Words by Iain Evans
Bree Street is a competitive market! Cape Town’s premier avenue for cafe’s, restaurants, bars and other aesthetically curated experiences for the hungry tourist or inner-city worker is a myriad of emotions to navigate. So how does a cafe stand out in an environment that is trying so hard to not look like they’re trying hard? You give the people a simple, beautiful and clever café offering that covers the basics…and covers them so damn well.
I got lost looking for Stellski’s. I was looking for a big sign or a flashy, clever clue and even though google said it was 20m from my apartment, I failed. But in my defence it was near dawn and I hadn’t had a coffee and I took a wrong turn immediately and ended up just outside a coffee place that I know (and love!), so bought a coffee there. Certianly spoilt for choice in this neck of the woods.
Then later (once the caffeine had ignited my cerebral cortex) I went down again, determined to find Stellski’s and I took the correct turn and there it was. A simple sign and a sandwich board telling me to come on in off busy Bree street and into the oasis of calm, greenery, great coffee and wonderful people.
There are a lot of things I like about Stellski’s.
I like that it’s in a recessed courtyard off the main drag. It’s quiet and calm inside.
I like that the staff immediately make eye contact and say hi with a big smile (rare in Cape Town - yikes!!)
I really like that I pay R32 instead of R42 for a flat white because I brought my own re-usable cup!
I like the bags of coffee beans on the counter and on the retail shelf.
I like the staff wall with everyone’s photos on it!
I like that when my Apple Pay refused to work, the lovely cashier helped me to make it work again and wasn’t irritated or in a rush to do something else.
I went back again, and again. With so much choice around me, I found myself gravitating to Stellski’s drawn by the ease and comfort. I felt like a local after two days, and they liked that I brought my own flask.
Go there. It’s pretty great.
