The Provost Café image

The Provost Café

Cafe Tourist attraction Museum

👍👍 Even the fries here slap hard. Make sure to try the white hot chocolate. A good place to sit, chat and eat with privacy and light contemplation. Would recommend it. People often mention prison, coffee, good, cells,


Address

Lucas Ave, Grahamstown, Makhanda, 6139, South Africa

Website

www.facebook.com

Contact

+27 78 858 3193

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (215 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 8 am to 5 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am to 5 pm
  • Friday: 8 am to 5 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 3 pm
  • Sunday: 8 am to 3 pm
  • Monday: 8 am to 5 pm
  • Tuesday: 8 am to 5 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: prison (12) coffee (8) good (7) cells (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Kulani M. 1 year ago on Google • 26 reviews
    Even the fries here slap hard. Make sure to try the white hot chocolate. A good place to sit, chat and eat with privacy and light contemplation. Would recommend it.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Busy B. 1 year ago on Google • 140 reviews
    It's my 2nd visit, & hands down my favourite stop in G-town. You can either dine in a renovated prison cell or out on the lawn next to the botanical gardens (recommended for a beautiful sunny day). They make the most amazing omelettes I could never have imagined. The staff are very friendly. Great concept
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rushay B. 6 years ago on Google • 509 reviews
    Former prison turned into a coffee shop. Really good stop after a morning walk the swings are relaxing make a stop when you in the area.

  • 5/5 Victoria S. 9 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    It's definitely a good place to enjoy your meal, and the food is very good, especially the beef and cheese burger, and the pork and chicken swarma
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Chris H. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place for coffee and snacks - historic prison turned coffee shop. Sit in the courtyard, outside under the trees (railway sleeper swings available), or grab your own cozy cell!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Wendy S. 2 years ago on Google
    Set in the Olde Military Prison with "eight" prison cells (now private diners) & a watch tower (now an Art Gallery) to observe the cells. We ate breakfast in one of the cells!! This stunning building made of rock & wood is steeped in History & is a Monument. The entire building has been renovated & is set on the Campus of Rhodes University. The Staff (Rhodes University Students) were superb!! I was totally impressed with my Vegan Hamburger & Cuppacino!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jenita E. 3 years ago on Google
    Beautiful old building that was built in 1838 as military prison but they used it now as a restaurant
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mimi M. 4 years ago on Google • 76 reviews
    Quite surreal to have coffee in a converted prison. But the most quaint establishment and delicious baked treats

  • 4/5 Mallika S. 4 years ago on Google • 48 reviews
    Sweet little place with some interesting, unusual options and good sun and shade seating. Their carrot cake cream cheese frosting is bliss.

  • 4/5 Joseline B. 5 months ago on Google • 42 reviews
    Beautiful, tranquil place to eat despite being set in an old prison, loved the old buildings and prison rooms converted to dining rooms. We had choice of any of the prison rooms and each were tastefully decorated. Ordered some sandwiches which were fairly good.

  • 5/5 William S. 3 months ago on Google • 22 reviews New
    Always a pleasure seeing how this little place flourishes.. a staple visit every time I'm in Grahamstown.

  • 5/5 Noah G. 2 months ago on Google • 22 reviews New
    Best carrot cake I’ve ever had. Great service too

  • 5/5 Megan R. 2 months ago on Google • 16 reviews New
    Loved sitting in the historic prison cells. Beautiful building,with such a nice feel to it. Friendly and highly skilled barista (:

  • 4/5 Paul C. 2 years ago on Google
    A must visit. A converted historical prison called a Panopticon which a type of institutional building designed by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century. The concept of the design is to allow all (pan-) inmates of an institution to be observed (-opticon) by a single watchman without the inmates being able to tell whether or not they are being watched. Although it is physically impossible for the single watchman to observe all cells at once, the fact that the inmates cannot know when they are being watched means that all inmates must act as though they are watched at all times, effectively controlling their own behavior constantly. The name is also a reference to Panoptes from Greek mythology; he was a giant with a hundred eyes and thus was known to be a very effective watchman. An the cuppuchinos and short bread are excellent. Lovely spot to chat and chill. Service excellent . Enjoy

  • 4/5 Rui K. 5 years ago on Google
    Great historic place turned coffee shop. Grab something to drink, from smoothies to tea or a range of coffees. Snacks include customisable panini's, quiches and the wonderful "get-there-early-before-they-gone" croissants. Mostly done fresh on the premises. Former cells have been turned into secluded rooms that make good meeting places. One downside for me is the smoking-culture.

  • 5/5 JOBST B. 7 years ago on Google
    I am not sure why this is still referred to as a museum? The Old Provost, which during settler days served as a military prison, is a quaint and cool coffee shop. This coffee shop has no waiters but the mere experience of ordering a cuppa and seeing and smelling the process of making the cup, whilst chatting with a friendly barista, is in itself a soothing experience. One has the choice of either sitting around tables in the court yard, a cool room upstairs or in the tiny cubicles which were once the cells housing the military convicts.

  • 5/5 Ernest “edg3” L. 6 years ago on Google
    Great place to stop for a coffee break

  • 5/5 Nuwan Madusanka K. 11 months ago on Google
    Nice place. Good and tasty food Good service

  • 4/5 Alexandra 5 months ago on Google
    You have to be a student to use their wifi.


Call +27 78 858 3193 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
    • ✓️ Plenty of parking
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Credit cards
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Small plates
  • Accessibility
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✗ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Breakfast
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ Outdoor seating

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