TTucked

away in the Woodstock Exchange, a quirky shopping centre on Albert Road in Cape Town, is a classically- styled, cycling- oriented dive called the Starling & Hero Bicycle Café. It’s easy to reach by bike, as Albert Road has one of Cape Town’s most used cycle lanes… and once you find it, you’ll keep coming back.

The café is the brainchild of Arno van der Westhuizen and Emile Kotze. The former always wanted to own a restaurant, and the latter built and repaired bikes; “so we decided to join forces, and open a bicycle café,” Van der Westhuizen explains.

They opened in 2012 – the first café in Cape Town specifically aimed at cyclists, at a time when commuting was just beginning to take off. They started with a small- scale set- up, running the entire café on a two- plate gas stove, only later upgrading to a six- plate version. They also offered a full bikeservicing facility where Kotze would repair bikes; but this has changed in recent times. As Van der Westhuizen explains, “We now have a self- service station, where riders can use our tools to make minor repairs and buy the basic parts needed.”

Besides his culinary fascination, Van der Westhuizen also has a penchant for woodwork – which lends itself to the feel of the café, with its self- made allwood furniture and fixtures creating the warm atmosphere that makes it so inviting. To fulfil the ‘ Bicycle’ part of the name, the walls are decorated with some of Kotze’s steel- frame creations, while they also stock an array of bike accessories including chains, clipped pedals, tubes, tyres, coloured grip tape, and “a host of bells and whistles”.

The ‘ Café’ side offers a diverse menu, with breakfasts, changing daily specials and good coffee; their omelettes are a popular choice among the regulars. They also have their own creation: the Upcake, best described as the delicious lovechild of a muffin and a cupcake. These are baked fresh daily, and come in an array of unique flavour combinations. The coffee is served in a brass Italian moka pot atop a thick slab of wood, echoing the classic theme of the venue.

The café is a favourite with the commuters (bike or otherwise) who frequent the Woodstock Exchange – offering workshop back- up for cyclists who’ve run into trouble, but also perfect for “those just passing by to grab a snack or a bite of lunch”, as Van der Westhuizen puts it.

And if the Upcakes aren’t enough to get you through the door, don’t forget Boerie Fridays…