Updated July 2026: Muizenberg's café scene is constantly evolving. We've revisited every coffee shop, refreshed our photos and updated our recommendations to help you find the best coffee in Muizenberg today.

Why Muizenberg has some of Cape Town's best independent coffee shops

When you think of Muizenberg, the iconic beach, the colourful beach huts and the laid-back surfer vibe likely come to mind. But tucked away in this coastal gem, a different kind of magic is brewing - one that has nothing to do with waves and everything to do with community.

Venture just a few blocks from the sand and you'll discover a collection of local coffee spots that are redefining the café experience in Muizenberg. These aren't your average grab-and-go joints; they're neighbourhood hubs where baristas remember your name, local regulars feel like family, and your morning cup of joe comes with a healthy serving of belonging.

Whether you're looking for a quick coffee before surfing, somewhere to enjoy breakfast with friends, or a café to work remotely for the morning, these are the coffee shops our team recommends most. Every café in this guide has been personally visited by the MUi STAYS team and updated for 2026 with new recommendations and photography.

Best coffee shops in Muizenberg at a glance

Location: 40 Palmer Road, Muizenberg 

Tucked away in the heart of Muizenberg Village, Joon is much more than a coffee shop. Run by mother-and-daughter duo June and Lindsay Homan, it's one of those rare places where excellent coffee, homemade food and genuine hospitality come together to create a café you'll want to return to again and again. The restaurant has become a favourite with both locals and visitors thanks to its relaxed atmosphere, community events and all-day menu.

Located on Palmer Road in Muizenberg Village, Joon describes itself as "your home away from home" and offers both sit-down dining and takeaway, making it just as suited to a relaxed breakfast as a quick coffee while exploring the village.

Why You'll Love It:

• Locally roasted coffee made using Coffee Guy Roasters beans.
• One of the friendliest cafés in Muizenberg, where regulars are greeted by name.
• Dog-friendly, with a welcoming atmosphere for families, beachgoers and four-legged visitors alike.
• Homemade breakfasts, lunches and baked treats prepared with care.
• An eclectic and vibey playlist, you'll be Shazam-ing for sure!
• Regular live music, quiz nights and community events that make every visit a little different. 
• Located on Palmer Road, the heart of Muizenberg Village.

What to Order:

• Their signature flat white (at times crafted with June & Lindsay's personal touch)
• Freshly baked muffins and homemade shortbread.
• One of Joon's generous breakfast options before a morning at Muizenberg Beach.
• Their famous thin and crispy Italian-style pizzas if you're visiting later in the day.

Good to Know:

• Open Tuesday-Saturday: 8:00am-10:00pm. Sunday: 8:00am-2:00pm. Closed Mondays.
• If you're visiting on the first Thursday of the month, Palmer Road comes alive with live music, local artists, food and late-night trading as the businesses throughout Muizenberg Village join together for the monthly First Thursdays event. Joon is one of the best places to experience the atmosphere.

If you're looking for a more relaxed alternative to the busy beachfront cafés, Joon is our pick. Its location in Muizenberg Village gives it a slower, more chilled feel, while the combination of excellent coffee, homemade food and genuine hospitality makes it somewhere you'll want to return to. Whether you're starting your morning, catching up with friends or exploring the village during First Thursdays, Joon is one of Muizenberg's standout local cafés.

2. Empire Café – Homemade Pastries, Great Coffee & Local Community Vibes

Location: 11 York Road, Muizenberg

Just a short walk from Muizenberg Beach, Empire Café has earned a reputation as one of the area's favourite coffee shops. Known for its excellent coffee, homemade pastries and great sea view, it's the kind of place where a quick coffee often turns into a long catch-up with friends. Whether you're fuelling up before a surf or looking for a relaxed breakfast or lunch, Empire combines consistently good food with genuine local hospitality.

Why You'll Love It:

• Excellent coffee made in partnership with Conversations Coffee.
• A warm, welcoming atmosphere where locals and visitors quickly feel at home.
• Freshly baked pastries and cakes made in-house.
• Lots of tables and bar counter seats for remote working.
• Comfortable indoor seating with front row sea views, to keep an eye on the swell.
• A playlist that Millennials will love featuring all the classics from the 2000s.

Must-Try:

• Their signature dark roast coffee
• The delightful house-made cheesecakes (especially the lemon meringue)
• The famous Pasties de Nata and the must-try home-made Banana Bar
• Any and all of their breakfasts, truly a delight

Good to Know:

• Experience the real-life version of Cheers (minus the beer, plus excellent coffee)
• Open Monday to Saturday: 7:00am – 4:00pm, Sunday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
• Ideal for breakfast, brunch or a relaxed lunch.
• Just a short walk from Muizenberg Beach and Surfers Corner.
• Indoor and outdoor seating to suit a visit in any weather.
• Fresh cakes and pastries are baked regularly, so arriving earlier in the day gives you the best selection.

Empire Café perfectly captures what makes Muizenberg's independent coffee scene so special. Great coffee is only part of the experience – it's the warm conversations, homemade baking and genuine sense of community that keep people coming back. If you're visiting Muizenberg and only have time to try one or two local cafés, Empire Café should be high on your list.

3. Harvest Café – Fresh, Healthy Food & Sunny Morning Coffee

Location: 4 York Road, Muizenberg

Harvest Café has become a favourite among locals looking for fresh, wholesome food without compromising on flavour. Located on York Road in Muizenberg Village, it's one of the few cafés that enjoys beautiful morning sunshine, making the outdoor pavement seating one of the best spots in town to start your day with a coffee and breakfast.

Inside, the café is warm and inviting, with natural décor that perfectly complements its focus on fresh, nourishing food. Whether you're after a smoothie bowl, a hearty breakfast, great coffee or a healthy lunch, Harvest has built a reputation for serving food that's every bit as delicious as it is wholesome.

Why You'll Love It:

• Excellent locally roasted coffee served in a relaxed, welcoming space.
• One of Muizenberg's best cafés for healthy breakfasts and lunches.
• Extensive vegan and vegetarian options, while still catering for meat eaters.
• Beautiful natural interior and sunny outdoor seating in the mornings.
• A relaxed atmosphere that's equally suited to catching up with friends or settling in with your laptop.

Must-Try:

• One of their colourful smoothie bowls.
• Fresh seasonal breakfasts made with quality ingredients.
• Homemade vegan treats.
• A locally roasted coffee enjoyed in the morning sun.

Good to know:

• Open 7:00am – 4:00pm, 7 days a week.
• Plenty of vegan, vegetarian and gluten-conscious options.
• Meat eaters are equally well catered for.
• Laptop-friendly, making it a popular spot for remote workers.
• Outdoor seating enjoys some of the best morning sunshine in Muizenberg.

Harvest Café is proof that healthy food doesn't have to be boring. It's one of those places where locals linger over breakfast, remote workers settle in for the morning and visitors discover that wholesome food can be both beautifully presented and genuinely satisfying. If you're looking for fresh, healthy meals, great coffee and one of the sunniest café spots in Muizenberg, Harvest Cafe is a standout choice.

4. Hang Ten Café – Beachfront Coffee, Fresh Juices & Surfer Vibes

Location: 62 Beach Road, Muizenberg 

Just metres from Surfer's Corner, Hang Ten Café is located right on the main beachfront strip, making it a favourite stop before or after a surf. With large window seats overlooking the sea, a relaxed surf culture atmosphere and music that often leans towards laid-back house and tribal beats, it's the kind of place where one coffee easily turns into a slow morning.

While Hang Ten is well known for its excellent coffee, it's equally popular for its fresh juices, healthy menu and famous savoury crêpes. Beyond the café itself, you'll also find a curated selection of vegan treats, health products, natural skincare, clothing and beach essentials that perfectly reflect the Muizenberg lifestyle.

Why You'll Love It:

• Delicious Coffee from locally roasted Deluxe Works.
• One of the closest cafés to Muizenberg Beach and Surfers Corner.
• Large window bar seating with views towards the beach and ocean.
• Relaxed surfer atmosphere with a soundtrack of chilled house, tribal and electronic music.
• Excellent selection of vegan and vegetarian meals, while still catering for everyone.
• Dog-friendly and laptop-friendly, making it popular with both locals and remote workers.

Must-Try:

• Their Vietnamese Coffee is absolutely delicious and only found here.
• The famous savoury crêpes.
• The Green Mamba freshly pressed juice – one of our personal favourites for a kick of health.
• A quality flat white or cappuccino before your beach walk.
• Homemade vegan cakes and sweet treats from the deli fridge.
• One of their fresh smoothies if you're after something healthy.

Good to know:

• Open daily 6:30am – 6:00pm - great for the early early birds
• Dog friendly. Peaches the top dog at Hang Ten gets along with all visiting canines.
• Art from local creators that tells community stories.
• Free Wi-Fi and a popular spot for remote workers.
• Regular Open Mic evenings bring together local musicians and the Muizenberg community.

Hang Ten Cafe perfectly captures the relaxed spirit of Muizenberg. Whether you're watching surfers from the window with a great coffee, settling in to work for the morning or browsing the small collection of lifestyle products, it feels like much more than just another café. If you want to experience Muizenberg's surf culture while enjoying one of the best beachfront coffee spots in town, Hang Ten is an easy recommendation.

5. Hans & Lloyd Coffee Co. – Beachfront Coffee, Fresh Bakes & All-Day Comfort

Location:13 York Road, Muizenberg

Perfectly positioned between Muizenberg Village and Surfers Corner, Hans & Lloyd Coffee Co. has become one of the area's most popular cafés for everything from a quick morning coffee to a full day's remote work. With beautiful sea-facing seating, a spacious interior and a cosy fireplace for colder winter days, it's the kind of café that feels welcoming all year round.

Known for consistently excellent coffee, freshly prepared food and good value, Hans & Lloyd offers an experience that feels premium without the premium price tag. Whether you're grabbing breakfast before the beach, meeting friends for lunch or opening your laptop for a productive morning, it's easy to see why so many locals return again and again.

Why You'll Love It:

• Excellent coffee made from their signature house blend.
• Spacious indoor seating with sea views and a cosy fireplace during winter.
• Vibes that feel more like "everyone's living room" than "pretentious café".
• One of Muizenberg's best cafés for remote working.
• Fresh sandwiches, wraps, salads and baked goods prepared daily for a quick bite to-go.
• Dog-friendly, with plenty of comfortable seating inside and outside.
• Great value for money without compromising on quality.

Must-Try:

• A double-shot flat white that will upgrade your coffee standards
• A delicious hearty cooked breakfast or smoothie.
• Their famous blueberry cheesecake.
• Fresh salads and wraps that make healthy eating actually exciting.

Good to know:

• Open 7:00am – 4:00pm, 7 days a week.
• Free Wi-Fi and plenty of seating make it ideal for remote workers.
• Indoor fireplace creates a cosy atmosphere during Cape Town's cooler months.
• Sea-facing tables offer a relaxed spot to enjoy your coffee after a beach walk.
• Dog friendly.

Hans & Lloyd strikes a great balance between quality, comfort, convenience and value. Whether you're settling in with your laptop for the morning, catching up with friends over coffee or enjoying breakfast before exploring Muizenberg, it's a café that does everything well. The combination of consistently good coffee, generous fresh food, comfortable seating and one of the best locations in Muizenberg makes it an obvious recommendation for both visitors and locals alike.

More Than Great Coffee: Explore Muizenberg One Cup at a Time

One of the best ways to experience Muizenberg isn't just from the beach – it's by slowing down long enough to enjoy its cafés. Each has its own personality, from the village atmosphere at Joon and the homemade baking at Empire Café, to Harvest's wholesome menu, Hang Ten's surf culture and beachfront views, and Hans & Lloyd's spacious setting that's perfect for lingering over a great cup of coffee.

At MUi STAYS, we believe that some of the best travel experiences come from supporting the places locals genuinely love. Every café featured in this guide has been personally visited by our team, and each one has earned its place for a different reason.

While you'll find plenty of well-known coffee chains across Cape Town, Muizenberg's independent cafés offer something that's becoming increasingly rare: owners who know their regulars, food that's made with care, and spaces that reflect the character of the neighbourhood itself.

If you're staying with MUi STAYS, every café on this list is within easy reach, whether you're grabbing a coffee before an early surf, enjoying a slow breakfast, or settling in with your laptop for the morning. We encourage our guests to explore them all—because no two are quite the same, and that's exactly what makes Muizenberg's coffee scene so special.