Café Soleil sits in the Papaverhoek in North, where hospitality, creative workplaces and the night are increasingly intermingled. The café-restaurant with large sun terrace has become a fixture in the neighborhood: an informal base for good food and drink and cultural events, with a distinctly Mediterranean slant.
The kitchen operates like a Mediterranean bistro: an accessible menu, where you can order anything throughout the day. During the day you slide in for lunch or a coffee date; later in the day the focus shifts to dinner and drinks. The bar plays a big role in this, with natural wines and specialty coffee alongside the food. As a result, it feels simultaneously like an eatery and a neighborhood pub.
One of the standouts is the large, sunny terrace. In good weather, the tables outside are full, overlooking the water and the area around the Poppy Corner. Inside, the space is flexible. Tables and arrangement can be adjusted to accommodate both regular restaurant use and other activities.
Café Soleil's menu offers an array of Mediterranean dishes ranging from Spanish tortillas and hummus to chicken piri piri and fresh-baked pizza.
That combination of eatery, bar, pop-up space and small nightclub makes Café Soleil a linking point in North. It ties in with the development of Papaverhoek and Buiksloterham as a mixed-use area, where you work or drink coffee during the day, and linger later for food, an expo or a DJ night - all in the same place.