclectic menu with something to suit every taste. Try the French toast mascarpone with berries or cherry preserve, or build your own sandwich with a range of fresh ingredients and home-baked breads. Those with a bigger appetite will find a selection of grills from which to choose. The average meal is R110 and corkage is R60 for wine or R100 for sparkling wine.

tashas le parc. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

tashas le parc (Sandton)

This branch of tashas exudes Parisian café style with its quirky yet elegant design. The standard tashas menu incorporates signature dishes such as the eggs Benedict with salmon and the steak salad with rocket, feta and olives. Their cocktail menu is a huge hit and features innovative blends such as Turkish delight with rose cordial, vodka and cranberry juice. The average meal is R89.

Outside section at Voodoo Lily Café. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Voodoo Lily Café (Birdhaven)

The menu focuses on organic, sustainable ingredients and offers homemade meals with an innovative twist, such as the shakshuka breakfast with poached eggs, spicy tomato, pepper salsa and feta on pita bread; the famous Voodoo burger; and the Pemba Bay cob with cauliflower mash. An in-house sushi chef will cater to those with a sushi craving and selection dishes on the menu can be made into banting options for those on a health kick. The average main meal is R115 and corkage is R50.

Coffee counter at Warm and Glad. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Warm & Glad (Randburg)

This quirky coffee shop and café serves up simple yet delicious breakfast and lunch offerings in a friendly, relaxed setting. Try their scrambled eggs with chorizo and crispy baby potatoes or the indulgent toasted chocolate and walnut banana bread. They also offer salads, sandwiches and pasta. The average main meal is R75 and corkage is R50.

The Whippet. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Whippet (Linden)

Crafty décor and a great energy make this fashionable café a popular local breakfast spot – it also put Linden on the culinary map. Stylised breakfasts are the order of the day, with the menu featuring interesting combinations such as tempura poached eggs and French toast with figs and camembert. For lunch, order the popular barbecue pork pita or the tapas platter packed with dips, cheeses, olives and snacks. The average main meal is R60 and corkage is R45.

For this list, we consulted the 2015 Eat Out 500, the top restaurant in South Africa featured in Eat Out magazine.