Café
Bean There Coffee Company
Bean There, founded in 2005 as South Africa's first roaster of Fairtrade certified coffee, serves single-origin African coffees at its café in the 44 Stanley precinct.
Café De La Crème
Café De La Crème on Melville's 7th Street is a family-run bakery, café and deli established in 1987, serving croissants, breads, pastries, breakfasts and lunches.
At a glance
- Type
- Bakery, café and deli
- Area
- Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Price
- $ · Budget
- Official site
- delacreme.co.za
Good to know
- Fresh croissants and breads
- Greek and Jewish specialities
- Breakfast and lunch
- Cakes and pastries
Why we recommend it
Café De La Crème has been part of Melville since 1987, a family-owned and family-run bakery, café and deli at 12 7th Street, the suburb's main street of cafés, bars and shops. Over the decades it has become a local favourite, and it is one of the best places in the area for an unhurried breakfast or a coffee and pastry.
The bakery is the heart of the business. Fresh croissants and breads are baked daily, alongside Greek and Jewish specialities that reflect the family's traditions, and the counter is filled with a changing selection of cakes and pastries. The kitchen turns out breakfasts and lunches, and the breakfast menu is known for good value. If you are self-catering, the deli side is useful for picking up bread and treats to take home.
It suits almost everyone: couples on a lazy weekend morning, families, students and solo travellers who want a quiet table. Melville has a relaxed, slightly bohemian character, and a morning at Café De La Crème followed by a stroll along 7th Street, with its small shops and other cafés, is a good way to see the neighbourhood.
Opening hours are not published on the website, so call ahead if you are planning an early start or a public holiday visit. Prices are modest, especially for breakfast. Weekend mornings are the busiest time.
The Greek and Jewish specialities are what set the bakery apart from newer cafés nearby, so ask at the counter what has been baked that day. It is also a handy stop for picnic supplies before a walk on the Koppies or a visit to the Botanical Garden.
Melville sits west of the city centre, next to the University of Johannesburg's Auckland Park campus and a short drive from Braamfontein, 44 Stanley and Rosebank. On Sunday mornings you can combine breakfast here with a guided walk on Melville Koppies, the nearby ridge-top nature reserve, which opens to the public from 08:00. The Johannesburg Botanical Garden and Emmarentia Dam are also only a few minutes away by car. As anywhere in the city, do not leave valuables visible in a parked car, and use a ride-hailing app if you plan to stay on for drinks in the evening.
Café De La Crème FAQs
When was Café De La Crème established?
In 1987. It is family-owned and family-run.
Where is it?
At 12 7th Street, Melville.
What does the bakery sell?
Fresh croissants and breads, Greek and Jewish specialities, cakes and pastries.
Does it serve breakfast?
Yes, breakfast and lunch are served, and the breakfast menu is known for good value.
Is it expensive?
No. Prices are modest.
How do I check opening hours?
Call the café on +27 11 726 7716, as hours are not published online.
What is nearby?
The rest of Melville's 7th Street, Melville Koppies and the Johannesburg Botanical Garden.
When is it busiest?
Weekend mornings.