With workplace flexibility on the rise, many coffee shops and cafés around Cape Town are transforming into coffices to accommodate this emerging trend, offering flexi-workers, entrepreneurs and freelancers an office away from the office with kickass brews and tasty eats. Here’s Ashraf Booley’s pick of the best in Cape Town.

Aniyor (Foreshore)
Sit quietly with a pot of fine Nigiro green tea and your sleek MacBook while the staff do their thing in the background with a smile – always with a smile. It’s mostly quiet, and there’s free WiFi, so Aniyor is ideal for those who get more done with less buzz and not too many distractions. The range of fresh bakes includes almond pralines, chocolate croissants and cakes, and their classic Mediterranean veg sandwich is a must-try. The Origin house blend will seal the deal. If you’re on a tight budget, grab the daily ‘wake up’ combo of coffee and a pastry, muffin or scone for only R22 (while stocks last).

Bean There (City Bowl)
The space that houses Bean There on Wale Street is bright, welcoming, comfy and spacious. The coffee is as good as it smells: you’ll get a whiff of it just passing by. Bean There’s single-origin coffee beans are Fairtrade and nothing short of amazing (they make the best latte) and their sandwiches are tasty, too. Bring your laptop along for a vibey working space with free WiFi.

Bean There. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Bootlegger (Sea Point)
Arguably one of the best coffees in Cape Town, Bootlegger is a true gem located in the heart of Sea Point. The interior features dark walls and enough seating for busy laptop workers to make ample use of the WiFi. It’s busiest in the morning, but there are even hordes of hipsters that flock to the place in the evening ­– a sign of how good they are. The coffee, made from Guatamelan and Costa Rican beans, is superb, as are the food and sweet treats.

Bootlegger Coffee Company. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Café Neo (Mouille Point)
Overlooking the shimmering Atlantic Ocean, Café Neo is the perfect place to work without actually feeling like you’re working. Patrons can enjoy unlimited free WiFi with their drinks (they make a decent cuppa) and great light dishes from the Mediterranean menu. If it’s peace and quiet you’re looking for, however, best you go in the late afternoon or evening when it’s less jam-packed. The workspace comes complete with power points, too.

Field Office (City Bowl)
Drink, eat, work and shop – Field Office on the corner of Barrack and Harrington streets has thought of nearly everything, making it one of our top spots to work from. The unfussy and functional design elements by Pedersen + Lennard is not only aesthetically pleasing, but creates a calming, work-conducive environment, coupled with a young and vibey crowd to strike the perfect balance. And what about the coffee, you ask? One word: kickass. Get your caffeine fix with a Deluxe cuppa and beat the hunger pangs with an artisanal sandwich or pie (they go fast!). Staff are fast and friendly without being too much in your face. Also check out Field Office in Woodstock, V&A Watershed and Mowbray. WiFi available.

Field Office. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Haas (City Bowl)
Hop on over to this artistic haunt located in Buitenkant Street for rare and exotic single-origin coffees. They even stock kopi luwak – one of the most expensive coffees in the world. The interior is striking, featuring beautiful oil paintings, ornaments and miscellaneous décor items. The design alone is sure to inspire creativity, and there’s WiFi for the industrious.

Hard Pressed Café (Foreshore)
Good coffee coupled with good music is hard to beat. And with seating both indoors and outdoors, plus free WiFi, this little gem – adorned with vinyl and quirky décor – is a great place to get some work done. Their coffee is the bee’s knees and they make delicious light meals and brekkie too. Ask them to whip up one of their kickass white hot chocolates for when you feel like indulging.

Hard Pressed Cafe. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Motherland (City Bowl)
Aptly named Motherland, this vibrant coffee house boasts sublime blends from the African continent herself. Sip on one of their house blends of Rwandan and Ethiopian single-origin coffee and feel right at home on a comfy couch or at one of the tables. If you’re feeling adventurous, try their signature drink, The Dictator, which combines condensed milk and espresso and tops it with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Motherland. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Rosetta Roastery (Woodstock)
Situated on trendy Albert Road in Woodstock, this sublime speciality coffee roastery rotates its daily coffee offering, which ranges from Colombian to Ethiopian single-origin beans. The space is trimmed with polished steel and dark mahogany, creating a warm atmosphere. Recent renovations have doubled the seating area to accommodate more patrons. Tip: it’s crazy not to have a freshly baked pastry (from Jason Bakery) with your brew.

Truth Coffee. Photo by Micky Hoyle

Truth Coffee (Buitenkant)
This sexy steampunk spot (voted the world’s best coffee shop by The Telegraph) serves the finest artisan coffee around. If this dress-up theme is your scene, take a break from the confines of your workplace to enjoy coffee heaven and free WiFi for one hour. The food is also pretty epic: a brekkie like the signature Steampunk Benedict (R70-R85) will win you over.