La Petite Tarte plays Paris in the Cape Quarter. The cafe sits on Dixon Street in De Waterkant, with tables under a striped awning on the sidewalk. It pours coffee at seven in the morning and runs a full bar until eleven at night.
The room is small and homey, the kind of space that fills with regulars who treat it as a local. Getaway Magazine described the Parisian feel, the awning, and the shelves of preserves and jams that line the walls. It seats around 48 across the floor and the pavement.
The food is French at heart. The quiches and savory tarts are the signature, joined by all-day breakfasts and a longer menu that runs to Karoo lamb shank, sticky ribs, and mac and cheese. Fodor's and Lonely Planet both file it as a reliable De Waterkant stop.
The bar is the reason it earns a place here. There is a wine list, coffee through the day, and a full bar with dinner service into the evening. For more spots to drink in the neighborhood, see our Cape Town date night list, the full Cape Town bar guide, and our Cape Town hidden gems.
What to order
- 01
A Glass of White
The wine list is short and Cape-led. A cold glass at a sidewalk table is the way to use the place in the evening.
$$ - 02
A Savory Tart
The house signature and the reason for the name. Order one with a salad for a light lunch or an early supper.
$$ - 03
The Lamb Shank
The heavier evening plate, slow-cooked Karoo lamb. The order when the cafe turns into a dinner table.
$$ - 04
A Coffee and Croissant
The morning move. Take the pavement seat, order the coffee, and watch the Cape Quarter wake up.
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The room and the crowd
The setting carries it. Tables and chairs spill onto the sidewalk under the awning, and the interior reads like a corner of Paris with its couch, cabinets, and jars on the shelves. It is built for lingering rather than turning tables.
The crowd shifts through the day. Coffee and breakfast regulars in the morning, a lunch trade off the Cape Quarter shops, then couples and small groups for wine and dinner. It runs relaxed and rarely loud.
What regulars say
- 01
Sit on the sidewalk
Tripadvisor reviewers rate the pavement tables as the seat to ask for. The awning and the street are half the appeal.
- 02
Come for the tarts
The savory tarts and quiches are the repeat order across reviews. Getaway flags them as the kitchen's strength.
- 03
It works all day
Reviewers use it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner alike. The long 7am to 11pm hours are rare for the area.
Who it is for
- 01
The easy date
A sidewalk table, a short wine list, and a quiet room. Low-key and walkable from the rest of De Waterkant.
- 02
The all-day regular
Open from breakfast to late, the same table works for coffee, lunch, or a glass after the shops.
- 03
Avoid if you want a late bar
This is a cafe with a bar, not a night spot. For cocktails and a crowd, the city center is a better fit.
Pair this bar with
Move to the wine list at Bouchon Bar in Cape Town, drink low-intervention bottles at Publik Wine Bar in Cape Town, or shift to cocktails at The House of Machines in Cape Town.
Sources: Getaway Magazine restaurant review; Fodor's Travel; Lonely Planet; EatOut; SA-Venues; Tripadvisor; La Petite Tarte official Instagram.