{"id":48938,"date":"2013-09-24T00:21:06","date_gmt":"2013-09-23T22:21:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.whalecottage.com\/blog\/?p=48938"},"modified":"2013-09-28T16:32:15","modified_gmt":"2013-09-28T14:32:15","slug":"cafe-puerto-cabo-adds-spanish-touch-to-cape-town-combines-coffee-and-couture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/cafe-puerto-cabo-adds-spanish-touch-to-cape-town-combines-coffee-and-couture\/","title":{"rendered":"Caf\u00e9 Puerto Cabo adds Spanish touch to Cape Town, combines Coffee and Couture!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Puerto<\/a>Cape Town is a city of surprises, and a walk yesterday along Loop Street led me past\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Puerto Cabo, its bright blue awning and patrons sitting at a pavement table attracting attention. \u00a0I went to have a look, and discovered a small chic Caf\u00e9 that thrives on design not only of its interior but also by offering a men’s clothing couture range branded Issa Leo, and also serves quality coffee by\u00a0Deluxe Coffeeworks<\/strong><\/span><\/a> in thirteen styles.<\/p>\n

The Manager Zacharias Lopez recognised me as a regular customer of Haas, as he had worked there for about three months as their barista. His brother Issa is the owner of the business, having come to Cape Town from Spain in 2009, and having slowly built up his Issa Leo \"Puerto<\/a>clothing brand, made in Cape Town, over time. \u00a0He started at the Biscuit Mill, selling the clothing as well as leather bags there. \u00a0A business partner has enabled him to open his clothing and leather bag store within Caf\u00e9\u00a0Puerto Cabo, the name meaning Port of the Cape.<\/p>\n

Using the services of interior designer Zaayan Rasdien, they focused on the colours of the Spanish flag, the wooden table tops being set in yellow or red metal frames. The tables were especially designed for the Caf\u00e9, Issa finding little to please him in Cape Town.\u00a0Chairs are metal in yellow, black and red. \u00a0On the table there is a little cactus, and the sugar is in a black ceramic holder \"Puerto<\/a> made to look like a squashed disposable coffee cup! \u00a0The chic coffee cups are by Le Creuset, as they were the only matt black ones that they could find to match their colour scheme. \u00a0I loved the glass olive oil holders, which allows one to pour two olive oil options: plain or \"Puerto<\/a>with garlic. \u00a0Mini black pepper grinders are offered on request. \u00a0The coffee bar counter top was made from railway sleepers, as was the shelving for the leather bags. \u00a0There is a tan leather couch if one would like more homely seating. Modern Spanish music adds a good vibe. \u00a0One wall is painted in a strong yellow, and has a postage stamp and seal, to reflect their link to travel, and their food which is Spanish and Mexican. \u00a0The logo is an anchor, representing the port theme, and is printed on the take-away coffee cups and paper bags for food take-aways.<\/p>\n

In addition to more standard coffee styles, they serve a Bombon, described as being one quarter condensed milk with a shot of espresso, and a Ristretto, a short shot of espresso. \u00a0The cappuccino costs R15, but they are charging R12 during their first month of operation, until 21 October, to celebrate their opening on Saturday. \u00a0There are a number of milkshake options at R28, including an avocado muesli one at R32! \u00a0Natural fresh waters cost R18 – R20, and fruit juices are offered too. \u00a0They offer small light bites to eat: Spanish ‘Tostadas’<\/em>, or pancakes, ranging from R18 for tomato to R34 for Roquefort. They are also available in cheese, with Nutella, and with jam. \u00a0 Croissants cost R13, and they have some interesting fillings, such as\"Puerto<\/a> Mozzarella, basil and tomato (which I took home as a take-away, \u00a0costing R28), Honey and Feta, and Nutella and Banana (R30). \u00a0Soft boiled eggs and toast cost R45, and Muesli with fruit salad and honey costs R50. \u00a0Sandwiches sound exciting and have a play on words, including ‘Italian Job<\/em>‘ (Caprese style, at R35), ‘Tapa Tuna’<\/em> \u00a0(R38), ‘Pollo Roquefort<\/em>‘ \u00a0(R45), and the more descriptive English Beef (R45), and Fresh Salmon (R55). \u00a0Lin Sampson popped in by chance, being on an interesting writing assignment in the area, and she discovered a ‘Lost in Translation’ Spanglish moment when the menu promised ‘marmalade’<\/em> but meant jam! \u00a0 She was adamant that the ‘butter<\/em>‘ served with her croissant was in fact margarine. \u00a0Zacharias was professional in accepting her feedback, and they are not likely to make that mistake again!<\/p>\n

\"Puerto<\/a>The Spanish brothers Issa and Zacharias Lopez are charming, and are hands-on in their business. \u00a0One can see Caf\u00e9 Puerto Cabo becoming a trendy Cape Town hotspot, a more classy Spanish alternative to La Parada<\/strong><\/span><\/a>\u00a0not far away on Bree Street, even though their food options are still limited. \u00a0The Caf\u00e9 is in a trendy block which includes art gallery Ebony, and the exciting new design store Stable.<\/p>\n

Disclosure<\/strong>: \u00a0Zacharias would not let me pay for the cappuccino.<\/p>\n

POSTSCRIPT 28\/9<\/strong>: I popped in for a cup of coffee this morning, parking\"Puerto<\/a> being easier on weekends. \u00a0This was a yummy carrot cake they served today.<\/p>\n

Caf\u00e9 Puerto Cabo<\/strong>, 75 Loop Street, Cape Town. \u00a0Tel (021) 426-2757. \u00a0www.issaleo.com <\/a>\u00a0Twitter: @PuertoCabo Monday – Friday 8h00 – 17h00, Saturday 9h00 – 15h00.<\/p>\n

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: \u00a0www.whalecottage.com<\/a> \u00a0 Twitter: @WhaleCottage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cape Town is a city of surprises, and a walk yesterday along Loop Street led me past\u00a0Caf\u00e9 Puerto Cabo, its bright blue awning and patrons sitting at a pavement table attracting attention. \u00a0I went to have a look, and discovered a small chic Caf\u00e9 that thrives on design not only of its interior but also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false},"categories":[3,124,6924,266,20,21],"tags":[9639,13888,21186,21180,32366,32378,15748,4701,10461,21181,21183,18751,1614,21188,21185,21187,21189,21190,32373,21184,21182],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t