Nino's Rosebank Johannesburg, South Africa

As Rosebank is transformed into an upper-class shopper's paradise, this semi-open air café is becoming more central and popular. Apart from eating and drinking, you can sit, elevated, at long windows (closed in winter, of course) and observe the world. Enjoy a two-hour lunch with friends, or spend precious time on your own, reading or phoning. Most people do the latter, as it's a business area, too. The feel is essentially European; the wood is dark, the leather is well-worn, the brick is richly polished and there are tasteful green murals. Oh, and plenty of football memorabilia around the television. The menu ranges from breakfasts to light, and more substantial, Italian dishes.