During my brief stay in Johannesburg last month, I tried three great coffee shops within the Melrose Arch district. Coffee is not in short supply in South Africa.
Best Coffee In Johannesburg
My first stop was just outside the Marriott Hotel at a place called The Grind Coffee Company.
The Grind Coffee Company
Whiteley Road and The High Street
Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
+27 72 754 8705
Monday – Friday: 6:30am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 7:30am – 4:00pm
Sunday: 8:00am – 4:00pm
This shop had the best coffee machine in town, though the guys behind the counter were rather sullen. Nevertheless, the flat white turned out very nicely and I savored it while enjoying the warm summer day outside (about to fly home to the winter).
Tiki Tonga Coffee Roasters
Shop 004G, The Piazza
Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, 2076, South Africa
+27 63 899 1319
Monday – Friday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 6:00pm
Sunday: 8:30am – 4:00pm
My favorite coffee shop was Tiki Tonga, in The Piazza, an indoor mall within Marble Arch. Unlike at The Grind, the proprietor was extremely friendly and invited me to sit down while he made my coffee. I paid after rather than before and enjoyed a strong cappuccino with a nice blend of chocolate and nutty flavors.
Naked Coffee
Shop No. HL22, Melrose Plaza, Melrose Blvd
Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday: closed
My last stop came late in the afternoon at Naked Coffee, inside the luxury car dealership in Melrose Arch. The swanky bar offered fresh-squeezed orange juice as well as coffee made to order.
The barista certainly needed some more practice with his latte art, but the coffee itself was not bad. That said, I preferred the espresso at both Tiki Tonga and The Grind better.
CONCLUSION
I’m sure J’berg is full of excellent coffee and I welcome your suggestions. For my one-day trip, I chose not to leave the “compound” but next time I return to South Africa I look forward to seeing more of Johannesburg.
I think you meant to state “Melrose Arch” in your introductory comments. “Marble Arch” is in central London.
Yes indeed. Thanks Vinod!
@Matthew, nice looking Rolls. definitely, an upscale area. OH, and thanks for the coffee report – been missing them.
Definitely need to travel around the rest of joburg. Won’t be disappointed
I love coffee. I am a software developer so nobody drinks more coffee than me.
I am not sure how you are rating these places exactly if we are talking strictly coffee just coffee try my golf range https://www.thegolfplace.co.za/
They have very good coffee.
Then there is another spot on Witkopen I think it is Highland gate shopping center they roast their own coffee. I tried their medium roast from Uganda it’s the bomb.
Then there is another restaurant very close to Lanseria Airport can’t quite remember the name coffee is not bad.
You should try Bean There in Milpark, 44 Stanley. Great coffee and vibe
Need to try Father coffee in Rosebank next time. They might be the most OCD roasters around.
Bean There, Neighbour, and even some Seattle coffee shops make excellent cups. Guess you’ll just need to come back!
Our local app Coffee Monster helps find good coffee shops… Check it out.