Café Veldemeers
Café Veldemeers
Where Belgium Meets Harare, One Plate at a Time
Some restaurants serve food. Café Veldemeers serves an experience built on 28 years of European craftsmanship, set beneath a sprawling Sycamore Fig in the heart of Arundel Village. It has earned its place among Harare's most loved dining destinations — and once you understand the story and the standard behind it, you'll understand why.
The Heritage Behind Every Bite
The Heritage Behind Every Bite
In 1997, Belgian chocolatier Hans Van Hooreweghe arrived in Zimbabwe and began crafting authentic Belgian chocolates from a small factory in Doon Estate, Msasa. By 2006, the brand carried a name with personal meaning — Veldemeers, taken from the lane in Belgium where Hans spent his childhood.
What started as a chocolate business grew into three beloved pastry shops across Harare's Northern suburbs. The European quality resonated so deeply with customers that a bigger idea took shape: a full café experience built on the same principles.
In partnership with acclaimed designer and potter Ros Byrne — whose love of wholesome, organic, homegrown food shaped the café's soul — Café Veldemeers opened its doors on 21 July 2015, Belgian National Day. Every design detail, from the building to the menu philosophy, reflects that founding partnership between European technique and African heart.
A Reputation Built One Visit at a Time
A Reputation Built One Visit at a Time
Today, Café Veldemeers is consistently ranked among the top coffee shops and restaurants in Zimbabwe, and the praise from regulars tells a consistent story: a hygienic, fresh-focused kitchen; a warm, attentive team; and food that diners describe as some of the most reliably excellent in Harare.
Guests regularly highlight:
- Fresh pastas and salads, made daily with garden-fresh ingredients
- The legendary almond cake, often singled out as one of the best desserts in the city
- Belgian-style chocolate served alongside every pot of tea — a small, signature touch that's become a Veldemeers trademark
- A thoughtful vegan menu, including a Falafel Bowl and Poke Bowl, alongside hearty classics like beef lasagna, chicken linguine alfredo, and schnitzel
- A cosy fireplace for winter lunches and a sun-drenched patio for warmer days — including an expanded covered outdoor seating area
- A kitchen praised repeatedly for its cleanliness and use of produce grown in the café's own vegetable gardens
It's the kind of place where breakfast turns into lunch, lunch turns into a second coffee, and first-time visitors quickly become regulars.
One Café, Every Hour of the Day
One Café, Every Hour of the Day
Café Veldemeers was designed around a simple philosophy: that excellent food should accompany every part of your day.
- Morning — Coffee, croissants, and a full European-style breakfast
- Midday — Fresh salads, soups, pastas, and a relaxed lunch on the patio
- Evening — Wine and tapas in a warm, inviting space built for slowing down
See It. Taste It. Reserve It.
See It. Taste It. Reserve It.
There's only so much a description can capture. The rest is best experienced in person — and it starts with two simple clicks.
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