Shift Espresso Bar | Newlands — Restaurant in Newlands

Went to Shift for the first time ever looking for a new daily coffee spot. We went to the Newlands branch and told the staff we're looking at a milk alternative as we don't do dairy and they said they do have oat, almond and macadamia which is a huge plus. I ordered an iced mocha requesting the oat milk option. Got given my coffee, got in the car and left.

Whilst having my first sip of my iced drink my plastic straw instantly got clogged by something. Upon further inspection that something happend to be curdled cream with the rest of the curdled bits floating in my coffee amongst the ice.

Granted I'm a new customer and the fact that I told the barista that I don't know the menu I feel like someone should've at least pointed out that the drink I chose gets made with cream especially after requesting a dairy free option whilst placing my order. I find it hard to imagine that this is the correct way to make this drink, even if you're someone who likes cream I don't think having the curdled bits floating around is appetising at all. Should it have been blended first? The cream feels like an afterthought as it was just drizzled over the ice cubes afterwards causing the cream to clot and become floaty bits.

Feeling rather disappointed by the overall quality of a coffee that cost R68 for their medium sized option. The staff was friendly though but I won't be choosing Shift as my new daily coffee spot...

So my husband, toddler and I decided to do breakfast here as we’ve never been, the aesthetics of the place is really beautiful and also the spacing of tables I appreciated as at some places you tend to sit ontop of one another. The food, coffee and drinks were good and what made it better was that the food was served hot. I’d recommend the omelette croissant with macon, absolute winner. I saw another review regarding pathetic service and I have to agree, we were seated when we arrived and our waitress took our order not long after that. She then came back to us around 30 to 40 minutes later asking to repeat our order as she lost the notebook page with our order and apologised, I regret not getting up and leaving as something like this is completely unacceptable but it would’ve been more of an inconvenience to drive somewhere else and start the process all over again as we were so hungry by that point we just decided to stay. She tried to make it up by profusely apologising and pushing up our order but unfortunately everything was spoilt already. Also I understand that there are other customers to see to but you can’t tell me it takes 30 to 40 minutes to put a customers order through to the kitchen? I’m really not sure how to feel about visiting again. @Shift Espresso Newlands please train your...

I recently had the absolute pleasure of hosting an event at Shift Espresso Bar, Newlands Peak, and I cannot speak highly enough of the experience. From start to finish, the team went above and beyond!!

With a guest list of around 40 people, I was naturally mindful of the details—but Shameema and Nawaz were exceptional. Their professionalism, warmth, and dedication made the entire process seamless. They were incredibly hands-on, patient, and truly supportive every step of the way.

One of the standout aspects was how thoughtfully they catered to all dietary requirements. Every guest’s meal was prepared with care, according to their individual needs and preferences—something that did not go unnoticed and was deeply appreciated.

The food itself was exceptional: fresh, delicious, beautifully presented, and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The service was equally outstanding—gracious, attentive, and consistent throughout the event.

Thank you, Shift Newlands Peak, for creating such a memorable experience and for treating our event with the care and excellence you did. I wholeheartedly recommend Shift Espresso Bar for any occasion—whether you’re planning a special event or simply looking for a superb coffee and food experience in a welcoming, modern...