Working from home can be a bit of challenge with load shedding, but fear not: these restaurants in Pretoria have wifi even when the power’s out.

23 on Hazelwood (Hazelwood)

This is a hugely popular hangout for light meals, even though they also serve a delicious rump steak and other more substantial main courses. They have an impressive breakfast menu that, of course, attracts a diverse crowd over weekends. A large verandah with a curved zinc roof reminiscent of old Transvaal buildings allows for lovely open-air eating. On weekends, it would probably be difficult to hide out and use their wifi, but on weekdays, a steady stream of coffee and croissants could lure one in when load shedding hits.

 

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Grounded at Echo (Villeria)

This little shop, these days under new ownership who maintain the same high quality standards, forges ahead and continues to please. COVID-19 could not break them and it is doubtful if load shedding would as they find solutions to every problem. Apart from the coffee shop proper, they offer a separate workspace around the corner, which is also geared for back-ups when load shedding hits. Try their Breadwinner sandwich with hickory ham, pecorino, fresh apple, mustard and sage leaves for a truly delicious and unusual toastie.

 

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Old Town Italy (Menlyn)

Even though this large restaurant is situated inside the Menlyn Main shopping mall, they have lovely outside areas overlooking the impressive piazza with beautiful public art. Of course, you will not only be able to plug in and continue your work with their wifi backup during load shedding, but you could also pick up quality Italian products for your evening meal. Or just close your laptop and tuck into a great pizza and a glass of wine and forget about the demands of the world.

 

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Nush Café (Colbyn)

Even though they are not open on Saturdays, during the rest of the week and on Sundays you could find a nice table inside and set up a little workstation. Their amazing outside area, shaded by large white Stinkwood trees (now turning to autumn yellows), may not be the best place to work from, even though there are some tables against the wall that make for acceptable desks away from home if an electricity outage hits. The owner and staff are always on hand to give one a run-down of their specials of the day, but if you are looking for something unusual to compensate for the misery that Eskom inflicts, try the Middle Eastern-inspired smashed avo, beetroot and dukkah-labneh dish. Along with a side of bread, it truly hits the spot.

Coffee on 18th (Rietondale)

This is a rustic coffee shop and roastery in a small centre, which means there is always parking available, and one can sit on the deep stoep and keep an eye on the neighbourhood passing by. They offer a standard menu or even a few platters should you need to have a meeting out of the office.

Alice in Waterkloof (Waterkloof)

One could become lost here, as the shop is located in a nursery-cum-décor shop. The building served as a post office many years ago, and forms part of a strip that features a number of other eateries. This space allows one to find a quiet corner when you need to hook up to the internet in times of load shedding. They offer some set menus that would work well when one has to dig in for a couple of hours, but also always a nice soup and bread now that it is becoming a little cooler.

 

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Haloa Coffee (Groenkloof)

If you are a trendsetter, this is the place for you, and you are likely to run into like-minded creatives. This is the first ‘public’ venue established by the Haloa team, who used to have a few coffee shops on University of Pretoria campuses pre-Covid. Their shop is beautifully appointed and, of course, sells some of the best coffee in town (they roast their own beans off-site) as well as a limited range of sandwiches, cakes and pastries. The upstairs area is rented out as permanent workspaces to a range of creatives, but the main area downstairs should provide a vibrant working space if you need it.

 

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Bean Juice (Magalieskruin)

For those living on the northern side of the Magalies, this shop in Magalieskruin could easily become one’s second office in times of power emergencies. They have beautiful outside areas and, as this part of Gauteng is generally substantially warmer than other parts of the province, one would probably be able to sit outside even in winter. They have great menu offerings that include a pot-belly pulled chicken pie served with a side salad.

Trixie’s Café (Colbyn)

Aside from several tables inside which would be ideal for an office away from home, there is a beautiful section behind the restaurant in an alley that would be ideal for work that requires quiet and solitude. They have an interesting menu and one could eat adequately at an affordable price.

Cafénio (Colbyn)

If you are in the mood for some good Greek food, head over to Cafénio. They serve a really good breakfast at a great price, and the owner is mostly around should you want anything special. They have a whole bunch of small tables under trees in the front, although one may not manage to do much work thanks to all the people watching in the fresh air.

 

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Kream Restaurant (Brooklyn)

Even though you may not immediately think of a high-end restaurant as suitable for an emergency office, Kream does offer wifi for a bit of office work when load shedding hits. If Kream is your choice, you might just as well dig into their extensive menu and even enjoy a good wine with your food. They have a good selection of sushi as well – great brain food that is not too heavy for the middle of the day.

Burger Bistro (Villiera)

This spot may not really offer private or quiet space for office work, but since they are less busy during the day – it becomes really busy around dinnertime with patrons and delivery pick-ups – you should be able to find a small table that could double as a work area when wifi is needed. In addition to their comprehensive range of delicious burgers, they now also offer a selection of sliders that are perfectly sized for a quick lunchtime bite.

 

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