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.
The Whippet Linden
The Whippet in the Old Linden Hotel is a much-loved Linden coffee shop serving brunch and honest comfort food, voted a Top 100 Coffee Shop in the World in 2025.
At a glance
- Type
- Coffee shop and brunch café
- Area
- Linden, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily
- Official site
- thewhippet.co.za
Good to know
- Brunch
- Artisanal pantry products
- Open daily from 07:00
Why we recommend it
The Whippet began life in Linden, a leafy suburb in the north-west of the city, and its original store still occupies the Old Linden Hotel building at 32 7th Street. It has since opened a second branch in Waterfall City, but the Linden café remains the heart of the business and a fixture of the neighbourhood's small, walkable high street.
The focus is on good coffee and what the café calls honest, comforting food, and it claims to serve one of the city's best brunches. The day menu, available as a PDF on the website, covers breakfast and lunch dishes, and the shelves hold an artisanal range of preserves, hand-pressed cordials, nougat, canned peaches, cookies and homemade breads that make good gifts. In 2025 The Whippet was voted one of the Top 100 Coffee Shops in the World at an awards event in Madrid.
It suits couples, families and friends meeting for a weekend brunch, as well as solo visitors and remote workers who want a good coffee in calm surroundings. Linden's 7th Street, not to be confused with the better-known 7th Street in Melville, has a mix of independent shops and restaurants, so it is pleasant to combine a meal with a short walk.
The café is open every day. From Monday to Thursday, and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, it opens from 07:00 to 16:00, and on Fridays from 07:00 to 17:00. Weekend mornings are the busiest time, so arrive early if you want a table without waiting. Prices are mid-range.
If you enjoy what you eat, the preserves, cordials and biscuits on the shelves are made for taking away, and they make good small gifts. Pantry items are a practical buy for anyone self-catering during their stay.
Linden is about 15 to 20 minutes by car from Rosebank and Sandton, and there is no convenient public transport, so drive or use a ride-hailing app. It is close to Emmarentia, so a brunch at The Whippet combines well with a walk in the Johannesburg Botanical Garden or around Emmarentia Dam. If you are staying in the north, the Waterfall branch is an alternative, and on Friday evenings it runs a date night with a set three-course dinner.
The Whippet Linden FAQs
Where is The Whippet in Linden?
In the Old Linden Hotel building at 32 7th Street, Linden.
What are the opening hours?
Daily 07:00 to 16:00, except Friday when it closes at 17:00. Public holidays 07:00 to 16:00.
What is it known for?
Coffee, brunch and comforting, honest food.
Has it won awards?
It was voted one of the Top 100 Coffee Shops in the World in 2025.
Can I buy products to take home?
Yes, including preserves, cordials, nougat, cookies and breads.
Is there another branch?
Yes, in Waterfall City.
When is it busiest?
Weekend mornings.
What is nearby?
The shops of Linden's 7th Street, and Emmarentia a short drive away.