Magic at Rand Steam: Rialheim and Boho Cafe and Co.

2Summers | 11 February 2020
johannesburg food shopping coffee

I’ve already blogged about Rand Steam and how it is by far the most pleasant suburban shopping center in Joburg. But when I wrote that post I didn’t yet know about Rialheim and Boho Café & Co. – in fact I don’t think they’d opened at that point. As it turns out, this corner of Rand Steam is the best spot in the place.

Boho Cafe & Co., one of my favorite Jozi coffee shops
Boho and Rialheim.

Rialheim and Boho (I’m forgoing the “Café & Co.” from now on because it’s too much funny punctuation) is a coffee shop inside a ceramics shop. Or rather, it’s a coffee shop surrounding a ceramics shop. It’s hard to explain but trust me, it’s delightful.

Boho Cafe & Co coffee
The coffee at Boho is served in these quirky Rialheim mugs.

Boho Café & Co.

The café is mostly outside, in a little courtyard shaded by a huge, ancient pepper tree with a wooden swing hanging on it. The courtyard is surrounded by greenery and artwork and attractive, cleverly placed structures, allowing guests to almost completely forget they are sitting beside a shopping mall parking lot.

Boho Cafe courtyard
More of the courtyard.
Pepper tree at Boho Cafe
The pepper tree and swing.

I had two americanos at Boho and they were very good, especially served in Rialheim’s mugs. (I forgot to find out where the coffee comes from.)

The biggest surprise was the food, which is excellent. Initially Boho only served cakes and pastries, but they have now expanded to a full menu with a liquor license.

Boho breakfast
Boho breakfast. I ordered the Cabo, a quesadilla with brie, bacon, avo, and tomato. It was delicious. In the background is the Frenchie – a decadent French toast jaffle (Afrikaans waffle) with dulce de leche, strawberries, and other tasty things.
Boho coffee bar
The indoor coffee bar and cake counter.

The service at Boho was a bit slow on the day we went, but I didn’t begrudge the extra time spent. It’s not the kind of place where one should be in a rush.

Rialheim

Boho’s courtyard flows seamlessly into Rialheim’s beautifully designed showroom.

Rialheim showroom
Rialheim.

I’m not much of a shopper, especially when it comes to home decor. Yet I literally want to buy every single dish, light fixture, and ceramic animal head trophy in Rialheim – it’s all made in South Africa, by the way, on a farm in the Robertson Wine Valley – and transport it into my own house. I love Rialheim’s pretty, eclectic, shiny weirdness and even if I don’t buy it, I could spend hours just gazing at it all.

Rialheim merchandise
I love the colors and the shapes and funny animals.
Cow skulls at Rialheim
I don’t know what these are exactly but I want them.
Rialheim rhinos
Want.
Buck heads at Rialheim
Want want want. Why? I don’t know.
Cups at Rialheim
I’ll take all of these. Thanks.

This post was initially supposed to be part of my Jozi Coffee Shops series, but now I’ve realized it’s not about a coffee shop. It’s about the wonderful, surprising amalgamation that is Rialheim and Boho Café & Co., and defies all blogging categories.

Go forth, be merry, drink coffee and buy ceramics.

Fiver at Boho
I want Fiver’s cup, too.

Rialheim and Boho are open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays, and 9:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sundays.