Backyard Cafe

Running a casual outdoor cafe in Cape Town means working around the weather patterns that define the city's seasons. Winter rainfall, afternoon nor'westers in summer, and unpredictable load shedding all shape how a backyard operation functions day to day. Backyard Cafe navigates this by building a relaxed menu that doesn't rely on complex cooking during power cuts, often pivoting to cold dishes, salads, and grab-and-go options when the grid goes down. The physical setup—garden seating, simple food prep—allows flexibility that a traditional kitchen can't match. It's a practical approach to hospitality that acknowledges how Cape Town actually works rather than fighting against it.