Cape Town’s city bowl is known not only for its plethora of hip coffee spots and lunchtime cafés, but it also ladles up some hearty soups for those midday munchies. From cosy cauliflower and bacon to vibrant tomato, here’s where to grab a bowl of luscious soups this winter.

A photo posted by Clarke’s bar & dining room (@clarkescapetown) on Jun 13, 2016 at 6:23am PDT

Clarke’s Bar and Dining Room (Bree Street)

This hot spot is popular for early-bird specials and American-style comfort food. The lunch menu attracts the hungry with its soup and grilled cheese option. Thick flavoursome soup is served with a gloriously cheesy toastie for dunking. There are three options from which to choose: smoked tomato, oyster chowder or cauliflower. The dish goes for R68; else have the soup with just a slice of sourdough for R42.

A photo posted by @thegeneralstore_sa on May 10, 2016 at 2:45am PDT

The General Store (Bree Street)

Bree Street’s buzzing lunch hatch is known for dishing up wholesome quick fixes from the lunch buffet. In winter, Colette and her team have been ladling some pretty delicious soup options. Look forward to lush cauliflower and bacon, roasted tomato and basil, and spiced butternut with ginger, chilli and coconut. A soup will cost you R35 per portion with a slice of buttery toast or bread. Order yours to enjoy there or as a takeaway.

A photo posted by Giulio’s Café (@giulios_cafe) on Jul 19, 2016 at 12:02am PDT

 

Giulio’s (Loop Street)

On grey days, this beautifully decorated spot serves a daily soup special for R55. If you’re looking to warm yourself up at lunch, pop in and ask what’s on the menu. Comforting flavours might include butternut, lime and coriander, broccoli and sour cream, wild porcini with brie, or roasted pomodoro (tomato) with basil.

A photo posted by Nina Lightfoot (@jasonbakerybree) on Jul 18, 2016 at 2:32am PDT

Jason Bakery (Bree Street)

There’s almost always a small crowd outside this hatch. While the pastries are the star of the show, the ‘cup of love’ soups are pretty special. R40 gets you a steaming cup plus a slice of toasted ciabatta made in-house. Think inventive flavours like roasted carrot and fennel, green pea and hickory ham, butterbean and Rockwood cheese, and cauliflower and bratwurst.

A photo posted by Nicolette | Basson (@nicolette.basson) on May 13, 2015 at 4:57am PDT

 

Lunchworks (Waterkant Street)

Extremely popular with the working lunch crowd, Lunchworks is known to keep regulars happy with incredible daily soups for R45, which includes a hunk of fresh ciabatta with a pat of butter. Popular options include Thai red chicken curry, creamy chicken-and-corn chowder, roasted tomato and basil, and spicy Moroccan butternut. If you’re feeling cheeky, buy a portion of truffle-parmesan fries to dunk into the soup.