“Vitality and beauty are gifts of nature for those who live according to its laws.” Leonardo Da Vinci
This quote at the entrance welcomes you to Aurelies Health & Lifestyle Cafe. I finally got down to visiting after hearing so much about it and seeing so many mouth-watering photos on Instagram over the past few months.
The café opened in January 2016 in order to provide delicious alternatives for vegetarians and vegans. Yes, Aurelies does not serve any meat.
I knew that it was in Waterfall Estate in Kyalami but we went to the wrong entrance of the estate first, then had to go around to the Waterfall Corner Shopping Centre where we finally found the eatery.
The shelf with the delicacies
The refreshing blue and white décor with white-washed wooden furniture is reminiscent of a tropical island. There are shelves along the walls bearing merchandise like books, health goodies and delicacies, and even ceramics. Wi-fi is complimentary- just ask for the password.
The recipe books for sale
We were greeted by a friendly waitress, seated and given attractive menus (picture at the top). It was quiet when we entered but as lunchtime was approaching, the café became busier. Yet, the service remained friendly and attentive.
Before we had even ordered we were given delicious, complimentary Green Machine smoothie shots with avocado, spinach, apple and more.
The Smoothies
I had a hard time deciding what to order as almost everything on the menu sounded good. In the end, I went with the Fancy Me Focaccia, which had peppers, cheese, aubergines, cashews and a whole lot of other goodies. My husband opted for the Eastern Soul Burger with grilled halloumi, peppadews, stir-fried mushrooms and tzatziki. For drinks, I had a Give Me 5 smoothie with pineapple, mango, mandarin, and pawpaw and my husband had a Berry Me smoothie with blueberries, acai, banana, and pomegranate juice. Of course, we tasted each other’s meals and drinks too.
Fancy Me Focaccia
The burger was delicious and wholesome. The Focaccia was served in a wooden platter and was an explosion of flavour and colour. The only problem I had was that it was a tad cold. The smoothies were served in glass jars. I enjoyed mine. My husband’s smoothie needed a bit of sweetening, I thought, but it definitely tasted healthy.
Eastern Soul Burger
The menu also offers gourmet breakfast options, snack platters, paninis and wraps, veggie juices and coffees from Origin Coffee. We had a great vegetarian meal and I was left feeling fulfilled. I’d love to return and taste more of their specialties.
In case you're wondering, there are some cheat treats available too, but I was too stuffed to try them out.
The Cheat Treats
“The food you eat can either be the safest & most powerful form of medicine OR the slowest form of poison.” – Ann Wigmore
Visit Aurelie's Health & Lifestyle Café at:
Waterfall Country Estate
Cnr R55 & Maxwell Drive
Kyalami, Johannesburg
Review dated September 2016. This restaurant is now closed.
Read about the best halaal restaurants in Johannesburg here.
Sara Essop is a travel blogger and writer based in South Africa. She writes about family travel and experiences around the world. Although she has been to 50 countries thus far, she especially loves showcasing her beautiful country and is a certified South Africa Specialist.
Looks like such a cute and delicious place! I love your blog and can't wait for my first trip to Africa next month. Will definitely be using your resources 🙂
Thanks Asdghik 🙂 That's awesome. Please drop me an email if you need any info or advice.