CRUST Bakery in Rondebosch (review)
Crust bakery, the red iconic building on the corner of Duke and Station road in Rondebosch
The iconic red building in Rondebosch
By Lianne Godfrey (The Roasted Mom)
It’s not often you find a neighbourhood secret hiding in plain sight, but that’s exactly what happened when I went hunting for a meeting spot for my crochet business, In Stitches. I was looking for a local small business with a good vibe and even better coffee, and that’s how I discovered the iconic red corner that is CRUST Bakery.
Coffee Shop blog posts
After recently sharing my experiences at Suur and I Love Coffee, I knew immediately that I CRUST would be worth blogging about as well. I reached out to the owner, Jamie Tucker, on Instagram, and even though she’s kept incredibly busy by the bakery’s growing popularity, I managed to catch her for a quick chat when I visited.
About Crust Bakery
CRUST is located in the iconic red building on the corner of Duke and Station Road, right next to Vivo Music and directly opposite the Rondebosch station. Jamie told me a little bit about the rich history of the building which starts in the 1900s. It was first a pharmacy dispensary, then a hardware and electrical business, and later a hobby roastery called Yellow Jacket.
Jamie started CRUST after studying patisserie at Capsicum Culinary School, and practicing her skills during lockdown before turning her Gqeberha-based home business into a bakery in the heart of Rondebosch, where CRUST has been for the last three years.
I asked Jamie about her dream for the business and where she sees it going, and her answer was simple: “This was the dream.” Jamie’s mother, who has decades of business and retail experience, was instrumental in turning the dream into a reality. While Jamie handles the day-to-day books and admin herself, she credits her mother’s mentorship and support as the foundation that keeps the business running smoothly.
As for what’s ahead - CRUST is currently in an exciting transition, moving most of the heavy-duty baking to a facility in Salt River to keep up with demand while keeping the Rondebosch shop as the heart of the operation.
The female-only team at CRUST
Beyond the bakes, Jamie is deeply passionate about empowering women in what is often a male-dominated industry. She has intentionally built an all-female team that feels like the backbone of the bakery. There’s Nokwanda, the barista who has been there since day one; Gloria, the indispensable kitchen assistant; and Jemima, the Junior Pastry Chef who recently joined the team full-time after she completed her studies at the International Hotel School.
With Nokwanda, Gloria and Jemima, Jamie has an incredible team of ladies in the kitchen who carry a sense of ownership, and take care of her bakery and customers even when Jamie takes a rare day off. It’s that sense of ownership that makes the service feel so personal; whilst sipping on my coffee, I noticed a few regulars walking in and being welcomed by the team like long-lost friends.
CRUST baked goodies
Fresh sourdough (100% white for R48) is available in-store from Tuesday through Saturday, but there are also more specialised bakes that can be made on order, like Japanese milk bread (R68 for a loaf or R84 for 6 rolls), Challah (R68 a loaf) and Focaccia (R112 a tray). You can order these either in-store or on the website. Please give Jamie and the team a minimum of two days’ notice.
If you are stopping by for a mid-morning treat, you are spoilt for choice. When I visited around 9:00 am on a Thursday morning, there was a variety still available:
Classic croissants: Plain, chocolate or almond (R35-R45)
Savoury treats: Crustless quiches (R45), and savoury muffins (R30)
Cake slices: baked milk tart (R45 a slice)
Biscuits and other sweet treats: scones (R25 on its own or R52 with toppings), spiced white chocolate and almond cookie (R32) and date and pecan meringues (R30).
CRUST also bakes a variety of cakes, from Devil’s food chocolate cake, to vanilla bean cake, red velvet and carrot cake to lemon meringue, apple cake, and citrus-almond cake. Other (custom, vegan and gluten free) cakes can also be made to order. A minimum of two weeks’ notice is required.
While I was tempted, I stuck to just a cappuccino (made it large, for R42). I will definitely be back with Shawn and the kids for breakfast or lunch though. On their specials board they had two types of sourdough pancakes: cinnamon, sugar & lemon (R58) and cheese, avo & poached egg R105 as well as a ‘winter warmer’ of roasted tomato soup with toasted sourdough for R90.
I settled in the restored antique chair with “CRUST bakery” tuft cushion. The CRUST library gives the bakery a community feel. There is a take-a-book, leave-a-book initiative and Rummikub, UNO and playing cards are also available if you really want to settle in.
Some of my fellow-caffeinators had set up their laptops at the dedicated counter. Customer WiFi is available in case you need to send off a few emails. There are five tables available outside as well, and as it’s opposite Rondebosch station, it’s the perfect spot for people-watching.
Before you leave, make sure you browse their deli section. Not only are most ingredients sourced from local producers and suppliers, they also stock a range of local products in their deli section:
Beans from The Coffee Guy roasters (R138 for 500g or R450 for 1kg).
Bainskloof olive oil (1l for R280 or 2 litres for R450)
Konfyt (R65 / jar)
Whether you’re there to kill some time between school-pick ups, send off a few emails while enjoying a hot cup of coffee, or want to grab a loaf of the best sourdough in the Southern suburbs, CRUST is proof that sometimes the best-kept secrets are painted bright red.
Visit CRUST Bakery
Location: 1A Duke Rd, Rondebosch (Corner of Duke & Station Road).
Contact: order.crustbakery@gmail.com
Opening hours: Monday - Friday 07:30 am - 3:30 pm | Saturday 08:30 am - 1:00 pm
The kitchen is open on Monday to Friday between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm and on Saturday between 9:00 am and 12:30 pm.
“Sometimes the best-kept secrets are painted bright red.”
About The Roasted Mom
Lianne Godfrey is a Digital Marketing specialist based in Cape Town, South Africa. She lives in the Southern Suburbs with her husband Shawn, and their three children Aiden (8), Olivia (6) and Harvey (4).
I’m on a mission to find the best 'waiting room' alternatives in Cape Town. Have you visited I Love Coffee, or is there another hidden gem around Claremont that I should check out? Let me know.
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