Review Meraki Downtown - Stellenbosch

I love coffee and always enjoy the variety of flavours served around CT. Meraki makes an awesome flat white. Deep and smooth coffee flavour with just the right amount of milk froth. 10 Giemba Points. I had the Slow Cooked Beef Brisket Burger. It was really really and really good. The homemade tomato relish was just the right amount of sweet and sour. It was just the right amount of sauciness and the tomato flavours blended well with the meatiness of the moo brisket...8 Giemba Points......I'd give it 10 Giembas if the roll was freshly made in the restaurant. Husband had the Chicken Burger with sweet potato chips and raved about it, but then again I could feed him sawdust covered in peanut butter and mayo and he'd love it. I'm not a fan of sweet potatoes but I can vouch for the deliciousness of the sweet potato fries. 10 Giemba Points. Service was good, but it was a Monday afternoon before lunch rush. What always makes me nervous though are waiters standing at the counter and staring at you while you're eating. A good training session can sort that out. I'm sure there's stacks of stuff to do while not servicing customers? Would definitely go back, but there are so many other nice little restaurants in the area to explore. If you're looking for a good lunch that's nice and informal then go here.

Great cakes!

I have been to Meraki a few times. I love the coffee and cake that is served at this restaurant, however, do feel that some of the cakes are slightly overpriced. The service is a bit slow but on the whole I would recommend

I love this place and highly recommend it! It works for both coffee dates and breakfasts, brunches and lunches. <br/>I often go to Meraki before I write my morning exams. It is quiet and the food and drinks come quickly. Although I change up my food order, I order the same drink every time: Miss Sunshine. It is always so delicious and nutritious! I love drinking it because it is so good for you and the colour always brightens up my day. <br/>The decor inside and out is very simple. It is mostly white marble with a few green plants to give it some colour. But because it is (almost) always busy, the people are definitely a part of the decor and help to bring the place alive. This is a great place for people watching too. <br/>The staff are always friendly, if not a little busy sometimes. But they are never rude or hard to find if you want something. <br/>The only criticism I have is that sometimes if you sit inside it can be very noisy and you can struggling to have a conversation over all the noise. Of course you could just go at a less busy time or sit outside.

I found the atmosphere pretty great and a very modern themed and inspired setting. Was just a little disappointed with the quality of the food compared to the price you pay for it.

Service is poor at best. Aimless shuffling around trying to look busy but actually doing absolutely nothing. Food was horrific, took an hour and then sent the sandwich back and got fries instead. At least the fries are similar to McDonald’s. Luckily the aesthetics of the tent made up. Service with a sigh.

I feel as though I have aged three entire years since ordering my food. As I stared at the pretentious aesthetic of an empty restaurant I highly considered eating my arm. When the food arrived I was 40% upset and 60% infatuated as to how a veggie burger which is essentially a giant mushroom between two rolls could take an hour to make. I am shocked, tired, aged and fascinated. Go here if you wish to wither away in the heart of stellenbosch. And if you want that tomato sauce for your fries, run to the counter and fight for your rights as it will not be brought to you upon asking.

Bad service and overrated food. Really annoyed at the price vs experience feel. Waited forever to get food. The restaurant is really well designed and I feel at home there, but over the years it has got really bad in the food and service departments.

Although I love the food, decor & coffee at meraki (and the location is ideal), I am SO disappointed by the overpriced food since the menu changed, TERRIBLE SERVICE and unsustainable environmental impact (and lack of care for it). <br/>Since the menu has changed, the already expensive prices have increased making it unaffordable and unjustified. The cake is R55 for a slice which is ridiculous! Especially because on TWO occasions, I have ordered Red Velvet cake which was almost rock hard and had weird black patches of old dry cake (it was inedible!). The service is (and always has been) terrible. I often have to get up to place my order and I always pay my bill at the till because it takes 20 minutes for the waitresses to bring it to the table. <br/>I am also incredibly disappointed in the lack of consciousness of the environment. Hazz gives discounts if you bring your own coffee cup, De Warenmarkt has switched to eco-friendly packaging and most restaurants have started offering alternatives to plastic straws. Meraki hasn't done anything like this, and instead continues to put straws in people's drinks without asking them. I have even contacted meraki about this because as a consumer, environmental sustainability is important to me! But I have not gotten a response. All in all, I'm super disappointed with this coffee shop where I used to be a regular.

Used to visit Meraki every week with a group of friends, but have stopped since we still receive terrible service and the food, especially cakes, have become COMPLETELY overpriced. Sometimes wait up to 20 minutes for the bill and often having our orders forgotten. Also get seriously bad attitude from waitresses if anything is wrong with the food.<br/>Nobody is expecting student prices but R55 for a small slice of cake is ridiculous. In my opinion, Meraki does not care about their customers because they know they have their regulars already. <br/>Also, the fact that they put a straw in my water without even asking me is ridiculous. Many of your customers are concerned about the environment, even if you are not.

Love this place. Stopped by for breakfast one Sunday morning. Their breakfast menu is great, with variety and the option to assemble your own breakfast plate. I'm a sucker for a good eggs Benedict, and this one definitely goes in my top 5 favourites. My boyfriend made his own plate and it came with the freshest and nicest tasting avo. They're also reasonably priced, which is always a win. <br/><br/>Also had one of their lemon meringue tartlets which ended off breakfast perfectly.

Was very disappointed that Meraki does not offer a soya or almond milk alternative. A nice coffee shop but not catering enough for students or customers with different dietary needs. 😶 Salad was good though and service was reasonable. 👌

Beautiful inside and always busy but overpriced and never have stock. I find that you have to have a back up order. Their coffee is great and their cakes are delicious. Not sure if they still have a harvest table but I noticed they rarely had anything substantial for vegetarians on it.

Over the four times that we’ve visited Meraki, the service was always very slow or disengaged and they were always out of stock of at least one of the items we tried to order. We’ll stick to Bluecrane, Millhouse, Big Easy etc in future

Very average food for the price. Ordered the millionaire scrambled egg on toast, for R75 I could have made myself a billionaire scrambled egg on toast.

Had such a lovely breakfast and red cuppachino here. Great start to the holiday. Delicious Croque Madame.. bread could be slightly thinner. The smoked salmon croissant was great, but the raw red onion was a bit overpowering and too much.

Meraki is a beautiful coffee shop on the heart of Stellenbosch. Great coffee and breakfast. Healthy items on the menu and a few juices to choose from. <br/>It can however get a little loud inside the restaurant, as it is quite small.<br/>Ps. The Eggs Benedict is divine !

Lovely food & atmosphere. Great aesthetics and customer service. The coffee I ordered was divine, as well as my breakfast. Would i go back? Most definitely.

This is definitely one of the cutest cafes in Stellenbosch with great ambience and a great location. However, food portions are quite lacking when compared to the price and service is slow. During a recent experience, my friend and I waited a considerable time before the bill was brought even though we asked for it a while ago.

Delicious food especially the toasted sandwiches. The staff are quite friendly although service is slow. It is always busy and the atmosphere is great.

A cute find in the heart of Stellies. The decor is super lovely, and the food interesting and good, too (the sweet potato skinny fries are yum!). Service was slightly slow, but all in all a rad vibe and friendly staff.

Nice coffee and atmosphere. Service is abit slow but it's a very busy restaurant and filled with socializing people which makes working here a great experience specially with the complimentary wifi

Meraki offers a fantastic vibe with amazing freshly squeezed juices. Just ask the waiter for some recommendations and go with it. Service is usually very good and the food never disappoints. Prices can be a bit expensive. Worth a visit

So many delish options on the menu - and very friendly staff! <br/>We had a wonderful table outside in the sun. It's on a very sweet, tranquil little street. I had been wanting to try this place, and I was so impressed with the food. I had the Black Tagliatelle with roasted almonds and cauli with feta. It was SO good! Very good GnT special as well<br/>The service was a little weak but all round it was so lovely. Definitely recommend!

The service and staff are excellent here and I love the clean decor. The menu has large variety and everything sounds delicious. I had the leek, bacon and feta omelette and it was really good! You can also design your own breakfast plate which I like!

Always love coming for breakfast after first lecture of the day. The coffee and fresh juices are great and their pasta is to die for. Don't even get my started on their spectacular pastry selection!

Loved the food, had the chicken and pesto sandwich! The service was great and the waitress was helpful. Great atmosphere for such a cold day!

Delicious coffee, friendly staff and beautiful surroundings! There are a few goods to buy like preserves, but also little pastries that looked delicious! I had a simply avo on toast and added some mushrooms! Very small portion but relative to cost 😊 hoping for some vegan alternatives though!

Meraki is all I ever look for in a favourite coffee shop. Amazing interiors and a working hub feel makes Meraki the perfect spot for a delicious lunch and working spot. The food is great (but does not suit everyone's budget) and the overall feel is clean but cosy, especially on a rainy day.<br/><br/>The service efficiency differs from time to time and unfortunately it has been poor more times than good.

Amazing eggs Benedict and coconut cake this morning! Waitress was very good and looked after us very well! Our table was a bit close to the bathroom door and was annoying having to move out my chair every time someone went to the bathroom, <br/>Other than that it Was a good start to the day!

I have been to Merkai a few times in the past three years with no complaints. However, my experience today is worthy of a few complaints. I ordered a simple pasta dish which took 40 minutes. The pasta was bland with just a few greens on top and some chopped chilies. My friend ordered another pasta dish which looked and tasted a lot more appetizing. I cannot fault the pink velvet cheese cake I had for dessert. It was sublime! Overall, lackluster pasta but delectable cake!

Lekker lekker lekker! The food was fresh and offered great value. The highlight though, was the R30 double premium gin and tonic! Cool place, we will definitely be back.

Lovely place.<br/>Beautiful open space- very clean fresh feeling.<br/>Friendly staff.<br/>Food looked beautiful and was presented well.<br/>Had to ask for water like 3 times though.<br/>Place seems popular.<br/>The cappucinos are delicious and they make little hearts on them.<br/>The little cakes/desserts look amazing, will have to come try it out.<br/><br/><br/><br/>

Of all the coffee shops in Stellenbosch this has to be the most stylish and welcoming. I love their coffee and cakes and the omelette is to die for.

Perfect little place to simply pop by and enjoy a light meal and coffee. The prices are great and the food even better. I had the croissant with honey and almonds and had to stop myself from licking the plate clean.<br/><br/>The only thing stopping me however from giving Meraki a 5/5 is the service. It was quite slow and I saw multiple people getting up and paying at the counter after already asked for the bill.<br/><br/>Other than that, it was a great experience!

Such a cute little place. The food blew me away I ate my veggies without being forced, that alone speaks volumes. I'll definitely revisit this place next time I'm in Stellenbosch. Even dessert was amazing. The service was great didn't experience any delays.You are definitely putting into practice what your name means.

Love the layout of this quaint little spot. Colors are neutral and so natural, ample of bright light pouring through the large windows. The menu is simple. Had delicious coffee and breakfast. Service wasn't quite up to standard as our waitress tends to forget about her tables & a small favor clearly was an issue to her. ( I'll just eat my eggs without tobasco sauce). However well worth the mission for a good brekkie.

Stellenbosch is bursting at the seams with fine food outlets these days. Meraki can stand alongside these in my opinion. Had an excellent brunch there on Saturday. Their menu's got some unique variety and this is well complimented by their modern atmosphere. Some of my companions didn't enjoy their food as much as I did, and my experience was enhanced by the takeaway cheesecake I had yesterday. I'd definitely return and feel comfortable recommending Meraki.

Love cheesecake? Go to Meraki.<br/><br/>Stellenbosch is home to beautiful sidewalk cafés and Meraki fits right in. Whether outside under the oak trees or indoors with the bright, warm white walls and furniture – which is great for taking pictures of the fantastic food – you’ll feel relaxed and energised. <br/><br/>The first thing you see when you walk in is the display filled with delicious-looking desserts: from massive cookies and banana bread to quaint lemon meringues and cheesecakes. <br/><br/>But first, breakfast.<br/><br/>There’s a massive menu, with old classics you don’t find everywhere, like the Croque Monsieur and Eggs Florentine, to deliciously modern scrambled eggs with parmesan and truffle oil, mmm… <br/><br/>The coffee was good and the perfect accompaniment to the incredible desserts. We ordered a few between the six of us, but save yourself the trouble and just eat the red velvet cheesecake; it’s absolutely divine!

I came here Saturday morning with my girlfriend and knew nothing about it, except that she wanted to go there. It's a very simple place, with lots of seating area and a minimal menu, which is fine by me. <br/><br/>She took a toast with eggs, parmesan, and truffle oil; and said it was incredible. She raved about it and it looked really good. I had eggs benedict and while it wasn't the best I've had, it was really good and the bacon was crispy with the eggs done to perfection. <br/><br/>I like how you can sit in the shade outside, away from the business inside. <br/><br/>I think we will definitely go back to Meraki again!

Looks like perfection on a plate!!!<br/>Stunning little cafe on Ryneveld so cute with a special atmosphere. Even got to watch fresh pasta being made by hand. That made my day. We had a coffee cake that was a little too dence for my liking but looked stunning. Would definitely be back for a meal sometime.

I love breakfast and I love Meraki. Fabulous decor. Great menu. On a cold morning a bowl of oats and a newspaper was all I wanted. Went there for lunch again. The fishcakes are a winner and they have sweet potato fries which I am a huge fan of. On there baked goodie display they have a big variety of interesting little cakes that looked amazing. Will definitely go back for one of them.

Its a cold winters day in Stellenbosch and Meraki was the ideal place for a winters lunch. I had the tomato soup, which was heartwarming and my friend had the chicken and vegetable broth. That too was delicious. Would recommend this place if you are in the area and want to have a quick bite.

One of Stellenbosch's little café gems in my opinion! Very rare to walk by and see an empty table, most of which are occupied by students! The prices are reasonable and its a two minute walk from campus which makes Meraki convenient and accommodating! The service has been disappointing on more than one occasion and I've had a few experiences here where it's been almost impossible to catch a waiter's attention or even get a menu within the first 15 minutes of sitting down! However, if you're not in a rush, then it's completely chilled! Despite the slack service, the fresh juices are amazing and the food is delicious and impressively presented! Recently went for lunch and had the veggie wrap which was big enough to share but I was so hungry and it was so good I polished it off! My friend had the chicken and bacon toasted sandwich which she said was amazing! I'm a huge gin fan and their selection of G&Ts is so great. They are my go-to celebratory drinks with friends after a test or exam! Lovely little spot, be prepared to wait but definitely worth it!

Came to Meraki for breakfast and it was wonderful. Apart from them over cooking my sister's poached eggs, we had an amazing time. I had their French toast and it was divine ❤️☕️

Spent half the day there enjoyed breakfast and lunch..very pleasant cafe excellent service..had the french toast with bruleed bananas for breakfadt was really good..they serve great coffee too..for lunch i had the three cheese toast which was also nice enjoyed the sweet potato chips..and the fresh raw juices with ginger are amazing

Had an early morning brekkie there and it was absolutely divine. From the service to the decor to the food ... Quality for money for sure as you can see top standards are used in buying foods, we were there already at 7:30am pre-work energy load ;) definitely going to be doing more pre-work brekkies there 😀

We had a very pleasant meal sitting outside under the trees on the busy streets in Stellenbosch. A few delicious pink G&T's followed by some great peppered snoek salads was exactly what we wanted. I had the quinoa burger which was amazing, served so perfectly with a fresh bun with lots of fresh avo and fried sweet potato crisps. Very enjoyable for a light afternoon lunch Trinka Mynhardt Lara Meyer Jenna Conway

This is probably one of my favourite lunch spots in town. With its minimalistic yet edgy decor, Meraki has a very fresh look, making it quite appealing to anyone passing by (and therefore difficult to get a table around lunchtime). It's a great place for breakfast or a light lunch, and they have the greatest fresh juices. <br/>Their menu isn't huuuge but they offer something for everyone, with quite a trend towards health consciousness. In addition to the salads, sandwiches and other goodies on the menu, they also offer a harvest table with more 'home cooked' kinds of foods. Today's selection didn't look like anything spectacular, so I decided to opt for the mackerel, sweet potato, and chevin salad. As you could imagine, this was very interesting... but in a good way. The flavours worked surprisingly well together and it was honestly very tasty. That said, the sweet potato was slightly undercooked and I feel like I got a lot more rocket than I expected for the price I was paying. <br/>I may have been more upset, had it not been for the Ruby gin and tonic, which I THOROUGHLY enjoyed. This grapefruit infused drink truly made my day and is a must have on a hot summer's day. <br/>Meraki has a lot going for it: the atmosphere is really cool, and the food is always fresh and beautifully presented. This may not have been my best Meraki experience, but I will most definitely be back. <br/>

I walk past Meraki every morning as they open up for the day, and it's basically torture! The smell of fresh croissants and coffee, alongside the tranquil and trendy vibe is enough to make anyone break all daily commitments and stay for breakfast, lunch and an afternoon craft beer. Meraki offers a gourmet breakfast and lunch menu, which I can honestly say is faultless. I usually go for the buffet breakfast option with home made muesli and fresh fruit, and the buffet lunch that changes daily and is always worth writing home about. My absolute favourite meal is the peppered mackerel and sweet potato salad, which I recommend to any foodie!! The meals are slightly expensive, but understandably so as the produce is always fresh and meals are expertly prepared. On top of this, the owners are divine and always very welcoming- definitely one of my all time favourite spots!

A stunning breakfast and open early.<br/>If you are a local or in stellenbosch for some vacation time, check out Meraki.<br/>The breakfasts' are wonderfully made and their Harvest table delicious. <br/>Coffee is made with care and served hot. <br/>Besides the modern vibes, I love the fact that it opens at 7:00 am. We could go to breakfast with the broker in law before he went to work. <br/>Service was a bit slow, but never to the point where is bothered us. <br/>Check it out if you can. <br/>

This is a divine little restaurant/coffee shop. The decor includes a lot of white, it's "clean" and minimalistic - very Scandy, if you know what I mean. Because it's so close to campus and a popular meeting spot for students it's always buzzing around breakfast and lunch time, but I usually find an open table at the back if it's full inside. Whether it be for a quick cappuccino and a pastry or a helping from the harvest table, it always seems to hit the spot. Their breakfast and lunch harvest tables are especially popular, and not only because it's quick and convenient but oh-so-good! I'm inclined to say that their food is quite healthy, besides for the French pastries and sweet treats obviously. I love their fresh raw fruit and vegetable juices. Meraki is a must if you want to experience Stellenbosch the way the locals do!

This little restaurant is in the hub of Stellenbosch, right on Ryneveld street with beautiful trees shading the side walk outside, which is why sitting outside is lovely when the weather isn't chilly and you'll often find that most of the tables are taken, but turnover is quite quick and the staff is always accommodating. I have had breakfast here several times, it is always delicious and tastes fresh and healthy and the service time of food is impressive. At lunch time they also have a buffet style, harvest table with freshly baked dishes and salads as well as an a la carte menu. The staff is very friendly and will always greet you with a smile. You will definitely come back to this place again and again and enjoy it every time.

I love this place. I come here for the Choc Chip cookies and awesome cappuccinos. They did didnt have my cookies today and so I am trying the Churros. They did not disappoint. So much cinnamony goodness!

Meraki is always busy and the new decor is gorgeous. The food is good and the tarts and coffees are very nice. The lunch buffet is healthy and interesting and well worth while. I'd recommend that over the menu items.

Great decor and atmosphere! I love the fact that you can pretty much make up your own breakfast meal by choosing individual items/portions. The food and coffee were great. Service was a little slow, but I was there pretty early in the morning, so I get it. But certainly recommended!

Meraki has a good location and a nice atmosphere. From the times I've been here, the service has been welcoming and friendly. They have tasty sandwiches and nice salads. Definitely a place to check out.

This gem of a restaurant has a delightful interior paired with well presented tasty dishes. There is an enjoyable array of breakfast foods and lunch variety. Not to mention, they make excellent coffee and cakes too! Big ups for having gluten-free/diet sensitive options.

One of the closest restaurants to campus and by far one of the most popular among students. Devine breakfasts and lunches. Also highly recommend the berry smoothies