As a writer, I’m always on the lookout for new places to grab a cup of coffee while jotting a few paragraphs down.

I have very strict criteria, though. I need a great vibe, friendly baristas, excellent coffee, superb snacks, and an expertly designed aesthetically pleasing space so that when I’m resting my eyes, I have something pretty to look at.

This might sound like a tall order, but it really isn’t. I found all of this at the Big Dog Café in Franschhoek. It’s a bit of a trek, but worth it. At the same time, something a little closer to the CBD, where I work, would have been ideal.

Well, all prayers have been answered, and I’m pleased to announce that Big Dog Café has arrived in the City Bowl.

The café, which you’ll find at 32 Kloof Street, is on the ground floor of Workshop17 and opens up onto a secluded courtyard. Within this courtyard is a modern and Instagrammable staircase that’s been constructed at the back of a building, gracefully mixing old and new.

As you already know, Cape Town’s trendy Kloof Street is famous for its restaurants, boutiques, art galleries, and businesses. Big Dog Café is a perfect addition to Kloof and the ideal place to grab a morning cup of coffee before tackling the day.

Take a look around:

It’s also the perfect place for a lunchtime meeting, coffee with a co-worker or as a place to plug in your laptop and get things done, with something delicious to nibble on while you work.

Look me in the eye and tell me that your life won’t be significantly improved by this purple smoothie bowl:

Yeah, that’s what I thought.

If you’re concerned about the current state of affairs in South Africa, rest assured that Big Dog Café has put a lot of thought into the safety and wellbeing of its customers.

Both the Big Dog Franschhoek and Kloof Street cafés follow strict cleaning, sanitising, and anti-contamination protocols and these measures will be heightened. Extra precautions will be taken in the kitchen and behind the espresso bar. Hand sanitiser will be available in certain areas of the café.

As for the delicious Terbodore coffee served at Big Dog Café – due to the fact that some of their products are available in retail, there are already stringent procedures in place at the roastery and packing facility. This includes existing strict health and safety measures.

If you’re ‘social distancing’, but still need your caffeine fix, visit the Terbodore website, where you’ll find a range of top-shelf coffees from all over the world, as well as those sought after compostable coffee pods.

There’s no reason to stop doing your bit for the environment just because you’re at home.

For more info about Big Dog Café, follow this link to drop them a line.