Solitaire – the most secluded café in the world
Solitaire is a small dot on the map of Namibia, where the desert meets legendary apple pies and vintage cars. A place that embraces solitude and offers coziness amidst the vastness.
Somewhere between nothing and a bit more nothing, nestled among the desert dust of Namibia, stands Solitaire. It’s not a town. It’s not even a village. It is a small blot on the map – a petrol station, a bakery, a few rusty cars, and one of the world's most legendary cafés.
Solitaire doesn’t just lie in the middle of nowhere — it embraces it. Here, the air smells of hot sand and freshly baked pies. Here, the sun doesn’t hide; it makes every shadow as precious as water. And the coffee... the coffee is like a breath of life in a world where every step is an adventure.
What’s special about Solitaire?
Travellers from all corners of the globe stop here because Solitaire is not just a refueling spot. It’s a crossroads of stories. A place where a handful of people and endless desert coexist in strange perfection.
The café is famous for:
Legendary apple pies – golden, juicy, with an aroma that makes the dust hang in the air.
Vintage cars – rusty like monuments of other times, perfectly photogenic.
True solitude – the kind that doesn’t scare but purifies.
What to expect when you get there
You’ll see a few old petrol pumps, a dusty parking area, and a small group of buildings clinging together to avoid being carried away by the wind. You’ll feel the silence. That real, deep silence you can hear in your bones.
And despite its harshness, Solitaire welcomes you warmly. With a smile. With a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie that carry the comfort of a home created amidst infinity.
How to get to Solitaire?
Solitaire is located at the crossroads between the road to Sossusvlei and the road to Swakopmund. It’s easiest to reach by 4x4 or standard car from Windhoek (about 3-4 hours' drive) or from the sand dunes of Sossusvlei (about 1 hour).
No matter where you’re coming from, Solitaire always appears suddenly – like a mirage that turns out to be real.
Helpful tips for a stopover in Solitaire
Try the apple pie – even if you don’t like pie. Here, it’s another world.
Stock up on water and fuel – the road ahead is long and desolate.
Take a photo of the old cars – shots that capture the soul of Namibia.
Savour the moment – don’t rush. Time doesn’t flow the same way here.
Solitaire is not a place you plan to visit. It’s a place that just happens to those who have a heart to get a little lost. And to find something more than a petrol station in the middle of the desert — to find the feeling that you're a part of something bigger, quieter, and more real.
If you too yearn for those places where dust, silence, and apple pie can change your day, join Panic Frame & Travel. The real adventure is not a destination. It’s a feeling. And Solitaire is its beginning.
Author: Martin Bonov
Photo: Dimitar Karanikolov
