Some nights House of Machines is a glorious neighborhood-atmosphere bar crammed with hipsters and their tattooed friends. By day, however, it operates as one of Cape Town's most tantalizing cafés, with first-rate Brooklyn-style coffee from Cape Town's own Evil Twin. An uncomplicated taste-focused menu is served either inside at high tables with bar stools or outside at small tables. Snack on slices of banana and nut bread drizzled with raw honey, with a superfood-enhanced chocolate smoothie on the side, or tuck into slices of "raw" (dairy-, gluten-, and wheat-free) pizza; the "African" slice is topped with North African chermoula, relish, pineapple, and red onion. Sandwiches, made with the city's finest breads (from Jason, Cape Town's cherished baker), include "The Big Papi," laden with salami, artichokes, and mozzarella. The bar offers a small range of classy, properly mixed cocktails, craft beer (bottled and on tap), the finest spirits on earth, and a carefully curated wine list. Topping it all off are occasional live music events. The rough-hewn space has a vintage-inspired personality, with chunky ceiling beams and exposed brickwork thick with photos of the bike-loving owners and their friends. The place also doubles as a custom motorbike shop, designed for fans of classy two-wheelers and leather jackets. There's a selection of men's clothing, motorbike helmets, and manly toiletries in the small boutique space in back. If you want a peek at where the city's unpretentious movers and shakers are moving it and shaking it, do stop in and pull up a stool. Welcoming staffers lend the space a homey atmosphere, meaning guests may have trouble leaving.
Cape Town
Travel Guide
Cape Town› Nightlife
House of Machines
84 Shortmarket St.
Our Rating
Neighborhood
City Centre
Hours
Mon–Wed 7am–4pm, Thurs–Fri 7am–late, Sat 9am–4pm
Transportation
MyCiTi bus stop: Church
Phone
+27 21 426 1400
Prices
Breakfast R20–R60, lunch R35–R55
Cuisine Type COFFEE HOUSE Web site House of Machines

Cuisine Type COFFEE HOUSE Web site House of Machines
Map
84 Shortmarket St. Cape TownNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.