The year is 2022. In a quiet corner of a quaint cafe in the middle of the sparkling metropolis of Windhoek, a young writer stares out the window. She flips her hair over her shoulder.
Takes a sip of her cappuccino. Smiles at a text message from a handsome someone. Revels in the silence. Feels a little guilty because she’s flirting with the idea of ditching work and staying here all day.
Snap back to reality. It’s 2014. The writer still sits in a corner savouring the silence. With a menu that looks like an old school newspaper dated April 2022, the eatery is as quaint as her daydreams made it out to be. A welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday Windhoek, the cafe is called Old Continental and is a hidden little gem that is only spoken of in hushed whispers. Because the truth is, no one wants to share this little slice of serenity.
Pouring over the menu, I see a few things that catch my attention. Much to my dismay however, I am informed that they don’t have any hot chocolate, nor do they have my first pick for lunch – a chicken and avo tortilla wrap – either. After some more deliberating, I go for the noodles with chicken strips. At N$48, they’re easy on the pocket and the waistline, albeit a little light on the chicken pieces and the seasoning. Chock full of veggies, the noodles are a great choice for someone who doesn’t want to be hit with the itis just as they sit back down at their desk, but filling enough to last you till the cows come home.
Unperturbed by the old foreign couple conversing in a language that I don’t recognise who go silent and stare at me like I’ve lost my marbles when I photograph my food (like Instagram isn’t an actual thing), I pull the menu closer once more and look for something sweet to round off my meal. Because Cape Town-esque rainy early-winter days – which are such a rarity in Windhoek – deserve an indulgence.
I opt for the Pain au Chocolat, a croissant filled with dark chocolate, (N$24) and a cappuccino with cream (N$25) for dessert. A flakey, crispy, crumbley piece of pastry perfection, the croissant is wonderful enough to make me forget about how slow the service is – especially considering the fact that the cafe is on the empty side. And specifically wonderful enough to make me want to order another. And another. And… Well, you get the idea.
The wait for service aside, Old Continental Cafe and Take-Away has free Wi-Fi (that actually works) and a romantic ‘When Harry Met Sally’, the-kind-of-cafe-you-meet-the-love-of-your-life-in vibe, which – combined with the killer croissants – make it well worth a visit.
Located in Continental Passage between Independence Avenue and Luderitz Street, they are open Mondays to Fridays from 07h00 to 17h00 and closed over weekends and on all public holidays. They serve breakfast until 11h00.
– cindy@namibian.com.na
