Haarlem & Hope, also known as The Company’s Garden Restaurant, is located right in the centre of Cape Town’s Company’s Gardens. This is a hotspot for students, tourists and the main residence of the Company’s Gardens; squirrels! With such a beautiful setting, you’re also rewards with quality service, freshly baked goods and delicious dishes that will leave you more than satisfied. You can count on getting a seat here, even during lunch time. Although the restaurant is popular, there’s plenty of seating and if there is a wait, it won’t be long. Haarlem & Hope offer light meals, kiddies boxes perfect for picnics, main meals and more cost-effective takeaways. They also serve a selection of wines, cocktails and craft beers for those warm evenings when the gardens really blossom. If you’re more inclined to a non-alcoholic beverage, Haarlem & Hope serve speciality teas that are the perfect accompaniments to their freshly baked cakes.

For lunch, I ordered the Chicken burger with bacon, avocado and sweet chilli mayo. I was impressed when my burger arrived as it was presented in a very modern, rustic style. The burger itself was a very big portion and came with fries that I also enjoyed. Every component in my meal was absolutely delicious and I was very happy with the value of money and great prices. I also tried their freshly squeezed juice which was the perfect partner for my chicken burger and tasted just like summer.

For dessert, I had to try one of their many delicious-looking cakes, so I ordered the Cheesecake with berry coulis. My cake was absolutely divine and I would definitely recommend their baked good to anyone looking for a peaceful place in the CBD to enjoy cake and tea.