Cape Town is a city full of contrasts and surprises. With its breath-taking setting, wonderful hospitality and great quality of life, the Mother City is understandably popular with tourists from all over the world and South Africans who are looking to get a slice of world-class culture, food and coffee.
With the arrival of the first modern art museum dedicated to African Art, Zeitz MOCAA, and the redevelopment of the city’s waterfront, a host of new businesses arrived in this busiest of parts. One place that my friends and I came across and fell in love with was Yard. This restaurant and deli sits in the shadows of the Zeitz MOCAA and plays host to a small coffee bar from one of the city’s leading roasters: Rosetta Roastery.
The 3 x 3 meter bar is compact yet it contains a host of world-class equipment that makes this one of the city’s best brew and espresso bars, period. Staffed by charismatic baristas who are more than happy to tell you more about each of the coffees on offer, this coffee bar by Rosetta Roastery is a perfect representation of what makes Cape Town’s coffee scene so vibrant.
Long-time barista at Rosetta Roastery, Ollie Balekage, was asked to return from his own coffee kart Ollie’s to help set this new outpost up and he was also there on the day when I visited. My friends and I took a seat on the shaded terrace and while they sipped on some beautiful white wine, I treated myself to a flat white made with their Ethiopia, Alemu. The coffee was sweet and creamy, just as it should be.
The deli behind Rosetta Roastery’s coffee bar sells a host of locally made products, although admittedly prices are steep. If you’re unable to visit the actual Rosetta Roastery in Woodstock, then this is a great place to savour their coffees or pick up some beans.
