The location couldn’t be better for Galata Bakery & Coffee – on Grove Square, bordered by popular and vibey establishments like Velo, 86 Public and The Immigrant.

The counter, stocked up with treats. Photo supplied.

The Turkish-style sit-in bakery is owned by Savas Daskan. Named for the northern shore of Istanbul that’s known for its medieval Galata Tower, this enchanting bakery, eatery and deli was Savas’s excuse to bring his family to Africa.

The menu is extremely affordable, with breakfasts from R25 to R50, and lunch dishes from R20 to R50. Photo supplied.

Businesspeople and local students alike have already warmed to this style of eating and the very appealing prices for such fresh, aromatic wares. A filling breakfast feast for one, of menemen (spicy scrambled eggs) and gözleme (flatbread) with cheese, olives, tomato and honey costs but R50 – and that’s by far the most expensive option to start the day.

All breakfast orders are served with complimentary Turkish tea in gorgeous silverware on lavishly decorated trays. There is Turkish coffee too, plus other favourites.

Some delicious baked confections worth trying are the Galata tarts with lavish sweet-and-sour berry toppings supported by milk-tart bases; the baklava, of course, encrusted with pistachios; oat biscuits; big and small cheesecakes; chocolate cakes; and a madly popular rainbow cake. The ‘tiramisu’ here is a chocolate brownie, covered with biscuits and coffee.

Look out for traditional savoury bakes like börek, pogača and simit, too. Photo supplied.

The savoury pastries could be börek (a pie filled with chicken, mince, potato or cheese), pogača (a mini loaf filled with mozzarella or feta and potato) or the simit (a bagel with sesame seeds). Of course, pide is made and served here, usually accompanied by olives.

The happy faces on the Galata end of the square can be attributed both to the delicious bakes and the delicious prices. It’s open every day from 7am until 8pm.

An affordable feast at Galata. Photo supplied.