Grounded At Echo

Top choice in Pretoria


It's easy to love this design-savvy cafe run by the nonprofit Echo Youth Development. It's a great spot for breakfast, with a variety of granolas alongside some tempting egg dishes. The coffee and tea are top class and you can buy the beans and leaves (and the adorable mini-gingerbread men served gratis with each cup) to take away.

A wall of the cafe acts as a gallery for local artists and next door it also runs a co-working space (per hour/day R15/100, 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Pretoria attractions

1. Union Buildings

1.61 MILES

Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, these sweeping sandstone buildings are the headquarters of government and home to the presidential offices. They're not…

2. Pretoria Art Museum

2 MILES

Specialising in South African art from most of the country’s history, this good gallery contains works by all the big local hitters, from Jacob Hendrik…

3. 012central

2.5 MILES

The rebirth of downtown Pretoria has been given a kickstart by the redevelopment of this set of buildings into an events, arts and social hub. Check out…

4. Pretoria National Zoological Gardens

2.65 MILES

There’s a reptile park and an aquarium here, as well as a vast collection of exotic trees and plenty of picnic spots. The highlight, though, is the cable…

5. Palace of Justice

2.96 MILES

HQ of the Gauteng division of South Africa's High Court, this 1897 building is where the Rivonia Trial, that sentenced Nelson Mandela to life imprisonment…

6. Church Square

2.97 MILES

A statue of Old Lion (Paul Kruger) takes pride of place in the centre of Church Square, which is surrounded by some impressive public buildings. The…

7. Ou Raadsaal

3.01 MILES

The old Parliament Building of the Transvaal Republic Government, dating from 1890, sits on the south side of the square.

8. Old Capitol Theatre

3.06 MILES

This decommissioned theatre, originally opened in 1931, is all but obscured by a hideous concrete parking garage.