Reviews
Lovely cafe in the middle of Pretoria right next to church square, has a great selection of food and drinks. Definitely a must visit if in the CBD
Café Riche is a beautiful and nostalgic part of Pretoria's history. I have been a long standing client, but for many years I had not been able to visit. In that time, the centre of the Capital City moved further and further towards the east and it became fashionable to frequent trendier, newer restaurants in the newly built malls. There is a nostalgia for a vibrant, street café scene in South Africa. Many people try to recreate the charm of Europe here on the African continent. As a nation, we've been indoctrinated to embrace ersatz replicas of European charm even down to the absence of people of colour. Café Riche is the real deal. An old world café, situated in the real world. It is not buildings that create a sense of place, it is the people. For too long, we have craved to create a sense of place in Africa that denied the reality of Africa and it's people. People from Europe love Café Riche and consider it a gem It was once voted, as one of the best cafés in the world by international travellers...no, NOT prior to 1994...no, neither was it during Madiba's Presidential magic flowed strong....rather, it was circa 2015 Despite this high accolade, many South Africans have never visited this historical, national and international treasure. Café Riche is located at the historical epicentre of South Africa. It has potentially one of the best addresses in the South Africa No 2, Church Square, Pretoria. This historical Monument has seen, over time, many of the people in positions of power and those who put them there, but also the protesters, journalists and other role players and activist who demanded change and bravely attempted to call South African society back to order. The location of Café Riche is at the epicentre of the country, yet to some south africans it inspires fear and loathing even though they have never visited this site or had a deliscious coffee on it's terrace while watching life on the beautiful square. One fears what one does not know. I hope that one day, we will overcome our fear of each other. We need to get to know each other, to get to know "foreigners" especially the ones from our own continent and to get to know people from different social classes yes, even the poor without perceiving them as a threat to our own social standing or trying to edit them out of "our world". There are infact more poor people in the world than rich people, so whose world is it? I'm a dreamer, I hope that we can stop this apartheid of wealth, where the few oppress the many and tell them where to live and how to live so that we may feel better about ourselves. Who will lead this change? Damn! That Gandhi quote is real. So I better step up. lol And like the little red hen, I ask, who will help me? There is a new breed of warm, empathic, nomadic, open minded and cosmopolitan person out there. No, I don't only mean the chronologically youth. I hope that I am not wrongly labeled as ageist by this statement. But honestly, it is not only the youth who need to build the future; we are all co-creators of our reality.
Cafe Riche is a coffee shop where the heart of history in Pretoria is situated. It is part of the historical buildings that encircled the famous Church Square. Paul Kruger's statue on the square makes out part of the upgrading that is taking place.
No coca cola. No cuppachino. Bad quality food. Honest waste of money. Bathrooms no locks on the doors. Flies all over the kitchen and on food. Chicken slices was ham from checkers with letics and tomato on bread. No tomato sause at all in restaurant.
I found the owner to be very rude went to use the bathroom and was told that it's not a museum when I started looking around and pushy, but a quaint restaurant with a great vibe and competent staff otherwise.
Good coffee at the oldest bar in the PTA CBD. Great stuff here. Love this place
Smells amazing! Friendly staff. Good place to be alone or with people. Opens early
1 X visit : attentive service, free coffee refill just magically appeared and nice apple tart !
Great old school atmosphere. Good service. Enjoyed the hospitality.
No no no! This place use to be cool and quiant and charming! No man! Get ur act together!
