Local Intel: Suga Funk

“Truth Coffee for that industrial energy hit and the best flat white in the game,” says Suga, shouting out the steampunk-inspired café on Buitenkant Street that’s become a global coffee pilgrimage spot. 

With its moody lighting, exposed pipes, and baristas who treat coffee like a craft, it’s her go-to for a caffeine boost and creative spark. 

But when she needs a deeper reset? “Sunset at Bakoven. Quiet, cinematic, healing.” It also happens to be one of the best tidal pools in the city. 

Tucked just beyond Camps Bay’s bustle, Bakoven Beach offers a secluded slice of the Atlantic, framed by boulders and backlit by blazing skies - one of Cape Town’s most underrated golden hour escapes.

Her ideal Sunday would look a little something like this: 

"Start with brunch at Four & Twenty in Chelsea Village—charming, cosy, and always on point. 

"Cruise through a market, then catch a rooftop set somewhere vibey like Gorgeous George.  

I always end the day in my kitchen with my son—cooking, laughing, dancing. That's joy."

"The iconic Masala Steak Sandwich from Mariams Kitchen. Don’t argue just go," adds Suga. 

This family-run eatery is a vibrant slice of Cape Town’s fast-food culture and a go-to spot for Halaal-certified Cape Malay and Indian comfort dishes. It adds flair to the food scene of one of the world's top culinary destinations.  

Where to find them: 31 Heerengracht St, Foreshore, Cape Town.

“We live in an outdoor playground,” says Suga, who’s all about embracing Cape Town’s wild side.

Her top adventure picks? 

Kayaking with penguins in Simon’s Town, where paddling past boulders brings you up close with the city’s cutest tuxedoed locals. 

For a thrill among the treetops, she heads to Elgin’s zipline canopy tours, soaring over fynbos-covered valleys and waterfalls.

And when she’s in the mood for an adrenaline rush with a view?

Paragliding off Signal Hill ticks the box—launching into the sky above the Atlantic Seaboard for a glide that’s nothing short of breathtaking.

For a night out that blends style with substance, The Athletic Club & Social is Suga’s top pick.

“It’s grown-folk fun,” she says of the moody, multi-level space tucked just off Buitengracht Street.

With velvet booths, vintage finishes, and killer playlists that move from jazz to house, it’s the kind of place where the cocktails are sharp, the lighting is low, and the chances of bumping into someone cool are always high.

Whether you’re in the lounge, at the rooftop bar, or dancing in the basement, it’s a vibe from start to finish.  

Where to find them: 35 Buitengracht Street, Cape Town.

Want to know where the locals love to go? In this exclusive series on Time Out Cape Town, ‘Local Intel’ taps into some of the city’s best-connected characters to unearth the corners you simply can’t miss in the Mother City.