The wonderful new restaurants which have opened in Cape Town:
Emazulwini Restaurant – Emazulwini is a modern, Zulu-inspired restaurant located in the makers Landing at V&A Waterfront, which seeks to celebrate and showcase Nguni cuisine and South African ingredients. This tiny 10-seater restaurant, with its harbour view, is where chef Mmabatho Lingata Molefe takes her traditional childhood favourites and transforms them into a fine dining experience.
Where to find it The Makers Landing, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Grand Country
Who says you can only get Grand on the beach? The Grand Africa Collection, famous for its ocean-scrabing restaurants in Granger Bay and Plett, has opened a restaurant on the slopes of the Franschhoek Mountains! Dubbed Grand Country, guests can expect the upmarket-playful vibe, a delicious selection of food and wine, and views across the vineyards that equal the delight of walking barefoot on the beach…
Where to find it Dieu Donne Vineyards, Uitkyk Street, Franschhoek
Hacienda
Just in time for winter, this cosy and cool “coastal Mexican” eatery is a worthy addition to the Bree Street strip, taking over the space previously occupied by Chefs Warehouse. From the gaucho-chic interiors (leather booths, dark-wood panelling, mosaic-tiled floors, ceramic drinkware) to the warm and professional service and the spice-flecked dishes, this hotspot is turning up the heat.
The menu, inspired by the spirit of Baja (a peninsula in northwestern Mexico), is divided into On Arrival, Entradas (starters), Platos y Tazones (plates and bowls), Fuego (grill), Postres (desserts) – all of which are designed to be shared. There’s also a Tequila section, naturally.
“Everything we tried was superb, from the charcoal-grilled wagyu to the chorizo prawns and the seabass ceviche (a cunning combination of fresh-fresh fish, tiger’s milk, avo, Arbol chilli and salmon roe). A highlight was the trio of totopos (tortilla-like chips), served with three addictive salsas, and the deeply satisfying Mole Hacienda (ask your waiter for the full lowdown!) is another must-try! And leave space for the churros – heaven on a plate!”
The humming vibe, flowing tequila and a toe-tapping playlist of cool Latin tracks all lean towards a memorable evening out. Luckily, there’s a roomy bar counter where you can settle in for the evening, as you work your way through the tipples.
Where to find it 92 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre
Deux Lions
The new restaurant at La Bourgogne Wine Estate in the Franschhoek Valley is headed by chef Nanda Cardoso (previously head chef at Chefs Warehouse & Canteen), whose meticulous approach to seasonal, home-grown ingredients and honest flavours inspires a menu that is both approachable and elegant. In the spirit of the barefoot luxury the farm represents, she says: “Very few things make a person feel as at home as having a comfortable meal in a harmonious setting – which is what we are so proud of sharing.”
There’s a delicious array of small plates such as ceviche with apple and fennel; beef tagliata with truffle dressing; and spätzle with soubise and boerenkaas. Or go for the three-course set menu, with mains of seared tuna, lamb rump or potato gnocchi, finishing off with panna cotta or pasteis de nata.
Where to find it La Bourgogne Wine Estate, Excelsior Road, Franschhoek
The Bailey
The Bailey Kitchen Chef Liam Tomlin The chef with the kaleidoscopic mind is doing it again…Chef Liam Tomlin’s next culinary dream project is a three-storey, gourmet hub, ticking multiple boxes for a sophisticated, premium-quality experience – whether it be brunch, a special dinner or drinks with colleagues. Just across from Liam’s popular Pinchos bar at Heritage Square, this historical building with its high ceilings and large windows is being transformed into a glorious foodie destination.
On the ground floor you’ll find a glam patisserie, a champagne and cocktail bar and an eatery serving all-day breakfasts, brunches and lunches (a high tea offering will be added later). The middle floor will be home to a classic European-style brasserie, complete with maître d’ to ensure top-level service and hospitality. And upstairs, a wine and whisky bar for aficionados, with relaxed terrace seating. For Liam, it’s all about creating a place where like-minded adults can meet, eat and drink in good company.
Where to find it 91 Bree Street, Cape Town CBD
Ouzeri
What began as a series of pop-ups and a home-delivery offering, Ouzeri has blossomed into a convivial restaurant on Cape Town’s Wale Street, inspired by owner-chef Nic Charalambous’ family’s Cypriot heritage. Here, he recreates the regional cooking of Cyprus and Greece alongside a string of contemporary plates inspired by his travels through the Mediterranean. Snacks, mezze plates and mains feature classic comfort dishes like yiouvetsi and octopus stifado and beautiful pork chops with braised lentils and lots of wild winter greens. Nic uses a charcoal grill to cook fish and seafood, thin cut lamb chops and homemade sausages, accompanied by authentic and consciously selected wines, and an eclectic music selection that promises a lively ambience. The interiors reflect elements of the Aegean – in the curved white walls and mosaiced floors, and tapestry pieces that speak to the craftsmanship of Cyprus and mainland Greece.
Where to find it 58 Wale Street, Cape Town
Farro
It made quite a few waves when it popped up on Bree Street last year, offering a night-time bistro experience at daytime Café Frank. Now Alex and Eloise Windebank have found a permanent home for their culinary venture – and one that is sure to inspire new tastes on the plate. Chef Alex is very much rooted in using local ingredients, and out in the Overberg, he’ll have a cornucopia of different produce to work with. The new Farro will be at Gabriëlskloof wine farm in Bot River, taking over the modern restaurant space overlooking the inner courtyard, pond and fountains. His velvety rich duck-liver parfait and melt-in-the-mouth pork belly are two of his signature dishes, but he’s looking forward to adding rib-eye, Elgin trout, country-style terrines, pickles and preserves and produce from the farm’s gardens.
Where to find it Swartrivier Road, off N2, near Bot River
Dusk Restaurant
This dark and mysterious newcomer only opens on 1 September 2022, but given chef Darren Badenhorst’s trail of Franschhoek gems (Le coin, La chêne, Oku and Yama), it’s bound to be a beauty. With light over the tables and the open kitchen only, Dusk is a new experiential restaurant concept from Darren and his protégé Callan Austin, who have been deep-diving into sustainability (both in food and restaurant psychology) and pushing fine-dining boundaries to the max. The restaurant will offer a dinner-only, 13-course tasting menu (with optional beverage pairing): a thought-provoking experience imbued with theatre and focused on seasonality, local and indigenous ingredients, foraging and fermentation.
Where to find it 43 Plein Street, Stellenbosch
Café Noir
Taking over the Origin Coffee Roasting space at night, Café Noir is a buzzy pop-up cocktail bar and eatery that also serves great coffee. While mixologist Nicholas Crouse crafts intriguing cocktails, chef Ayanda Matomela (whose work experience includes a stint at Michelin-starred JAN) plays with local ingredients and childhood flavour memories, devising a deliciously clever menu of small plates that reflect his African heritage. Think samp-and-beans croquettes, pap and chakalaka, rooibos kombucha pork belly and confit duck leg, finishing with amasi-and-sorghum cheesecake, or plum-and-millet tart with sweet-potato ice cream. And the Origin team provide their full speciality coffee and tea offering, so that after-work drinks quickly turn into dinner and a fun night out on the town.
Where to find it Origin Coffee Roasting, 28 Hudson Street, De Waterkant
De Eetkamer
Yet another heritage building in Stellenbosch has been given a new lease on life, this time a former stable in Drostdy Street. Chef Marco Cardoso, who worked with Liam Tomlin for eight years (at Thali, Chefs Warehouse on Bree and La Cantina), has set up his own restaurant here, celebrating small-plate eating in an array of global flavours. Expect anything from Korean-style fried squid and Southeast Asian-style pork belly to risotto, gnocchi, and baked fish in coconut broth.
Where to find it 3 Drostdy Road, Stellenbosch
Post & Pepper Restaurant
On the corner of Bird and Plein Streets, Stellenbosch’s Old Post Office has undergone a complete makeover in the form of Post & Pepper. A dream come true for young chef (and owner) Jess Van Dyk (formerly La Colombe and Protégé) and restaurant manager Dimitri Hadzigrigoriou, who became friends while working at Protégé in Franschhoek. Both shared the desire to offer guests a fine dining restaurant experience without any stiffness or intimidating price tag – as chef Jess likes to call it: fun dining! Post & Pepper offers family-style dining with a seasonal, ever-changing menu where “flavour is always the focus,” says Jess. Guests can expect reinvented South African classics, such as koeksisters and skaapstertjies that have been infused with global influences resulting in delicious, flavoursome dishes.
Where to find it The Oude Postkantoor, Corner of Bird and Plein Street, Stellenbosch
Blix
If you feel like you’re walking onto the set of Out of Africa when you arrive at this Stellenbosch bar, the clue is in the name. Inspired by Karen Blixen who was immortalised in the movie, Blix is a tiny tavern on historic Dorp Street, complete with a cigar alley, old-school décor and hand-crafted beers on tap from their own microbrewery. It’s boast is that it’s the smallest bar in Stellenbosch, with just a couple of tables next to the wood-burning stove and the bar inside, but it spills out onto a wide leafy verandah/beer garden, ideal to watch the world go by with a food platter and a chilled glass or two.
Where to find it 100 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
Café Fleur
This historic Estate plays host to the newest destination pop-up, Café Fleur. A classic French dining experience like no other! Situated beside the historical core and Vergelegen Manor House. Think French country classic with a menu of authentic, hearty, winter French dishes. Service is super-friendly; Vergelegen welcomes you this winter, to sit in this magical place and absorb the beauty around you.
Where to find it Lourensford Road, Somerset West, Cape Town
We Café
You might have already met globe-trotting surfing buddies Alex Malkin, Olya Kiriluk and chef Eugene Volcov at various Cape Town foodie markets where they’ve been cooking up a storm of vegan blinis and pancakes. Now, sitting at their new plant-based café in Gardens, sipping kombucha, turmeric latte or oat-milk cappuccinos, they welcome guests to enjoy an array of tasty breakfasts (from shakshuka and frittata to cheese flapjacks and granola), lunches (buckwheat noodles, rösti and Caesar salad), and all-day sweet and savoury pancakes – all plant-based. Across the road from El Burro Taqueria in Gardens, the café has a spacious, fenced and pet-friendly outside seating area, presided over by their dog, Tofu, and is inspired by the trio’s passion for nutrition, fresh ingredients and community.
Where to find it 118 New Church Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Meraki Cafe
Meraki, the OG of Stellenbosch café culture, serving its first cortado back in 2012 and wildly popular until it closed during the pandemic, has re-opened in a bijou, light-filled new home on Church Street. Corlandi Bezuidenhout and family have come together to revive the dream – Meraki shares the premises and the long stretch of pavement tables on oak-lined Church Street with Bertha Wine Bar. Luscious cakes fill the display window and the menu runs through breakfast feasts, tempting croissants and patisserie to go with locally sourced coffee and scrumptious lunch plates. At 4pm the café menu shifts to evening tapas to service the Bertha Wine Bar trade, and at any time of day, it’s ideal for catch-ups, people-watching and celebratory feasts under the oaks.
Where to find it 43 Church Street, corner Ryneveld, Stellenbosch
One Park
Listen, eat, look, shop: One Park is a cool modern-retro space that combines an eatery and drinking den with a vinyl store (courtesy of The Other Records) – and there’s an upstairs art gallery in the works. Once a camera shop (remember those?), the multi-faceted building received an architect-designer revamp and is now a relaxed, feel-at-home space where patrons can socialise, enjoy a selection of delectable shared plates and intoxicating cocktails, browse vinyls, vibe with the DJs…
The food, courtesy of Lisa Knipe (ex-Oxalis and Janse & Co), elicits nostalgia, yet it’s presented in an edgy, contemporary way. Think crispy potatoes with smoky mussel cream, coconut aubergine curry or paneer popcorn. Chef Liam Tomlin (co-owner of Thali next door) reckons: “They’re doing a great job!”
As for the music, it was pitch-perfect on the night we visited. Front-of-house dynamo Yoraya Nydoo designs the playlists and the cocktails! And the third part of the triangle is Carolee Schutte who’s (anything but) “the boring accountant”. One Park is one of those intriguing places you’ll disappear into and won’t want to leave.
Where to find it 1 Park Road, Gardens, Cape Town
Clara’s Barn
And Clara’s makes it seven! Über-restaurateur Bertus Basson’s latest culinary adventure has turned a centuries-old barn on Vergenoegd Löw wine estate into a sleek, fine-dining venue. The characteristic Cape-Dutch thatched building, complete with weathered rafters, oversized barn doors and dormer windows in the roof, now houses a welcoming bar-lounge area and a spacious restaurant with tables flowing outside onto the verandah, two fireplaces and a carving station. Yes, the menu will pay loving attention to meats and roasts (inspired by the estate’s original incarnation as a cattle farm); expect delicious South African farm-kitchen recipes with a refined modern tweak from chef Drikus Brink, presented in three- and five-course menus.
Where to find it Vergenoegd Road, off Old Faure Road, Stellenbosch
Lazari
One of Vredehoek’s most-loved coffee shops, Lazari has undergone a soft update courtesy of its new owners. The Greek-inspired coffee shop has retained its heritage, honouring its long 18-year-long history and tipping its hat to previous owner, Chris Lazari, who has returned to his motherland. Loyal customers, neighbours and their dogs, are delighted to see the return of beloved staff, Molly and her team. The updated interiors – muted pinks and grey, warm wood panelling, powder-blue chairs and a pretty vintage sofa that calls you to its corner – create a warm and inviting atmosphere and reflect its Greek inheritance with modern flair.
The menu features an array of flavours influenced by Greek, Mediterranean, Lebanese, Tunisian and Egyptian cuisine. Designed by Grethe Botes, diners can expect fresh, healthy, gluten-free and vegan dishes such as flavourful falafels, black-bean burgers, delicious dolmades with homemade hummus and tzatziki. Or if breakfast is your thing, a wide range of options are available to suit any taste. Like its predecessor, baked goods adorn the café front, including croissants that are sourced from Paris. Cape Town to accompany the excellent Rosetta coffee.
Where to find it Corner Upper Maynard Street and Vredehoek Avenue, Vredehoek, Cape Town
Le Grand Domaine Enoteca
Wine bars are making a massive comeback – as an urban alternative to a wine-farm visit. The latest is a stylish emporium, from Le Grand Domaine in the Devon Valley, in Stellenbosh’s buzzing Church Street. All glossy wooden surfaces, leather, copper details, striped awnings and tiling, it’s an atmospheric spot for aficionados (and novices) to indulge their passion. There are several tasting options – all from the Grand Vin de Stellenbosch, Stellenview, Kruger Family and Cape Five ranges – with more than 30 wines available by tasting portion, glass or bottle.
A small, seasonal bistro-style menu features bold classics with a twist: chipotle Patagonian squid, mussels in garlic-miso broth, steak Florentine or pan-seared duck breast with balsamic blackberry sauce; a simple trio of sorbets or berry pavlova adds the sweet final note. There are also generous platters of local artisanal cheese and charcuterie to share, or simply order a half-dozen fresh oysters and a glass of bubbly to enjoy at a sidewalk table under the oaks.
Where to find it 7 Church Street, Stellenbosch
Café Chiffon
As its name suggests, the cakes here are light, fluffy, gorgeous and utterly delicious. (Food nerds will know that “chiffon” refers to a mixing method that creates extra aeration.) Chiffon cakes and rolls are the signature treats at this Asian bakery-dessert-café. But there’s more: rich, melt-in-the-mouth Japanese cheesecake (not cheesecake as you know it – think chiffon cake made with cream cheese); colourful Korean macarons (known as “fat-carons”) stacked and stuffed with delectable fillings. The options extend to ever-popular desserts such as tiramisu and mousse, and a range of Japanese sweet breads is coming soon. Flavours range from tropical to fruity, nutty, chocolate and, of course, Asian matcha. The other hot item is Mr Brown’s canned coffee, all the rage in Taiwan and enjoyed hot or iced. The café itself, with its pink Danish-style Midcentury chairs, wicker lights and wall niches filled with organic ornaments, is as pretty as the puddings. Café Chiffon is run by Christine Hu of Yu Dessert Studio, known for special-occasion cakes with decadent vintage piping (available to order). Interestingly, this tempting high-tea haven is tucked between a juice bar and yoga studio – it’s all about balance!
Where to find it 72 Waterkant Street, Old Cape Quarter, De Waterkant, Cape Town
Santorini Cafe
You’ll have to go to Greece if you want a more vibey Greek atmosphere than Santorini Café in Newlands! Previously home to another Greek restaurant (that was also named after a well-trodden island), it’s the go-to place for delicious Greek and Mediterranean tapas, a wide variety of wine, and a festive vibe. Like the ambiance, the decor is laidback, and comes in a happy mix of blues, seascape murals and a massive wooden row boat propped up against a wall. On the menu you’ll find delights such as flame-grilled lamb skewers; spanakopita; and calamari stuffed with chorizo, sautéed vegetables and feta. Those after a quieter dining environment, there’s a leafy courtyard at the back.
Where to find it 37 Dean Street, Newlands Village, Cape Town
Qbar Restaurant
Shaded by plane trees and canvas umbrellas, the sophisticated yet relaxed Qbar, in a hidden courtyard on Stellenbosch’s Church Street, evokes the style of Quoin Rock on a smaller scale. Here you can sample all the wines from the Quoin Rock portfolio (and take them home at cellar-door prices) accompanied by an utterly delicious menu by Gâte Restaurant’s Jack Coetzee. Generous bowls of crispy tempura shimeji mushrooms dunked in a gorgeous garlic emulsion make for appetising bar snacks with a pre-dinner drink, as do the sweetcorn dhaltjies (chilli bites) with Cape Malay curry dipping sauce – so good with the feisty Quoin Rock white blend (sauvignon blanc and semillon).
Where to find it De Wet Centre Courtyard, Church Street, Stellenbosch
The Wine Glass
The Stellenbosch sibling of the highly rated wine bar in Hermanus, this convenient, upmarket, all-in-one food-and-wine experience in the heart of town is drawing the crowds… and for good reason. Whereas Stellies’ other wine bars tend to focus on a specific estate’s labels, here you can get a taste of (just about) all this region’s nectar – by the glass, bottle or tasting flight of six. The chef has compiled a noteworthy local-global menu that sings with the wines, including seafood, steak and lamb dishes. There are also sharing plates of tapas, plus generous cheese and charcuterie platters, or simply a plate of six Atlantic oysters with zingy sauces. It’s an elegant, contemporary space, with indoor leather banquette seating along one wall under a draped tented ceiling, and an oak-shaded courtyard in the back – home to an eye-catching statue called Lady Temptation. Indeed, with more than 130 choices of wine, repeat visits will be essential.
Where to find it 13 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch
Wildsprout
For lovers of green, clean, and healthy food, the inimitable Wildsprout Wholefood Café and grocer just opened a second branch in the Constantia Village Courtyard. Unlike the Kenilworth store where the grocery section takes center stage, here, the restaurant is the main attraction, with ample seating, inside and in the lovely courtyard. Those looking to stock up their pantries, fret not: there’s a small retail area selling Wildsprout’s delicious frozen meals and other staples.
Where to find it Shop no 1, Constantia Village Courtyard, Constantia, Cape Town
Courtesy of Inside Guide
