Daytime café in one of Paarl’s oldest homes.

Said {loo-nah}. Breakfast, lunch and a proper cup of coffee under the plane trees at 501 Main Road.

See the autumn/winter menu Directions
Where
501 Main Road, Groenvlei, Paarl
Monday to Friday
8am to 4pm, kitchen closes 3pm
Saturday
8am to 3pm, kitchen closes 2pm
Sunday
closed

Autumn/Winter 2026. A few from the kitchen; the full menu has breakfasts, benedicts, croissants, bowls, wraps, sandwiches and everything to drink.

  • Classic bacon benedict 120

    toasted English muffin | crispy streaky bacon | two poached eggs | hollandaise | chives

  • Avocado & feta toast 95

    smashed avocado | feta | chilli oil | lemon zest | toasted sourdough

  • Shakshuka 125

    slow braised tomato & chorizo ragù | mushrooms | spinach | poached eggs | feta | chickpeas | toasted ciabatta

  • Smoked salmon poke bowl 170

    black rice | smoked salmon | avocado | cucumber ribbons | pickled ginger | kimchi | edamame beans | radish | mayo | crispy rice paper

  • Braaibroodjie (V) 95

    sourdough | tomato | two cheese | caramelised onions | chutney

  • Monarch french toast 125

    coffee drenched croissant | cinnamon sugar | berry compote | whipped cream | honey

Full menu Menu as a PDF
Inside the front room: cakes under glass cloches on round wooden tables, plaster busts and jars of flowers, bare bulbs strung above.
The cake table in the front room at 501 Main Road, Groenvlei.

The garden

Out the back, under the plane trees, there is a swing, a vegetable planter, white metal chairs and enough shade for a long lunch. Children are welcome and usually end up on the swing.

On summer evenings the garden turns into a dinner table. Lounah Events hosts garden dinner parties; subscribe and you hear about them first.

We also cater for functions, big or small. Talk to us.

A woman on the garden swing that hangs from the plane tree.
The swing under the plane tree
Guests at white tables in the dappled shade under the plane trees.
Lunch under the plane trees
The two-tier stone fountain in the garden, sun on the water.
The fountain

From the café’s Instagram

The plates, the garden and the people, as they are posted. Follow @lounahcafe.

A bowl of avocado, greens and edible flowers on a white table, seen from above.
A cappuccino with latte art in a blue-grey cup, held over a white saucer.
The front room: bentwood chairs around round wooden tables, old paintings on white walls.
A cut honey cake with toasted meringue on a pink plate.
Three friends at a table on the stoep in front of the café.
Four small meringue tarts on a white plate, held in one hand.
Watercolour of the café: the white house with blue shutters under plane trees, from the printed menu cover.

Lounah, named after my twins, Louis and Hannah, opened its doors in 2021. We built this eatery from a mother’s love for her children and our focus was to be much more than just another restaurant. It has always been more than just a place to eat, a place where our love for good and beautiful food, our love for the community and togetherness, is cherished.

We hope that when you visit Lounah, you feel our love for what we do; you leave with something more; and you long for your next visit.

We are proud of what we’ve built and we are excited to share this with you.

With love, Anelma
Owner and founder

The white Lounah Cup container café with its serving hatch open, staff at the counter and tables in front.

Lounah Cup

Your favourite daytime eatery, but in a cup.

A compact version of Lounah in a container: fresh local meals, good coffee and the same care, at Paarl Girls’ High and in Swakopmund, Namibia. Mobile units cater sporting events of any size.

About Lounah Cup

Part of the Strive Capital family

A collection of businesses dedicated to hospitality, events, food, coffee and good guest experiences, sharing a commitment to quality, creativity, and spaces where people gather.

Festa Restaurant
A destination dining experience celebrating generous hospitality, Italian-inspired cuisine, and memorable occasions.
Monarch Coffee Cartel
Premium coffee roasting and supply, delivering exceptional coffee experiences across hospitality venues, events, and businesses.
Baie Goeters
A furniture, décor, and lighting hire company providing beautifully curated event infrastructure for weddings, celebrations, corporate functions, and styled gatherings.
Taste Ateljee
Curating exceptional catering experiences for weddings, celebrations, corporate events, and memorable gatherings.
Kleinevalleij Estate & Event Venue
A premier wedding and event venue in Wellington, offering a full-service, flexible setting for up to 200 guests with elegant indoor and outdoor spaces, in-house catering and décor, and expert event coordination.
Lounah Cup
An extension of Lounah Café, serving the school community with quality coffee, meals, and snacks, while its mobile units provide catering for sporting events of all sizes.