Cape Town Cafes for Digital Nomads: 5 Best Laptop Friendly Spots
Anyone who works remotely knows just how important it is to find a good cafe or coffee shop to work from! After spending the past 5 months working remotely from Cape Town, I’ve discovered the best Cape Town cafes for digital nomads and I’m excited to share my findings with you. Let’s jump into it!
Rating Cape Town Cafes
What should you consider when looking for Cape Town cafes for digital nomads?
I’m glad you asked!
I’ll be rating each cafe based on the following:
- Wifi – How strong the wifi is, if there’s a cap on wifi each day etc
- Laptop friendly cafes – More and more cafes are putting bans on laptops so it’s important to know which ones are laptop friendly before you get there.
- Power points – Are there enough places to charge your laptop or phone?
- Aesthetic – Not the most important but liking where you’re working from can seriously impact how productive you are!
- Menu & price – Are the food and drinks any good? How expensive is it?
1. Bootlegger Coffee Company (Various locations)
As much as Capetonians might hate on Bootleggers, there’s no denying that when it comes to Cape Town cafes for digital nomads, you won’t get much better!
Since Bootlegger is a chain, they have reliable and uncapped wifi and many places to charge your electronics throughout the day.
Of course, when it comes to aesthetics, it can’t compare to other cafes.
It’s actually quite dark in most Bootleggers (besides the Greenpoint location), which isn’t always a vibe.
With that being said, they have a fairly extensive menu and it’s decently priced for what you get. I’d highly recommend checking out their coffee smoothie as it’s become a staple ever since I started working from Cape Town!
Final verdict = 8/10
2. The Ladder
After first discovering The Ladder, it soon became my favourite of all Cape Town cafes.
It’s located on Bree Street, has uncapped wifi, a beautiful open and bright interior AND the food is great!
I’ve tried a few different options from their menu but their warm tempeh stack is delicious. Not to mention, all of the food and drink options are fairly affordable.
This quickly became my go-to working cafe but I loved it so much I’d come just to catch up with friends as well!
Final verdict = 10/10
3. Vagabond Kitchens (Sea Point)
I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was surprised by Vagabond Kitchens.
There are a few locations but I’ve only tried the one in Sea Point. They have many options on their menu and it’s the best option if you’re on a budget, as everything is very reasonably priced.
The wifi is also great and I’ve never seen the place get too busy.
The only place Vagabond Kitchens loses points is its aesthetics. It can be a bit dark, which isn’t the most inspiring if you’re spending the entire day working from there.
Final verdict = 7.5/10
4. Nourish’d Cafe & Juicery (Green Point)
If you love a smoothie bowl as much as I do (I LOVE THEM), then go here ASAP.
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with anything here. It’s worth it!
There are a couple of locations around Cape Town and all of them are great.
However, the Green Point location is the only one you can properly work from. This is because it’s attached to a coliving so they have great wifi.
It’s an outdoor area which I love for natural light, however, it can get hot on sunny days and there isn’t a lot of seating.
Final verdict = 8.5/10
5. Truth Coffee Roasting
When it comes to Cape Town cafes for digital nomads, Truth Coffee Roasting is a solid choice!
Known to have the best coffee in the world, Truth Coffee Roasting is worth checking out.
Personally, I didn’t find the coffee to be any better than the other cafes in Cape Town but you should go decide for yourself.
I spent a day working here and the connection was great, plus there were many power points. The food options are pretty good as well and the servers are super friendly!
The only downside for me was how dark it was.
Final verdict = 9/10
Load Shedding in Cape Town
If you’ve never heard of load shedding, it’s when there are power cuts throughout the city. When it’s happening frequently there is a schedule you can check.
I used this app to check my local area when load shedding was occurring.
Load shedding can be a problem if you’re working remotely, especially if you have work calls or important meetings online that can’t be missed.
One way to ensure you don’t have any trouble is by working at a building or cafe near the hospital in the city centre. Since the hospital can’t afford to have the power go out, it never does in that particular area.
Luckily, even if you’re in an area experiencing load shedding, most cafes (or at least a lot of them now) have backup generators so you can continue to access the internet.
Coworking spaces, hotels, hostels, etc will also use generators but make sure you enquire about this beforehand if you have an important call or meeting during loads hedding hours.
Best Coworking Spaces in Cape Town
WeWork Cape Town
Elevate your work experience at WeWork, a global coworking space with a presence in Cape Town. With stylish and collaborative workspaces, WeWork provides a dynamic environment for professionals and entrepreneurs.
You can often try it out for free to see how you like it!
Workshop17 Kloof Street
Fuel creativity and collaboration at Workshop 17 Kloof Street, a coworking space in the heart of Cape Town. With flexible workspaces and a vibrant community, it’s an ideal hub for professionals seeking innovation.
Workshop17 Watershed
Embrace the scenic views and creative energy at Workshop 17 Watershed, a coworking space located at the V&A Waterfront. With a mix of workspaces and a collaborative atmosphere, it’s a dynamic setting for productivity.
Cape Coliving
Experience a sense of community at Cape Coliving, a coliving space designed for digital nomads and remote workers in Cape Town. With shared spaces and a focus on collaboration, it provides a unique and social living experience.
Spaces Cape Town Century City
Thrive in the modern workspaces of Spaces Century City, a coworking hub in Cape Town. With flexible office solutions and a dynamic community, it provides an ideal environment for productivity.
Cape Town Cafe Culture
Cape Town is a city that’s fairly known for its coffee and cafe culture.
With its stunning natural backdrop of mountains and coastline, the city has become a hub for digital nomads seeking an inspiring work environment. Cafes here aren’t just about coffee; they’re about creating a space where people can connect, collaborate, and recharge.
Many of Cape Town’s coffee spots take pride in sourcing locally roasted beans, offering a range of single-origin and artisanal blends.
Whether you prefer a velvety flat white or a pour-over brewed to perfection, you’ll find a cafe to suit your palate.
Beyond the coffee, many cafes serve fresh, locally inspired dishes, catering to dietary preferences like vegan, gluten-free, and paleo.
Cape Town also has an incredible nightlife scene with many clubs and bars scattered around different neighbourhoods.
Here are some of my favourite clubs and bars to check out in your evenings or weekends!
Best Cafes in Cape Town: Cape Town Coffee Shops You MUST Try!
Here are a few other amazing cafes in Cape Town you should try. They aren’t the best for remote work but have excellent coffee when you need your caffeine kick on your days off!
Origin Coffee Roasting
Origin Coffee Roasting, located in Cape Town’s vibrant De Waterkant neighbourhood, is a pioneer in South Africa’s speciality coffee scene.
Known for its expertly roasted single-origin beans, it offers a sleek, industrial space perfect for digital nomads. Enjoy exceptional espresso, filter coffee, and freshly baked treats while working in a creative atmosphere.
Our Local
Enter Cape Town’s most aesthetic cafe BY FAR. Our Local is located conveniently on Kloof Street, near many other restaurants, bars, hostels and shops. If you’re looking for a pretty place to work from, you’ve found it. Our Local is covered from head to toe with plants and antique furniture, creating a stunning vibe throughout the entire place.
Unfortunately, there’s a 2-hour cap on wifi so it’s not the most ideal if you’re hoping to do a full day of work from a cafe. There are a few places to charge electronics but because this cafe doesn’t cater to digital nomads, it’s limited. In my opinion, the menu could be better. It’s a bit overpriced for Cape Town standards and I’ve had better food elsewhere.
Okja Cafe
I can’t explain how happy I was to find out there was a new okja location and that it was right beside my hostel!
They have the best vegan treats ever + their frozen coffee is soooo good ??
The Strangers Club
Of all the Cape Town cafes, this one certainly had the most potential but was a bit disappointing. It’s very aesthetically pleasing with many plants and trees and a back garden to work from. I found the food and coffee to be pretty average and definitely a bit overpriced compared to other cafes.
The main downside for remote workers is the 1 hour cap on wifi each day. If it weren’t for this cap, The Strangers Club would have made it onto the list of Cape Town cafes for digital nomads.
Yours Truly
I spent ages at the hostel attached to Yours Truly so this recommendation really comes from my experience with the employees. Most are from Zimbabwe and they’re all SUPER sweet.
I became friends with Ronnie (pictured above) in an instant and he’s hilarious. Ask him to make a cool design on your coffee and mention Amy sent you ?
Honest Chocolate Cafe
If you’re a chocolate lover, you’re going to love this Cape Town cafe!
It has the cutest little back garden to sit in and enjoy a coffee and most things on the menu are chocolate-themed.
It’s super deceiving from the outside and first steps in the building, however, it’s a great spot for an afternoon drink/snack.
Kanela Cafe
This cafe is such a cute one if you’re in Sea Point!
The food is pretty good and the atmosphere is great.
I tried working here a couple of times but the wifi wasn’t amazing and they didn’t have a generator during load shedding when I was last there in 2023.
Cushty Neighbourhood Deli
A good option if you’re in Green Point.
The menu has many options and the drinks are good!
I tried working remotely from here a couple of times and it was always pretty busy and the internet connection was so-so.
Other Cape Town Blogs You Might Find Helpful
- 13 best sunset spots in Cape Town
- 26 unique activities for couples in Cape Town
- Ultimate 7 day Cape Town itinerary
- Visiting Cape Town in December? Check out this weather guide
Which Cafe Will You Try First?
It’s safe to say that if you’re after Cape Town cafes for digital nomads, there are at least a few worth checking out.
I hope you give these cafes a try and let me know which one ends up being your fave!
If you’re looking for more Cape Town content, I have many more blog posts on South Africa here and I share interesting places to explore on my Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
See you next week with another blog!
Cheers,
Amy xx
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