Arbour Cafe & Courtyard

Cnr St Andrews St and Wrenrose Ave, Birdhaven +27 11 788 4111 updated 26 Jan 2018
created 24 Mar 2017

Don't be deceived by Arbour's petite street frontage, this cute French-inspired cafe is actually twice as large as it appears, occupying an entire courtyard that is reached via the back of the cafe. Here a dozen or so wrought iron tables sit beneath fairylights and surrounded by greenery, transforming what would be an otherwise unused space into a blissfully quiet spot to enjoy breakfast or lunch.

The menu's French inspiration is found in its perfectly executed omelettes and galettes (a savoury French crepe made using buckwheat flour) each of which comes in six different combinations of fillings such as spinach leek and feta or chorizo, mozzarella and tomato. Classic sweet crepes are also on the menu and there's a daily changing selection of cakes and pastries and fresh salads and sandwiches for lunch. Particularly notable are the huge omelettes which show a mastery of the French art of being both moist and fluffy and are especially remarkable for the generous amounts of filling packed into them.

The cafe is licenced and opens four evenings a week for dinner (Wed-Sat) with an eclectic evening menu that features steaks, pasta, pan-fried salmon and duck among other dishes, although there's no obligation to order from the dinner menu (galettes are irresistible at any time of day).