Regular visitors to Hermanus may already be familiar to the calm oasis that is Just Pure. Unique, stylish home furnishings and house wares and a bistro serving divine organic coffees and teas share space with Just Pure’s 100% natural skin and body care range in a charming, old world emporium. Luckily, for those of us who don’t often get to Hermanus, their products are available locally and online.
As colder weather settles in for the next few months we may need a little extra incentive to leave the comforts of home, but some of our favourite restaurants are making it that much easier. With some greats specials on offer at Rick’s Café and Café Caprice winter is starting to look better and better. Tapas, mezze, gluhwein, tequila and Jack Back, and 2-for1 burgers,are just a few of the great deals available.
Join The Roundhouse in celebrating four years of fine dining cuisine and hospitality with their Autumn Special: a four-course menu with some deliciously warming fare, including Slow-Braised Short Rib with Shallots, Leeks, Leek Flowers, Baby Onions and Lemon Thyme Oil, and Dark Chocolate Mousse with Praline Foam, Coffee-Poached Pears, Espresso Jelly, Coffee Meringues and Chocolate Soil.
If you missed out on last month’s popular Peruvian breakfast at Keenwä, the next one takes places this Saturday, 28 April. If mornings are not your thing, the first, but definitely not the last, food and wine pairing is happening next Thursday, 3 May. Wines by Ernst Gouws will be served with a delectable five-course tasting menu. Only 50 people can be accommodated so booking is essential, as is booking for this month’s breakfast.
When I found myself without a working washing machine some years ago, hand washing was not a desirable alternative, so I’d drop my laundry off the the local laundromat confident that they’d be returned fresh and clean. That was then. It seems laundromats are no longer the utilitarian, uncomfortably hot environments of my washing machine-less years. Cindy Taylor visits I Love My Laundry, where bubbly, coffee and dim sum are also on the menu
Self described as “a specialist emporium of artisan cocktails, elixirs and intoxications and delicious morsels of sustenance”, newly opened Orphanage Cocktail Emporium on the corner of Bree and Orphan Streets is named after the real orphanage across the road (which does not have the words “cocktail emporium” in their name). This quirky new bar serves up cocktails with a difference and a small but interesting menu.
Early March saw one of Cape Town’s finest and most popular restaurants open for breakfast for the first time in its 15-year history. Five Flies in Keerom Street now offers a selection of breakfasts ranging from smoothies to crunchy granola, yoghurt and fresh fruit to a full cooked breakfast that includes perfectly fried eggs, confit cherry tomatoes, boerewors and mushrooms. The perfect spot for a quick bite or breakfast meeting.
With the success of the breakfast events held in January and February, Keenwä has decided to host its increasingly popular Peruvian breakfast on the last Saturday of every month. The next breakfast happens on Saturday 31 March from the ideal time of 10:30am. Booking is essential so if you’d like to try out some authentic Peruvian cuisine, including sandwiches and tamales, do so soon to make sure you don’t have to wait until April.
Elegant, stylish interiors, a relaxed, laid back vibe and breathtaking views make Sapphire Cocktail Bar one of the best places to enjoy perfectly balanced cocktails and superb dishes prepared in the kitchen of their famous big brother, Blues Restaurant. But just in case it’s not enough, add in some of the best live acts and DJs around and a seafood and cocktail special that’ll keep you returning time and again.
The legends from ‘169 on Long’ are back and ready to amp up Cape Town’s nightlife scene once more. Now at 227 Long Street, formerly Cape To Cuba, the venue maintains a Cuban feel, and they will keep the popular tapas and Cuban bread on the menu. Upstairs features a slick cigar bar, and downstairs offers exotic cocktails in the revamped and larger cocktail bar. every Friday and Saturday the restaurant turns into a club after dinner.
There have been some exciting new developments at Dear Me recently. First up is news that the 3 and 5-course food and wine pairings have been replaced by an informal, brasserie-style, a la carte menu that includes options to cater for specific nutritional needs such as lactose-free, wheat-free, low fat, etc. Also, the magnificent White Room is still available for events, from conferences to intimate weddings.
Spend a fabulous evening with one of the Crystal Towers Hotel and Spa’s top chefs from Beijing and learn to make your own sushi. Enjoy a sushi platter that includes Sashimi, Nigiri, Vegetarian maki, Californian roll and Salmon rose. And if making sushi is not for you, don’t miss the 50% Sunset Sushi & Cocktails every Thursday while soaking up breathtaking views from the hotel’s famous pool deck.
New Year may be a distant memory, but it doesn’t mean one’s resolutions need be. If your a healthier lifestyle was one of your goals for 2012, Café Caprice’s recently launched Summer Shakedown Breakfast Menu is a good way to start the day with dishes like Cinnamon Toasted Oats, Super Salmon and Scrambled Eggs, Poached on Rye and Toast on the Run offering delicious motivation.
On the fan walk between Bree and Buitengracht Streets is a small oasis in the heart of the city that offers the ideal escape from the hustle and bustle. Hemelhuijs is an intimate restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Wednesday evenings, with a menu that offers memorable dishes using the freshest ingredients. February also features some spectacular dishes featuring fresh figs.
If you’re considering an intimate dinner with someone special on February 14, the time to book is now. Warm Smoked Salmon,
Bouillabaisse, Char-grilled Fillet, Blackened Linefish, Ceviche Mixto Con Crocante de Pasion Fruit, Involtini Pesce Spada, Dark Chocolate Tart, Tiramisu, Berries on an Orange Salsa, and Canoli Siciliani are just a few of the delicious items on our Valentine menu roundup.
Wontons, steamed buns and pot stickers, oh my! If you, like Cindy Taylor of I Love Coffee, got hooked on the sublime Asian street food at the City Bowl Market, you’ll be pleased to know you no longer need to wait a week between fixes. Head on down to Long Street, where you’ll find South China Dim Sum Bar open from Tuesdays to Sundays for lunch or dinner of both, depending on the day.
Capetonians disappointed to discover that they were unable to indulge in what was fast becoming known as the best burger in town, breathed a sigh of relief this week when Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room on Bree Street re-opened. Enjoy simple, classic American food using the best ingredients, in a sleek and stylish interior with potted plant-lined walls and gorgeous bar stools by Liam Mooney.
As infamous as Cape Town is for the southeaster, so it is famous for balmy summer evenings - more so if sunset is accompanied by stunning views of the mountains and ocean. The Roundhouse Restaurant has some fabulous options for enjoying the magnificence of summer in Cape Town, including Summer Season Sundowners , Live Music on the Lawns and a New Year’s Eve party.
Recently opened Café Extrablatt is the first South African outlet of this popular German franchise. A affordable, diverse menu offers everything from sumptuous Continental breakfast buffets and German cuisine to pizza and Italian gelato. Café Extrablatt is also running some great specials at the moment, including a daily lunch special and one of the best ways to end the day - cocktails!
Since its opening just a few months ago Valora has earned its reputation as a culinary gem and now they’re making the end of the week even better. Thursday offers specials on pizza and pasta, and on forget about happy hour on Fridays - Valora’s cocktail specials run all night. Two excellent reasons to celebrate the start of the weekend at the corner of Loop and Hout Streets.
From 7.00 a.m. the melodic tones of French café music can sometimes be quietly heard above the hubbub of the City’s busiest street, but it’s the promise of freshly baked baguettes and croissants, and the irresistible aroma of coffee that draws loyal customers to Le COCO Sandwich Bar. And if you’re too busy to linger, Le Coco offers free delivery to your desk!
One of my favourite things about Cape Town has to be its architecture - in particular the beautifully-restored buildings. Another is the almost unlimited dining options, whether for a quick and early breakfast or a leisurely dinner. Dear Me serves up delicious, unpretentious food in a lovingly-restored 181 year-old building in Longmarket Street.
Gusto Cafeteria in Gardens offers up freshly baked treats, a buffet menu that changes daily, as well as an organic market every Wednesday and Saturday. They also serve some of the best organic coffee in town. There are few, in any, better ways to start the day than with good coffee and a delicious muffin, and Gusto’s early bird special is an absolute bargain.
After a few years spent assessing trends in the UK and US, Capetonian Kelly May launched Table Magic, South Africa’s first restaurant search, review and instant booking site. Confirm your booking with a tap of the mouse button. No calls, no waiting; just the ease and efficiency of booking online. Not only is it free, earn rewards for booking and reviewing.
Vredehoek’s favourite neighbourhood eatery - The Sidewalk Café - turns two this month. Help them celebrate their birthday by enjoying some delicious 2-for-1 specials and spectacular views over Cape Town. Not sure whether you’d prefer breakfast or dinner or just unwinding with a cocktail or three? Specials run throughout the day!
We’ve just heard that not only did Monday Design win a Loerie Award for the El Burro logo, El Burro has extended their winter half price lunch promotion. Great news! Authentic Mexican cuisine, funky decor, an extensive tequila selection, and some of the best margaritas this side of Mexico. What more do you need?
Tucked away on a farm on the Van der Stel Pass near Botrivier, surrounded by magnificent fynbos, with sweeping views of the Babylonstoren Mountains, lies KolKol Mountain Lodge - a haven that invites you to rest, relax and rejuvenate - and explore the extraordinary.
The Grand Café and Beach will be hosting a breakfast for the South Africa v s Wales rugby game on Sunday 11 September, 2011. Show your support with either a traditionally South African feast or the Wales breakfast. Alternatively, hedge your bets with either the lighter option or the health breakfast.
Rugby World Cup or not, &Union in Bree Street runs some great specials throughout the week, including a full breakfast, morning after brunch and the well known Buckets O’ Love. Also on the menu: organic coffee, Real Music Wednesdays, unique wine, as well excellent sandwiches, their famous pregos and Germanic styled Wursts.
Rugby World Cup 2011 is days away and with the time difference it means games take place either early, or very early! Caveau - The Mill & The Courtyard - Sotano and Gourmet Burger are running some great breakfast specials throughout the World Cup - because if you have to wake up early, you shouldn’t have to cook too.
Get ready for a magnificent, opulent, tremendous, stupendous, gargantuan, bedazzling, sensual spectacular at the BotRiviera Spring Weekend that includes, inter alia, horse riding, fly fishing, wine and olive oil tastings and blending, sumptuous meals, live music, pottery and art exhibitions, games, face painting, bike courses and much more besides
If you’re looking for a place to relax and enjoy artisan wines and good Italian food, and a place where your clothing brand (or lack of one) does not define you, Toro, which opened its doors at the beginning of August, is the place to be. Toro describes itself as “the coolest version of your favourite place”.
According to Valencians, one cannot find a true paella outside of Valencia. Perhaps so, but included in the delights that Anna Rasclosa, owner of La Bruixa Espresso & Tapas Bar, brought from her native Spain, is her family’s secret recipe, making La Buixa the place to go in Cape Town for paella.
There was great excitement on Bree Street last week as Jason Lilley, more commonly known as Captain Bread, welcomed Capetonians into his beautiful bakery and eatery for the very first time.
Cape Town CBD’s newest offering, VALORA, offers home-cooked Mediterranean food that won’t burn a hole in your wallet, along with delicious cocktails using only the best spirits and freshest ingredients.