NEW PLACE: Inspiring Dreams At Home Bru Café

A local and lekker social hub in Obs

Also read about: The latest new coffee place & eatery in Obs, Sonder Café.

Home Bru Café loves people – not just its paying customers – and is all about supporting small local suppliers. They also love the environment (all takeaway packaging is biodegradable), so you can feel good about soaking up the warmth of Obs’ latest local hangout.

INSPIRED ORIGINS
“I’ve been so inspired by the people I’ve met, the places I’ve seen and the things I’ve done in Cape Town and I wanted to create a space that is all-inclusive and as welcoming as the city,” says co-owner and partner at Home Bru Café, Scot de Freitas, himself a born-and-bred Capetonian. “I wanted to create a safe and beautiful place that encourages and promotes creativity for other aspiring entrepreneurs and professionals – a place where people can connect and get together to feel inspired to follow their dreams.”

WHAT TO ORDER
As its name (a play on the local slang term “bru”, meaning “brother” and “brew”) suggests, Home Bru Café does coffee right, serving Mother Africa roast by local coffee roasting company, Tribe.

From the food menu, start off with the cheesy loaded fries or crumbed Brie sticks with chutney dipping sauce. For something really local, try the biltong salad with chutney dressing. Or choose from the Mexican burger, prego steak or bacon and Brie open sandwiches, served on a choice of ciabatta or olive and herb loaf. Meals range in price from R60 to R90. 

WHAT ABOUT WINE?
Home Bru Café is a few weeks away from acquiring a temporary liquor license and should have their official license by August. You can expect a wine, MCC, beer and spirits menu as soon as the liquor licence is approved. Until then, you can bring your own beer with no corkage fees, provided you order food.

INSIDE (AND OUTSIDE) HOME BRU CAFÉ
Lower Main Road in Observatory is known for being a trendy and vibey location. For de Freitas, finding a venue on this strip with mountain views was a dream come true. “At first sight, I could perfectly envision the concept in real-life and within two hard-working months, we were open and trading.”

The locally sourced tables were refurbished, along with almost all the furnishings and decor. The natural, wooden cladding is a common thread throughout the venue, a nod to the real, raw beauty of the city. “We wanted to keep the decor rustic, but also make it Insta-worthy,” says de Freitas.

Friends and family helped to source large black and white images of Cape Town over the years, which are displayed in refurbished frames. The images of the old harbour, historical parliament buildings as well as the mountains and scenery make for good talking points.

The balcony – soon to be kitted out with heaters and canvas blinds to keep guests toasty in winter – offers seating and a smoking area, making it the perfect spot for sipping on after-work drinks and avoiding city traffic. With a seating capacity of 54, Home Bru is an intimate space and would make a great venue for a private function or special celebration. Bonus: there’s free wifi throughout the café.

Look out for event info (including quiz nights) on Home Bru Café’s Facebook page.

HOME BRU CAFÉ
Address: First Floor, Gateway to Obz Building, Corner of Cranko Road and Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Hours: Mon–Thurs 9am–6pm; Fri–Sat 9am–10pm. Subject to change once liquor license comes through.
Contact: info@homebrucafe.co.za, +27(0)87 073 9464

Images: Sam Arendse Photography

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