Shift Espresso Bar – Old Cape Quarter, De Waterkant

Updated: 14-11-2025

Tucked into the stylish cobblestone lanes of De Waterkant, Shift Espresso Bar at the Old Cape Quarter blends Cape Town cool with authentic Muslim hospitality. Fully Muslim-owned and proudly halaal, it’s the kind of café where both locals and tourists instantly feel at home, whether you’re grabbing a quick cap or settling in for a slow morning of work and people-watching.

We popped in for a mid week breakfast treat while also whipping out the laptop for some crisis management on the fly. Yes, when the coffee is good, you can conquer corporate anywhere. And the flat whites definitely measured up.

This branch is owned by Durban based power couple, Shahida and Ismail Hansrot who we got to meet that morning. We felt instantly at home with their warm and friendly welcome before settling to our leisurely breakfast.

With an undercover patio outside, and loads of hanging plants leading to the interior with warm lights, a comfy seating area and ample table space, the aesthetics were just so welcoming, I could see myself here wiling an entire morning away.

The menu is a treat for breakfast lovers and all-day grazers alike. Expect perfectly pulled espressos, creamy lattes, freshly pressed juices, and a generous selection of pastries, toasties, wraps, burgers, and wholesome bowls.

We ordered a steak burger, medium well, and a salmon eggs bennie. Zulfi says the steak was perfectly done and only allowed me one bite before knocking back the entire thing…. for breakfast! He normally likes his steak dead, (I know, gasp!), but he really enjoyed the medium-well this time. It was also flavourful with a light spicy masala taste. Not too much, but just enough to make it different from a regular steak you’d get anywhere else.

My eggs bennie was a familiar standard. The eggs were soft poached as I ordered them, and the lemony hollandaise was smooth and punchy. Shahida tells me that this branch is the only one that offers koesisters all week, and we could not come to the Cape Quarter and not have some. The koesisters come in a portion of 3 and were really well flavoured. With another flat white it was just the thing to round off our breakfast. Although I have to mention that I’ve had their Amsterdammers at one of the other Shift Espresso branches, and it’s also a favourite on the side of my flat white.

They are currently introducing a collaboration with Scheckters RAW, and some of the of the vegan menu items form the Scheckters RAW menu will be available at Shift.

What makes this branch truly special is its location. The Old Cape Quarter is one of Cape Town’s most trendy lifestyle hubs, with art galleries, boutique stores, and colourful architecture just steps away. It’s perfectly positioned for digital nomads, travellers exploring the city on foot, and locals on their morning routine.

Inside, the layout is thoughtfully designed. There’s ample seating for both solo visitors and groups — and a particularly charming reading corner where you can curl up with a cappuccino, listen to the gentle strains of Michael Buble and other swing classics and get lost in a book. For those who like to work remotely, Shift is laptop-friendly, with plenty of space and a relaxed atmosphere that makes it ideal for getting some work done while staying caffeinated.

Whether you’re meeting friends, taking a quiet moment for yourself, or setting up shop for a productive work session, Shift Espresso Bar at the Old Cape Quarter strikes the perfect balance between trendy and welcoming.