WITH the soaring number of coffee shops opening in Joburg, you seldom have to venture far for your hourly fix of caffeinated beverages. You can have your pick of boutique, beautifully decorated cafés and coffee shops that pride themselves on craftsmanship, and have never and will never serve fake whipped cream on their cappuccinos.
The Naked Kitchen and Coffee Bar is a gourmet deli and coffee shop in Morningside, and the brainchild of Shaun Els and Victor Barbosa - the pair behind the former Naked Coffee in Melrose Arch. This comfy, casual, cool and contemporary coffee office makes food that’s so good, you can literally taste its integrity.
Millennials are the most frequent customers at this upmarket establishment as the Naked Kitchen appeals to several scruples this generation shares and refuses to compromise on, such as a menu with variety, convenience, the ability to experiment with different food without needing culinary experience, quality, freshness, an appropriate focus on coffee - and, of course, food lovingly and respectfully prepared from carefully sourced ingredients.
TASTY: Rosemary and turmeric chicken thigh with a side of roast vegetables.Pictures: Simphiwe Mbokazi/African News Agency(ANA)
It is undeniably one of those coffee shops quiet enough to get some work done and still trendy enough for people to be impressed at how you spend your work days. The decor is clean, fusing wood, jade green marble and white gloss subway tiles. One of the Naked Kitchen’s finest traits is that it’s incredibly photogenic and Instagrammable. The moment you walk in, you’re immediately compelled by the social media gods to post what you’re eating and drinking.
Their menu is comprised of an ever-changing assortment of offerings in proper delicatessen style. Their sensational speciality is the chef’s choice pasta of the day. A very attentive and accommodating waitress, Rachel Mabele, served me a generous portion of chicken and wild mushroom pasta with a beautiful, aromatic creamy sauce.
* You’ll find the Naked Kitchen and Coffee Bar near the Woolworths entrance at Morningside Shopping Mall.