Café Riche

Café Riche is a historic cafe at 2 Church Square in the centre of Pretoria, Gauteng, and is generally described as one of the city's oldest surviving cafes. It faces the square, which is surrounded by landmark buildings, and has long been favoured by government workers, lawyers and business people from the surrounding offices as well as visitors exploring the historic core. The cafe has no Michelin or celebrity-chef lineage; its standing comes from age, location and consistency. The cuisine is continental café fare. Coffee, breakfast and continental dishes are its signature offerings: cooked breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and plated lunches are the usual orders, along with cakes and pastries and a steady flow of coffee throughout the day. There is no single emblematic dish; the appeal lies in the ritual of sitting on the terrace and watching the square. The dining room is relaxed and slightly old-fashioned. The terrace on Church Square is the most sought-after seating, offering views of the statue of Paul Kruger and the surrounding architecture, while the interior provides shelter on hot or wet days. The noise level is moderate, busiest at breakfast and lunchtime when office workers arrive, and there is no dress code. Drinks are principally coffee, tea, soft drinks and beer and wine by the glass rather than an extensive cellar. The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 22:00 and is closed on Sundays, which matters for planning a weekend visit. Reservations are not necessary for most visits, and walk-ins are the norm; a call ahead may help for larger groups at lunchtime. Prices are moderate. Café Riche works well as a breakfast or coffee stop before touring nearby sights such as the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History, the Old Raadsaal and the government buildings around the square, and it offers an accessible taste of everyday Pretoria life.