Breakfast · Until 2pm · Every day

Breakfast until two, because some mornings need the extra room.

A full breakfast list served until 2pm, seven days a week — the Full South African at R99, a proper low-carb plate, a vegan bowl that is not an apology, and eight toasted sandwiches from R39.

Served until 2pmFrom R39Vegan & veggie options74 Waterkant Street
The plates

Breakfast, properly

Full South AfricanThe big one
Golden toast with two eggs, two crispy bacon rashers, juicy wors, mushrooms, grilled tomato and crispy chips.
R99
Low Carb
Three eggs, rashers of bacon, creamy avocado and sauteed mushrooms. No toast, no apology.
R99
Power Ball (V+)Vegan
Roasted butternut and chickpeas, blistered cherry tomatoes, caramelised onions, sauteed mushrooms, tahini dressing and seeds.
R69
Sunrise Seduction
Golden toast with two eggs, bacon rashers and grilled tomato.
R69
Granola (V)
Crunchy granola, double-cream yoghurt, juicy fruits, seeds and honey.
R69
Breakfast Salad
Rich greens with cherry tomatoes, cucumber and bacon bits.
R39
Smash Hit
Two slices of golden toast with smashed avocado.
R39
Petite Plate
A toast, one egg, one bacon rasher, one grilled tomato. For a smaller morning.
R39
If eggs are not the answer

Something different

Banana Bread French ToastChef pick
Golden toasted banana bread, warm syrup, a pat of melting butter.
R69
Smoke Puff
A croissant with fluffy scrambled eggs and smoked trout.
R69
Muffin (V)
Served with butter, cheese and jam.
R39

And the toasted sandwich list

Eight of them, also until 2pm, from R39. The F.A.B! is toasted sourdough with avocado, feta and crispy bacon under herb pesto. The Pastrami is home-baked sourdough with mozzarella, pesto and Dijon. The Chickpea Smash and Fetish Fungi Feast are the vegetarian picks, and the Cheesy Fabulousness at R39 is the cheapest good decision on the menu. See the full list.

Practical

Brunch in De Waterkant

The kitchen opens at 11am and breakfast runs until 2pm, seven days a week. That is a genuinely late cut-off for this part of Cape Town, and it is deliberate — this is a bar as much as a kitchen, and a fair number of our regulars are not doing an 8am start.

After two, the kitchen moves onto the main menu: eight burgers, grills, salads, pasta and starters, running through until 10pm. So a late breakfast can turn into an early lunch without anyone having to leave.

Vegetarian and vegan

The Power Ball is fully vegan at R69 and is a real plate rather than a side of toast. The Granola and Muffin are vegetarian, as are three of the toasted sandwiches. Tell your server about allergies and the kitchen will be straight with you about what it can adapt.

Coffee

Espresso from R25, and the full list — cappuccino, flat white, latte, mocha, chai and matcha at R39, rooibos and Earl Grey at R29. There is also a Coffee Club: R500 a month for up to five coffees a day, which for anyone working from a laptop in De Waterkant is arithmetic worth doing.

Smoothies are R69 — the Green and Yellow are vegan. Full drinks list.

Where and when

74 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001. Open every day 11am to 11pm. Breakfast until 2pm, kitchen until 10pm.

Book on WhatsApp or call 021 002 8867.

Common questions

Good to know

What time is breakfast served at Cafe Manhattan?

The kitchen opens at 11am and breakfast runs until 2pm, seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays.

How much is breakfast?

From R39 for the Petite Plate, Smash Hit or Breakfast Salad, up to R99 for the Full South African or the Low Carb plate. Toasted sandwiches start at R39.

Do you have vegan breakfast options?

Yes — the Power Ball at R69 is fully vegan: roasted butternut and chickpeas, blistered cherry tomatoes, caramelised onions and sauteed mushrooms with tahini dressing. The Green and Yellow smoothies are vegan too.

Can I get lunch instead?

After 2pm the kitchen moves onto the main menu — burgers, grills, salads, pasta and starters — and runs until 10pm.

Do you do good coffee?

Espresso from R25 and the full list at R39. There is also a Coffee Club: R500 a month for up to five coffees a day.

Two o’clock is a generous deadline

Walk in any morning, or any early afternoon. No booking needed unless you are bringing the whole group.