Espressolab De Waterkant sits on De Smidt Street, on the edge of central Cape Town between the city bowl and Green Point, with Bo-Kaap uphill and the V&A Waterfront a short ride away. The room makes its case before the first cup: grey stone, metal tables, a long counter, pastries in view, plug points along the bar, and a lab-clean look that still has enough warmth for a slow morning.
This is the Cape Town address to review, not the global Espressolab brand in abstract. The De Waterkant shop was ranked #40 in The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026, and the stronger visit is a focused one: coffee first, something baked or savoury if you are staying, then maybe beans from the wider roastery operation.
Coffee style
De Waterkant combines a bakery and espresso counter downstairs with a ModBar and pour-over service upstairs. Ask which coffees are available on each bar before choosing where to sit. The Woodstock branch at the Old Biscuit Mill houses the original roastery and cafe; both locations belong to the same Espressolab operation.
Start with espresso or a flat white to try the coffee on its own. Choose a signature drink if you want citrus, tonic or cold brew, and ask the bar which single-origin or filter options are available that day.
Food
Food is more than a token pastry tray. The open-window bakery at the back has a sweet-savoury case with chia cups, frittatas, tiramisu cake rolls, madeleines, cardamom and cinnamon buns, focaccia sandwiches, brioche croissants, and fresh juices. The practical order is coffee with cheesecake, a bun, a croissant, a bagel, or focaccia.
What people go for
People come for precise coffee, a photogenic but functional room, friendly bar service, and enough Wi-Fi-and-plug-point practicality to make a laptop stop feel normal. It can handle a meeting, a solo work hour, or a quick coffee before moving through Green Point.
The feel
The design is minimalist in a way that risks looking severe, then softens through the bakery, the counter choreography, and the steady mix of locals, remote workers, and coffee tourists. Parking can be awkward around De Waterkant, and the early closing time limits late-day plans. Go earlier, and sit near the counter if you want the full room.
Planning a visit
The long counter, power points and bakery case make De Smidt Street suitable for coffee with a pastry or a short work session. Go during the daytime and check the closing time before travelling. Parking in De Waterkant can take longer than the coffee order.