Wolves Café in Illovo, Johannesburg, is the brainchild of three friends and creatives, and is undoubtedly one of the hippest hangouts in the city. One of the talented owners, Angie Batis, is not only the stellar creative force behind a popular blog as well as the Creative Head of a well-known ad agency; she also bakes the coolest cupcakes and delectables for Wolves.
Co-owner and husband, Shane Durrant, is the lead singer of popular local band, ‘Desmond and the Tutus,’ and together with a friend, they create the magic that Wolves is known for.
Furnished eclectically with mismatching vintage chairs around antique wooden tables, bunting, original illustrations and retro accents; the atmosphere at Wolves is fun, artsy and welcoming. Everything is served on original vintage crockery, which Angie collected for months before opening Wolves, perfectly complimenting the café style food and 1950’s influenced baking.
I asked Angie whether she could tell us more about what her regulars love on the menu. She told me that her patrons love their rump steak rolls (with balsamic onions, cherry tomatoes, rocket and mustard-mayo) and their Red Velvet cake the most.
According to Angie, their Hummingbird Cake with pineapple, banana, cinnamon and pecan nuts with cream cheese icing is also proving popular and she says that she sometimes drives from work to Wolves during lunch to have a slice.
It goes without saying that the cupcakes at Wolves are always unforgettable thanks to Angie toiling over her fancy KitchenAid mixer all night after work and baking them for the next morning. Wolves is also open on Thursday and Friday nights, when they serve &union beer and revel to the sounds of live folk bands and DJ’s.
The sweet café is always buzzing with creative types, who pop in with their laptops (thanks to the free Wi-Fi) or meet with friends over a delectable slice of cake. Everyone’s favourite destination on a weekend morning, Wolves bursts at the seams with vintage clad boys and girls arriving on vintage bicycles.
Not only do they offer delicious food, excellent coffee and artisan beer, Wolves also stocks locally handmade jewellery, ceramics, music and Frankie magazines. They somehow manage to draw all these elements together perfectly to create their unique (and quite possibly addictive) atmosphere.
The website explains: ‘We are a little spot in Illovo that loves to make people happy. We make awesome coffee, awesome cake, we sell awesome art and goodies and we’re really good at using the word awesome. So if you are looking for a place that will have you talking about cake and coffee in your sleep, then swing past and come say Hello Hi. We’re open 7 days a week.’
Useful Illovo Links
Where?
Wolves Café, 3 Corlett Drive, Illovo, Sandton
Telephone: +27 (0)11 447-2360
