Maggy Lou's

There's something about Cape Town cafés that makes even a simple breakfast feel like part of the itinerary. While exploring Sea Point we stopped by Maggy Lou's, a cosy all-day café on Main Road, and it's exactly the kind of place that makes you want to slow down for a while. From the outside it's easy to miss amongst the buzz of Sea Point, but walk inside and the atmosphere changes.

Think warm wood, hanging plants, retro lamps, cosy corners and a relaxed, lived-in feel. The space has a nostalgic quality without feeling dated, which is part of what makes it so charming. It was named as a tribute to a Sea Point pioneer from the 1960s, known for running a popular food truck along the Promenade, and that history shows in the café's personality and casual approach to food.

As an all-day café you can pop in for breakfast, lunch, coffee or something later. The menu leans into comforting café food, with favourites like Turkish eggs, breakfast plates, fried chicken sandwiches, prego steak rolls and the Big Glizzy hot dog, plus fresh pastries and sweet treats. The prego steak roll is one people keep coming back for, while the Turkish eggs are a good lighter option. And of course, the coffee.

The atmosphere is what makes it memorable, that casual let's-just-sit-here-for-another-hour feeling. There are little nooks for catching up, a large communal table, street-facing seating and greenery throughout, plus Wi-Fi and plug points if you want to work from the café. If you're exploring Sea Point, it's an easy stop before or after a walk along the Promenade.