With heavy traffic and constant movement on Jan Smuts avenue, Warm & Glad is easy to miss. This might explain why this hip little eatery is so popular among those who like to explore unchartered territories. Chic and modern, packed with clientele busily and importantly working on shiny MacBooks and adjacent to a bookstore that specialises in art, design, fashion, cooking and travel books, this little slice of hipster heaven is simply aching to become the new hotspot in town. The restaurant is geared to mobile executives, with power points all along the ample counter space. While the café is currently only open during the day, they hope to extend their operating hours soon, which will make for a great after-work meeting place.

Food

Warm and Glad serves breakfast, sandwiches, pastas, salads and sweets. The menu is ideal for a freelancer looking for a bite to eat while finishing their latest project or the busy owner of a startup wanting to get away from the distractions of the office for a quick and healthy bite. Try the bolo de caco bread with goat’s cheese, honey and walnuts with a fresh carrot, apple and ginger juice for breakfast, or indulge in a berry, banana, honey and yoghurt pancake if you wake up with a craving for sweets. At R80 the Vietnamese hot beef salad might seem a little on the pricey side, but with beef fillet and cashews, sesame seeds and a spicy Vietnamese dressing, it’s worth trying at least once. In addition to a good, strong cappuccino, Warm & Glad also offers a number of delicious caffeine fixes, a selection of teas and a variety of fresh juices.

Wine

On the menu, the Warm & Glad team proudly declares that the café is now licenced, although it has no official wine list yet. They invite guests to ask one of the team for a recommendation or take a look around the café at what’s on display.

Service

For all its charm, the service at Warm & Glad leaves much to be desired. This will hopefully improve once the little café has found its feet.

Ambience

The city café culture is really starting to take off in Johannesburg. With its concrete floors and urban feel, Warm & Glad is a city café du jour. If you’re looking for a café to make you feel like you are plugged into a worldwide culture of innovation, creativity and connectivity, this is the place for you. Bring your laptop, order your soy latte and let the inspiration flow.

By Kristia van Heerden

Photographs: supplied by the restaurant.

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