Krabbefontein Café is to be found on a working coffee farm at the base of the winding Magoebaskloof Pass heading to Tzaneen. This small but charming Café offers Roosterkoek with delicious fillings and so much more. When the Allesbeste team first cleared the area around the old Schultz saw mill area on their farm in 2018, they realised how much infrastructure still existed there and wanted to pay tribute to the pioneers of days gone by who laid the foundations of what there is today.
It is easy to whizz past the unassuming whitewashed buildings with black doors and eye-catching murals depicting scenes from the Krabbefontein coffee farm but once you are in the know, it is a perfect stop before hitting the hustle and bustle of Tzaneen. The shabby-chic Café has retained the charm of the original building, adding stylish wooden tables and monochromatic historical photos of the farm in its heyday. Chef Rémi Anderson is a dynamo who is constantly innovating the Krabbefontein offerings to be bold and creative. Get a group together and head there for a coffee-tasting experience which is both informative and delicious as Rémi shares fascinating facts about this high-altitude coffee farm and the process of making their four in-house blends. The coffee-tasting and bi-monthly brewing demo isn’t just about a beverage, it is an experience to be savoured.
On Thursday and Friday nights, Rémi pulls out all the stops and the Café is transformed into a magical space lit up with lanterns and soft lighting indoors with French café music playing in the background, setting the stage for something special. After a welcome drink of a smooth Port served in generous glasses, the upmarket gourmet experience begins with a tantalising selection of starters, mouthwatering mains, fine wines and delectable desserts. It is almost impossible to choose between dishes like citrus glazed pan-fried duck breast, the coffee-rubbed pork fillet, herb-crusted venison loin or the wild mushroom, caramelized onion & spinach cream tortellini with parmesan crisps and shoots. The 3-course menu is constantly changing and, as Rémi says, ‘the experience is ideal for romantic date nights, wine and food lovers, business meetings and reconnecting with friends.’
And then there is the Family-style lunch buffet available every first and last Sunday of the month, giving a feeling of the family sitting around the dining room table enjoying time spent together. Kids can burn off pent-up energy in the sand pit with swings, a climbing wall and a wooden jungle gym. Krabbefontein is pet-friendly and has created a Furry Friends Menu which includes a Vegan Doggie Bowl, a layered cake or their Woof Loaf with chicken liver, gizzards veggies, oats and eggs. They even offer doggie treats like peanut butter biscuits and a Furry Cocktail of coconut milk, fruit and veg juice if your hounds turn their noses up at a water bowl.
Krabbefontein is also well known for the Schultz hiking / running trails of 7, 5, 3 and 2 km routes through the forest mixed with coffee and fruit trees attracting monkeys and birds. Trails are open from 6am to 6pm daily and are completely free. One 2km trail is a sensory experience designed for children, with large trees creating plenty of shade while the other 2km route, dubbed ‘The Monster’ is their most challenging trail and part of the annual Magoebaskloof Monster Race taking place in July. As Rémi and the team continue to innovate, it is exciting to see what they come up with in 2024.
Krabbefontein Café is on the R71 between Magoebaskloof and Tzaneen. Call 076 968 0483 to book for the Restaurant on Thursday / Friday evenings and the Sunday Buffet. Join their community group to get the latest scoop on events and happenings. Open Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 7am to 5pm.
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