It was a proper Cape Town winter’s day. Cold, grey and with just enough rain threatening to make you question leaving the house. We’d been meaning to try Sweet Revenge for a while after seeing it all over our social media feeds, so we figured it was as good an excuse as any to head to Kloof Street.
A few things had caught our attention from the start, most notably the Japanese soufflé-style cheesecake. We arrived just after lunchtime and, to our surprise, had the place almost entirely to ourselves. The pastel colours and dessert bar-inspired décor immediately made the space feel warm and inviting, exactly the sort of spot you want to duck into when the rain starts to fall.
We were welcomed by genuinely passionate staff who proudly informed us, almost before we’d sat down, that a fresh batch of cheesecake had literally just come out of the oven. Safe to say, that made our decision a whole lot easier.
Sweet Revenge feels fresh, funky and full of personality. It’s the kind of place where anyone with a sweet tooth could happily disappear for a couple of hours, but it’s just as easy to imagine someone settling in with a laptop, a coffee and something indulgent while slowly working their way through the afternoon.
One thing that really stood out was hearing, passionately I might add, that everything is made on the premises. That’s always a huge tick in my book. It did, however, make deciding what to order even harder. We knew we had to share the cheesecake, but after that everything was fair game. Was it going to be the Matilda-inspired chocolate cake? The cleverly conceived brownie maki rolls?
In the end, I settled on the New York Roll, or cromboloni if that’s the name you know it by. Filled with Belgian chocolate, it was an easy choice, although I have to admit the Dubai chocolate version with pistachio and kataifi nearly changed my mind. And to satisfy my craving for ice cream, I ordered a vanilla milkshake. Look, I know it was freezing outside, but sometimes a milkshake is simply non-negotiable.
That milkshake was everything a good milkshake should be. It arrived looking bigger than my head, piled high with whipped cream and golden syrup. Somehow it managed to be indulgent without being overly sweet, something Sweet Revenge seems to do exceptionally well across the board. As I slowly worked my way through it, the cold froze the golden syrup onto the inside of the glass, leaving little caramelised bits that I happily scraped off with the end of my straw. A tiny detail, perhaps, but it became a little treat all on its own. You could taste the real vanilla, and it made all the difference.
The first dessert to arrive was the Japanese cheesecake, served with warm Belgian chocolate to pour over the top. One thing I have to commend Sweet Revenge on is knowing when enough is enough. Every page of the menu includes a sweetness indicator, letting you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into. As someone who doesn’t have much of a sweet tooth and can quickly become overloaded by sugar, I thought it was a brilliant touch. The cheesecake itself was incredibly light, airy and far too easy to eat, making it dangerous in its own right.
The New York Roll arrived next, covered in that same melted Belgian chocolate and generously filled with both Belgian chocolate and a silky dessert cream. The pastry was beautifully flaky and buttery, with crisp layers that shattered before the soft centre practically melted on my tongue. Better still, it was served warm and, on a cold winter’s day, completely banished the chill I’d arrived with.
By the time we left, I was full, warm and already wishing I could do it all over again. I’d recommend Sweet Revenge to just about anyone. Whether you’re stopping in for dessert, coffee or even one of the savoury options, it’s the sort of place that invites you to linger. Between the thoughtful approach to sweetness, genuinely passionate service and relaxed atmosphere, I’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t enjoy an afternoon here. I couldn’t help thinking that walking back out into the Cape Town cold wasn’t nearly as appealing as walking in had been.
Give them a try:
Sweet Revenge Kloof Street
Kloof Street Junction
@sweetrevengecpt
WhatsApp: 064 519 3178