Brunchin’

Whoever combined breakfast and lunch to create the scrumptious result of “brunch” definitely deserves a medal in my books. Lucky for our locals, the East Coast is home to many cute, quirky and sophisticated cafes that offer delicious brunches. We got to visit a few and try their most popular brunch dishes!

 

 

Goodthings Cafe

If you’re looking to add some vitamins and nutrients to your brunch, Goodthings Cafe is a must. Part of Manifest Yoga Studio, you can enjoy healthy meals while sitting on their patio, soaking up the morning. We began our brunch with their colourful matcha lattes. The Pink Dragon and Blue Butterfly were creamy with a touch of sweetness (you can enjoy them cold or hot!). We just had to try their gorgeous smoothie bowls, Let That Mango and Peanut Buttercup. They were smooth, tasty and topped with lots of yumminess. The chia seeds, coconut flakes and nuts gave Let That Mango a nice crunch within the spoons of sweetness of the mango and pineapple smoothie. Peanut Buttercup was a peanut-y dream with the nut butter, banana and chocolate coming together brilliantly in this bowl of goodness, topped with banana, chocolate, seeds and coconut flakes. Overall, this was a sweet, yet healthy, treat!

https://www.instagram.com/good_things_cafe/

 

 

Manta Cafe

With amazing dishes and a sea view to match, Manta Cafe is the newest spot in Umdloti. Feeling like we were on holiday, we started with their “morning fun” – an African Ice (an iced coffee with an Amarula twist) and a boozy, sweet Sunrise. While sipping our drinks in the sun, it was time to dig into our brunch. We tried Manta’s Herby Trout with herbed crumpets, smoked trout and cream cheese. The crumpets were fluffy and paired well with the dollops of cream cheese and herbs. We also ordered the Manta Stack – an English muffin topped with cream cheese, sliced avo, salty bacon and two poached eggs. The show-stopper of the dish was the addition of spekboom chutney, which was sweet with a delicious curry flavour. You can even buy a jar of this unique chutney at the cafe! We will definitely have us coming back for more.

https://www.instagram.com/manta_cafe_umdlotibeach/

 

 

Valeo Whole Foods

Situated behind Health on Boardway, this hidden gem is worth the visit to Durban North. Most of their meals are vegan and all are beautifully presented. As a lover of smoothies, I went for their Peanut Butter Mudslide Smoothie. This was a meal on its own – rich, creamy, thick, made with peanut butter, banana, chocolate pea protein and almond milk, and topped with a chocolate drizzle. Valeo’s pancake stacks are very popular, so I just had to try them. The Chocolate Protein Pancake Stack was an incredible choice! The pancakes were packed with chocolate and layered with generous spreads of peanut butter and slices of bananas, served with strawberries, chocolate sauce and, to add the decadence of the dish, chocolate peanut butter ice cream that melted into another sauce on top of the stack. Valeo definitely has the PB, chocolate and banana combo down to a tee!

https://www.instagram.com/valeowholefoods/

 

 

Old Town Italy

No one does brunch quite like Old Town Italy, and we were in for a treat when we visited this beautifully decorated Italian spot. Of course, we started with a cheeky mimosa and freshly squeezed cold-pressed juices. Their classic eggs benedict is a must, so we went for the one with smoked trout ribbons. The eggs were cooked to perfection and covered with a lavish amount of rich ollandaise sauce – just how we like it! The spinach and trout added to the layers of textures and came together to create an unforgettable eggs benny. Old Town Italy’s shakshuka is also a well-loved brunch dish and includes eggs baked and served in Mama’s Pomodoro, chorizo sausage, cannellini beans, peppers and onion, with artisanal toast on the side. It was full of flavour, tastes of tomato and bites of spice with the chorizo. We ended our brunch with a crunchy chocolate cannoli and crispy croissant filled with chocolate – delicious!

https://www.instagram.com/oldtownitaly/

 

 

Doppio Zero

Known for their scrumptious brunches, we couldn’t miss out on a visit to Doppio Zero. It wouldn’t be a brunch without some French toast! We dug into their croissant French toast served with streaky bacon, caramelised banana and syrup. This dish was a delish mix of sweet and savoury, with the saltiness of the bacon and the caramel taste of the banana making a moreish pair on top of the soft, buttery pieces of croissant French toast. Doppio Zero is also known for their healthy options, so we decided to try their Eggs & Greens dish, a colourful plate filled with roasted sweet potato, grilled halloumi, perfectly poached eggs, broccoli, cherry tomatoes and char-grilled artichokes on top of a bed of stringed baby marrows. It was crunchy and light, and all of the elements came together beautifully with the basil pesto hollandaise sauce – what a distinctive flavour combination!

https://www.instagram.com/doppiozero_umhlangarocks/

 

 

Moto Cafe

This cafe is a great spot to enjoy a tasty brunch with friends or while getting some work done. We started our experience with their creamy breakfast smoothie (strawberry, banana, coconut milk and honey) and you can’t forget a good iced coffee! After enjoying our refreshing drinks, we tucked into their popular brunch meals, the Smashed Avocado and No Bun Burger. With the tastes of chilli, coriander, red onion, lime juice and feta within the creamy smashed avo, this loaded avo toast is one to remember. We went for potato rosemary bread (but you can also choose from sourdough, rye, brown and white) and topped it with an additional hard-poached egg. Their No Bun Burger superbly combines elements of lunch and breakfast to create a unique dish – a beef (or chicken) patty served on crispy rosti, topped with avocado and salty halloumi, and garnished with pickles, onions, tomato and lettuce. This is definitely a must-try!

https://www.instagram.com/moto_cafe_dbn/

 

 

Words: Jordyn Trollip