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Joburg is a city that likes to get going as soon as the sun comes up, and there is no shortage of good places that open at the crack of dawn to service the appetites of early birds. From Sandton to the City Centre, here's our round-up of some of Joburg's best early-morning destinations, categorised by how you want to start your day.
The best early spots
1. Andiccio 24 (across Joburg)
Pizza for breakfast? If you've been out all night there's hardly a better way to cure your hangover and if you're jet-lagged as hell after a long flight across numerous time zones, pizza for breakfast at Andiccio 24 isn't a bad idea, either. With 21 branches across the city and a menu that includes butternut soup, wraps and ciabatta sandwiches, this 24-hour pizza chain lets you choose as many toppings in whatever combination you prefer. Salads work on the same principle. There are also dessert pizzas with chocolate and bananas if you need a sugar overload to get going.Open: 24 hours
2. Croft & Co
Located on Parkview's ever-popular Tyrone Avenue, Croft & Co is known for its good service, fresh bottled juices, strong coffee and possibly the best scrambled eggs in town. Croft & Co is the early-morning hangout for Joburg's media types, opinionistas, writers, runners and cyclists, with a run-club called the Tyrone Harriers dedicated to the spot.
Open: From 06:00 every day.
66 Tyrone Ave, Parkview
3. Motherland Coffee Co (across Joburg)
Motherland Coffee Company is a popular work and meeting spot. The coffee here has a kick, and features speciality-grade African single-origin or blended beans. Plus, it comes in extra-large – the famous "Mothercuppa", and for a light breakfast there's a wide selection of pastries.
Open: Branches open between 06:00 – 07:00 on weekdays and weekends.
4. Ti Amo Deli
Nestled in a Shell Garage in Sandhurst, Ti Amo Deli is an authentic Italian deli that offers all things Italian: country loaves, ciabatta, paninis and baguettes, all freshly baked on-site. It’s a very convenient spot for breakfast.
Open: From 06:30 daily
49 Rivonia Rd, Sandhurst
5. 4th Avenue Coffee
4th Avenue Coffee has years behind their belts in crafting a coffee worth starting your day with. Named after their original location on the ever-trendy Parkhurst 4th Avenue (they’re now also in Illovo), this café is all about the beans: their house blend, the “Legendary Pink”, is made up of 100% Arabica beans, hand picked from six origins across Africa and South America. These beans are then roasted in small batches at their very own boutique roastery. To eat, they have options like Elvis-style French toast (including fried banana, bacon and syrup, of course), or you can build your own brekkie.
Open: From 06:00 daily in Parkhurst, and 07:00 in Illovo.
4th Ave, Parkhurst
Best busy breakfast spots
If you’re wanting to hit the ground running, here’s our choice of breakfast joints right in the middle of things.
6. Father Coffee (Kramerville and Rosebank)
Father Coffee has the reputation of having some of the best speciality coffee in Joburg – and rightly so. What started out as a slick temple to coffee aficionados in Braamfontein is now a trendy little spot in Rosebank’s The Zone, as well as their HQ in the Kramerville Design Quarter. You’ll also find a wine bar open from midday from Wed – Sun, because it's five-o'clock somewhere in the world, right? With a phenomenal selection of blends to take home, beans are ground to order in-store. It’s a popular morning meeting spot (try the excellent avocado on toast or the Swedish buns).
Open: From 7:30 weekdays and 8:00 on weekends.
7. Freshly Ground
Tucked into the bottom of the Keyes Art Mile's Trumpet Building, Freshly Ground Rosebank is the place to be for creative early birds: whether you're a cyclist or runner that needs a quick snack or a hearty breakfast, or a busy hustler that needs their coffee on the go.
Open: From 06:00 on weekdays, and 07:00 on weekends.
19 Keyes Ave, Rosebank
8. Green Dot Café
Green Dot Café is a welcoming, all-day spot on Jan Smuts in Rosebank that offers ready-to-go meals along with its menu of healthy (and halaal-certified) items. Enjoy a no-frills coffee or a more extravagant iced coffee frappe (with ice-cream!) while you work inside or outdoors. There are healthy toasties, smoothie bowls and Mediterranean flatbreads to fuel you through the day. Get there as early as possible as Green Dot Café is small and gets very busy.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
148 Jan Smuts Ave, Rosebank
9. Naked Kitchen and Coffee Bar
Hailed as South Africa’s number-one "third-wave" coffee bar and culinary kitchen, Naked Kitchen and Coffee Bar, which started as a sole venue in Melrose Arch, is known as one of the best places to be seen. With spots in Illovo, Hyde Park, Sandton and Morningside, their locations uphold the global gourmet deli trend in Johannesburg by providing fresh produce, fine coffee and home-style cooking – and all of it is to-go.
Open: From 07:00 Mon – Sat; 08:00 on Sun.
10. Njam Eatery
Next time you’re seeking a freshly baked treat in Linden, pop into bistro and pastry shop Njam Eatery on the corner of 3rd Avenue and 6th Street. The menu has a small selection of breakfast and bistro meals with hints of Afrikaans comfort food like roosterkoek, tomato smoor and boerewors, all made from fresh local produce in the area.
Open: Mon – Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Fri – Sat 09:00 – 21:00, Sun 09:00 – 15:00
Shop 7a, Linden Lanes Shopping Centre, Cnr 3rd Ave and 6th Str, Linden
11. Kleinsky's Birdhaven
At Kleinsky’s, it all starts before sunrise – bakers arrive around 04:00 or 05:00 to hand-roll, boil and bake bagels, pastries and more, all fresh on-site. The menu blends classic bagel staples with playful twists: smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers for the purists; breakfast bagels stacked with cheese, tomato, egg, and bacon or lamb bacon. Not a bagel fan? Kleinsky’s still has plenty to enjoy, so check it out for yourself!
Open: 07:00 – 16:30.
64 St Andrews St, Birdhaven
12. Doppio Bistrot
A new pretty arrival at Nine Yards in Parktown North, Doppio Bistrot is the elevated sister restaurant to Doppio Zero, with light, airy interiors and beautifully considered décor. The breakfast/brunch menu is quite the treat with delicious sounding avo pomegranate toast and egg benedicts options like the crispy chicken benedict.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
167 Jan Smuts Ave, Parktown North
13. Sadie's Bistro
If you find yourself in the inner city for breakfast, you’re in for a treat: Sadie’s Bistro on Main Street in Marshalltown is a quaint little spot that chef Julian Ribeiro named after his grandmother, Sadie Ribeiro, who embodied the bistro’s slogan that “food is love”. They’ve got hearty breakfast baskets and Lebanese-inspired brekkies like shakshuka, as well as a full prêt menu with daily-baked scones, banana breads, croissants – the works.
Open: From 06:30 on weekdays, closed on weekends.
69 Main St, Marshalltown
14. The Whippet
Those in the know credit this buzzing coffee shop, affectionately known to locals as "The Whippet", with its hipster aesthetic, for putting the suburb of Linden on the cool map. The food is freshly made café-style, simple and tasty, and the coffee and tea selection is top rate. The potato rosti breakfast with poached eggs and homemade hollandaise is a firm favourite.
Open: Takeaway coffee from 06:30, sit-downs from 07:00 Mon – Sat, 08:00 on Sun.
34 7th St, Linden
Best luxury breakfast spots
For those who want to start their day off as lavishly as possible, here are our best fancy breakfast spots in Joburg.
15. Flames
Flames at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Westcliff is by far the most extravagant breakfast you could hope for. With sweeping views of the canopy of Joburg’s lush urban forest, and a buffet ranging from fruits, artisanal cheeses, cured meats and smoked fish, viennoiserie, boulangerie, crêpes, Belgian waffles and adorned oatmeal, and accompanied with freshly pressed juices and a selection of coffees and teas, this sumptuous offering is worth the R590 p.p.
Open: Daily from 06:30.
67 Jan Smuts Ave, Westcliff
16. Le Parc by Tashas
Le Parc by Tashas is hailed as an ode to the fabulous, fashionable, "joie de vivre" spirit of Paris. Located in Hyde Park Corner, Le Parc’s breakfast pursuits centre around ouefs (or eggs) like the fanciest scrambled eggs you’ve ever seen, the billionaire’s eggs: scrambled eggs, parsley, Italian parmesan cheese shavings, truffle oil, caviar, a black pepper and chive crème fraîche and melba toast. They also have a variety of breakfast bowls with fresh fruit, homemade granola and oats.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
Hyde Park Corner, William Nicol Dr & Jan Smuts Ave & 6th Rd, Hyde Park
17. Pâtisserie de Paris
Another Parisian-inspired spot on this list is Patisserie de Paris, who can perhaps contest Le Parc’s fanciest eggs ever with their Marseille Eggs Benedict.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
9 Mackay Ave, Blairgowrie
18. PAUL
This French-family-owned international artisanal pâtisserie and restaurant has a proud heritage dating back to 1889. Imported to Joburg, PAUL offers a vast French-style menu to suit any occasion, from breakfast right through to dinner. Their breakfast offerings include French toast with pancetta and maple syrup, mushroom pancakes, toasted sandwiches, as well as quiche with more traditional savoury breakfast options. A good spot to catch up with friends, and we rate the almond croissants here as being one of Joburg's best (if not the best). They have branches in Melrose Arch, Bryanston, The Neighbourhood Square in Linksfield and Morningside.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
Best quiet breakfast spots
If you’re looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, these are our top spots for some relaxation.
19. Breezeblock Café
Breezeblock Café brings a certain charm to the historic suburb of Brixton with its quirky 1970s style. Enjoy an early-morning breakfast overlooking their succulent garden, with their in-house blend of Ugandan, Brazilian and Guatemalan coffee beans – roasted locally. With delicious twists on classic breakfast staples, like their poached eggs in smoky aubergine and fragrant garlic turmeric tomato sauce topped with a minty drizzle and harrisa, Breezeblock invites you to slow down your morning; study one of their chessboards, or pull out your book. Founded by former resident David du Preez, and architect Thomas Chapman of Local Studio, the café is named after the painted breeze blocks lining the courtyard.
Open: From 07:00 Tues – Fri, 08:00 Sat – Sun, closed on Mon.
29 Chiswick St, Brixton
20. Delta Café
When the hustle and bustle of Joburg gets too much, it’s time to touch grass – or at least look at some. At Delta Café in Craighall Park, you can do just that. Overlooking the lush Delta Park, the café offers a comfortable breakfast to start your day off peacefully. And, if you’re in with the cycling crowd, direct access to Delta Park’s trails is a bonus.
Open: Closed on Mon – Tues, open from 09:00 Wed – Fri, and 08:00 on weekends.
76 Marlborough Ave, Craighall Park
21. Home of the Bean
Founded by husband and wife duo Leroy Kgopa and Itumeleng Manamela, Home of the Bean is all about a quality experience, from the beans to the Houtlander furniture. A recommended stopover on any Maboneng visit and with a new addition to the ever-growing cultural precinct of Victoria Yards, Home of the Bean also has the distinction of being a "coffice" for some of the city's coolest creatives. The roastery's beans are sourced from the likes of Burundi, Ethiopia, Costa Rica and Guatemala, and the carrot cake brownies are noteworthy, as are the delicious smoothies. We also love the vegan additions to the menu.
Open: From 07:00 on weekdays, 07:30 on Sat and 08:00 on Sun.
Arts On Main, 264 Fox St, Maboneng
Breakfast spots to work and study from
If you want to start your day off hitting the books, or catching up on some emails, these studious spots have the perfect ambience.
22. Olives & Plates (Wits)
What better way to start your day than in the rarefied air of academia? In a Cape-Dutch style house tucked away in the far corner of the Wits Braamfontein campus, and with four pages of menu on breakfasts alone, Olives & Plates at Wits is the perfect spot for pondering – whether it’s about abstract theoretical concepts, or what to have for breakfast.
Open: From 07:30 Mon – Fri, 08:00 Sat – Sun.
7 Yale Rd, Parktown
23. Service Station
In the quaint Bamboo Lifestyle Centre, Service Station has been a local favourite since their opening in 1999 – that’s 27 years of breakfast, made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. Folding out onto Love Books, a beautifully cosy indie bookshop, Service Station offers a quiet, classic morning with timeless breakfast favourites: think eggs, bacon and sausage in all their breakfasty forms.
Open: From 07:30 on weekdays and 08:00 on weekends.
24 9th St, Melville
Best spots for a hearty breakfast
Breakfast has long been considered the most important meal of the day. Here’s our selection of places in Johannesburg for the most wholesome of meals to power up your day.
24. Fournos
From Bedfordview to Benmore, Fournos (which means "bakery" in Greek) is a Joburg institution. Consistently voted Johannesburg's best bakery, this deli-café franchise is a hotspot in any one of its branches, particularly over weekends. The chocolate croissants, freshly baked bread and the extensive breakfast menu are star attractions. Generous portions, good coffee and fair prices make Fournos a popular early-morning spot. Pair breakfast with one of the healthy juice blends for that pre-work or start to the weekend boost.
Open: Each branch has opening times between 06:00 – 07:00.
25. Proud Mary
A modern mid-century eatery, the menu at Proud Mary boasts an extensive breakfast selection including a fresh fruit bowl, oats, buttermilk hotcakes and waffles, and for a more savoury palate: salmon scrambled eggs, Croque Madame and a breakfast burger that will give you the energy you need to face the day. The menu also features classic breakfast cocktails, mimosas and Bloody Marys, as well as a cranberry and orange juice mix with non-alcoholic bubbly. The adjoining coffee bar serves a good brew, too. The terrace is prime people-watching territory and the space is vast, with plenty of nooks if you're looking for a spot to flip open your laptop.
Open: From 06:30 daily.
The Bank, 26 Cradock Ave, Rosebank
26. Richmond Studio Café
Owned by former journalists Antoine de Ras and Mantombi Makhubele in the city’s unofficial media hub (being home to media houses like Associated Press, BBC and News24), the Richmond Studio Café is all about the journalist’s drug of choice: coffee. With super-welcoming staff and a killer steak-eggs-double-shot-cappuccino breakfast special, the Richmond makes everyone feel at home.
Open: From 07:00 daily.
14 Menton Rd, Richmond
27. Salvation Café
Home of Joburg's best cheesecake – as voted in 2023 – the breakfast options at Salvation Café are always excellent, turning that morning meal into a memorable experience with a choice of "healthy", "sweet" and "savoury", plus breakfast burritos. This busy café at 44 Stanley is surrounded by enticing design and fashion stores (that open later) and its tables flow outdoors onto a covered veranda and into a picturesque courtyard – perfect for relaxed family meals.
Open: From 08:00 daily.
44 Stanley Ave, Milpark
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