Eat, Drink + Work at the Field Office

Creative Cape Town, this is for you!

My husband works for himself. Oh how he digs it. He works only when he’s feeling creative, has flexible hours and can even fit skating into his schedule. Life is a jol. But sometimes he gets lonely, wants people around him and fancies a change of scenery. That's why I've found him a cool space with cool people, cool art and amazing coffee!

Situated on the corner of Barrack Street and Harrington Street The Field Office is only a skate-minute away from our house and there is nothing else like this close by. "We wanted to inject some life into this part of town," says co-owner Luke.

Sandwiches, pastries and a Deluxe cuppa

The Field Office is light and young, everyone works on a Mac, you see simple designs and fresh flowers, there's always (!!) good music, coffee is served in vintage cups and there's free wifi. It is a creative cafe where I would feel comfortable working. "It is well received by the people around us and a lot of our customers become regulars, " says charismatic manager Will. With his big Afro and even bigger sense of humour he’s not only 'the funniest person I know', after Luke, but a guy who seems to be in the right place.

Designs and art by local creatives can be seen on one of the cafes large white walls. "We’ve teamed up with Creative Cape Town to raise awareness for the 2014 World Design Capital bid which aims to promote design as a tool for social, cultural and economic change."

The Field Office sells 'Will’s famous sandwiches' for up to R25 as well as croissants, pastries, cakes, Danish pastries, muesli, toast and a decent cup of coffee from Deluxe Coffeeworks will set you back for R10. Yeah, the good stuff is spreading out like nuts. I like it! I’m a bit worried that they won’t make enough money with a bunch of coffee-drinking patrons that stay for a few hours but then I get to understand the full concept.

Feeling and getting in touch with the decor

"Everything here is for sale," says Will. You'll find design magazines out of Africa, Chapel Bags (made by Luke’s brother), bicycles and much more. "It’s a little bit like a pop-up-shop," describes Will. But you know what it really is: it is a show room for Pedersen + Lennard's (Luke Pedersen and James Lennard) design collaboration. I sit on a Ingvar Dining Chair (R1200) at the Ingvar Cafe Table (R1600) and I'm struck by a beautiful bucket stool (R950) whilst the steel bucket lights above me cost R1200.

"We are a design company focused on quality products, innovative design and simple aesthetics. Our fabrication process is a combination of hand-made and machine-made elements which all come together at our Salt River workshop. While working on a variety of projects for home, office and hotel we have developed our own range which reflects our fascination with South African craft and the clean aesthetic of our Scandinavian forefathers."

Here at the Field Office, people can engage with the furniture, sit on it and check it out. "We want people to hang out here a little longer," says Luke, "We needed a showroom but also wanted people to get in touch with it and feel it. It’s a new experience for us to run a coffee shop. It’s fun. Connect."

by Antonia Heil; pictures by Desmond Louw