The Cape Town and the Winelands restaurant opening boom continues, with new openings late last year and new restaurants announced for 2023.

The biggest restaurant opening extravaganza is that of JAN Franschhoek, the third restaurant in the JAN Restaurant Collection, which opened n December at La Motte in Franschhoek. La Motte is undergoing a major renovation and changes at its wine estate, with a Bread-related Café & Deli opening  in the La Motte Manor House in February 2023. Chef Chris Erasmus is working with La Motte as a consultant, until February. He is going overseas thereafter. Chef Peter Tempelhoff opened his third restaurant, a Japanese Street Food restaurant Ramenhead. Chef David Higgs has announced opening Marble Cape Town in late 2023. The stylish TANG restaurant opened in thecWatefront in Cape Town. Dusk has opened in Stellenbosch, a joint venture by Chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austen.  Paul’s Bakery and Tiger’s Milk are opening, while Belthazar has reopened in the Waterfront. Michael Townsend is opening a number of Fancy Franks. Chef Bertus Basson has opened Chorus at Waterkloof.

Back’s Restaurant has closed down in Stellenbosch.  Dizzys Restaurant & Bar closed down in Camps Bay.  Himitsu at Camps Bay Retreat has closed down. Firefish closed down in the Waterfront. Chef Bertus Basson closed Overture and The Deck at Hidden Valley.

Stellenbosch is exploding with new restaurants opening, both finer dining as well as casual eateries:

Stellenbosch explodes with new restaurants, and more to come!

 

Most recent and planned restaurant openings

CAPE TOWN

#  TANG has opened a Cape Town branch of the successful Sandton restaurant in the Waterfront, where Belthazar used to be. (Photograph)

TANG Waterfront opens in Cape Town with a glamour bang!

#   Chef Peter Tempelhoff has opened new Japanese Streetfood restaurant Ramenhead, on the ground floor of Speaker’s Corner, the building in which FYN is located.

Chef Peter Tempelhoff to open Ramenhead Street Food Restaurant shortly!

#   Marble Cape Town with Chef David Higgs will open in the Waterfront late next year.

Marble to open in the Cape in 2023, following a trend!

#.  A most disappointing Shoreditch House restaurant at The Winchester Hotel has opened

Restaurant Review : New Shoreditch House restaurant at the refurbished The Winchester Boutique Hotel is not yet ready to receive diners!

#.  Cause & Effect pop-up in Camps Bay has re-opened after a winter break

#   How Bao Now has opened in the old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock.

#   Lello’s Deli by Scarpetta has opened in De Waterkant

#   PIER and Waterside have opened in the Waterfront, both belonging to the La Colombe Group

#   The Bailey has opened on Bree Street, a three-storey eating and drinking establishment of Chef Liam Tomlin.

Chef Liam Tomlin opens The Bailey on Bree Street today!

#   Artizian Restaurant has opened on Bree Street.

#   One Park has opened on Park Street

#   Blondie has opened on 71 Kloof Street

#   Cabo Beach Club has opened in the Waterfront, ex Shimmy’s

#   Mexican Restaurant Una Más Mezcaleria has opened at 77 Regent Road in Sea Point.

#   Misfits by Ideas Cartel has opened in The Foundry in Green Point, where Beluga used to be.

#   Paul’s Bakery is opening in the Waterfront.

#   Tiger’s Milk is said to open in the Waterfront

#   A number of Fancy Franks is said to be opening by Michael Townsend in Cape Town, the first at Sunset Beach and a second in Somerset West.

#    Mexican restaurant Hacienda has opened in the former Chefs Warehouse on Bree Street.

#   Balena Blu has opened in The Barracks on Bree Street.

#   Ding Dong has opened on Shortmarket Street.

#   Café Chiffon has opened in the old Cape Quarter.

#  Ouzeri has opened on Wale Street

New Cypriot Ouzeri restaurant highlights talents of Owner/Chef Nick Charalambous and team!

#   Restaurateur Ian Halfon has reopened Belthazar where Firefish was in the Waterfront.

#   Addis Ethiopian Restaurant has reopened in a new location in the city centre.

#   Tayfun Aras has opened Happy Endings Chinese Food Dark Kitchen in Green Point, only available via Uber Eats.

#   Only Fools Bar has opened in Sea Point

#   WE Café has opened in Tamboerskloof

#   Beluga has reopened, in the Cruise Terminal in the V & A Waterfront. It closed down early in the Lockdown.

#   Siba The Restaurant has become a permanent restaurant at The Table Bay Hotel in the Waterfront, after having been a pop-up at the hotel.

#   Chef Vusi Ndlovu is opening a pop-up at the Mount Nelson Hotel’s Oasis Bistro for 4 months.

#   Raj Restaurant is opening in the Waterfront.

#.  Kove Collection has opened The Nines, Sonny & Irene and Pastry Bar in Station House in Sea Point.

#  Coco Safar is said to be opening in the Waterfront.

#   Galjoen is opening at 99 Harrington Street on 31 January.

#  Upper Union has opened on…. Upper Union Street.

#   Who Knows Bar has opened on Bree Street.

#   Urchin has opened in the Hyatt Regency on Buitengracht Street

#   CHEFS has opened in Cavendish Square, Claremont

#   Dungeon Coffee Shop has opened on Riebeeck Street

#   Scala Pasta Bar has opened on Church Street

#   Loco Restaurant has opened on Kloof Street

#   Coco Safar has opened at Constantia Uitsig

 

WINELANDS

#   Rykaarts has opened in Stellenbosch

#   Post & Pepper has opened in Stellenbosch, owner by Chef Jess van Dijk

Restaurant Review: Post & Pepper spices up Stellenbosch restaurant scene !

#   Stoep at Laborie in Paarl has opened

#   Le Siemma Café Bistrot has opened on Dorp Street in Stellenbosch

#   Chef George Jardine has left Jordan Restaurant in Stellenbosch, and Chef Marthinus Ferreira has taken over the restaurant, now called Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira.

#   Cheverells Farm Deli has opened in Elgin

#   Qbar has opened on Church Street in Stellenbosch, serving Quoin Rock wines and food inspired by Gåte Restaurant

#   Clara’s Barn has opened at Vergenoegd-Löw in Stellenbosch, belonging to Chef Bertus Basson.

#   Stefan’s Restaurant has opened at Erinvale in Somerset West.

#   De Eetkamer Restaurant by Chef Marco Cardoso has opened in Stellenbosch

#   Out of Africa by Chef Christiaan Campbell (formerly of Delaire Graff and Boschendal) has opened at Temenos in McGregor. Tebalidi’s at Temenos has been renovated and has reopened.

#   Country Grand has opened at Dieu Donne in Franschhoek.

#   Mon Amour has opened in Franschhoek.

#   Café Fleur has opened in the former Camphors space at Vergelegen.

#  Oppiekoffie has opened at Longridge in Stellenbosch

#   Poké has opened on Plein Street in Stellenbosch, its fifth store.

#   Perlemoen has opened in the Old Harbour in Hermanus

#   Farro has opened at Gabriëlskloof in Bot River

#   Deux Lions has opened in Franschhoek, with Chef Nanda Cardoso, formerly of Chefs Warehouse Bree Street

#   Dusk has opened in Stellenbosch, by Chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin.

#   JAN Restaurant has opened a 16-seater restaurant in Franschhoek, at La Motte.

JAN opens long-awaited restaurant in the Cape, 8 years after opening in Nice!

#   La Motte is opening a Bread-focused Café & Deli in its Manor House in February.

#   Chorus by Chef Bertus Basson has opened at Waterkloof

#   Cape Floral Kitchen by Chef Jürgen and Susanne Schneider has opened between Gansbaai and Stanford.

#   Platō Coffee has opened in Stellenbosch.

#   Sauvage Restaurant has opened in the Le Franschhoek Hotel n Franschhoek

 

Most recent restaurant closures

#   Cucina and Embers by Chef Michael Broughton have closed down in Stellenbosch.

#   Allium in Speakers Corner on Parliament Street has closed down.

#   Meloncino is likely to close down in the Waterfront.

#  Dizzy’s Restaurant & Bar has closed down in Camps Bay.

#   Himitsu of Chef Cheyne Morrisby has closed down at Camps Bay Retreat.

The secret is lifted: Himitsu closes down at Camps Bay Retreat after tumultuous year!

#   Chef Judi Fourie has closed Pilcrow & Cleaver and Fideli’s Deli, both on Parliament Street, and is looking for a buyer.

#   Camphors at Vergelegen has closed down in Somerset West.

#   Firefish has closed in the Waterfront.

#.  Back’s Restaurant has closed down on Church Street in Stellenbosch.

#   Chef Bertus Basson’s Overture and The Deck closed their doors at Hidden Valley in Stellenbosch in September.

Overture Restaurant to close down at Hidden Valley in September!

#  Chefs Warehouse & Canteen Winebar & Pinchos on Bree Street has closed down, eight years after opening.

Chefs Warehouse on Bree Street closes down, no presence in Heritage Square anymore!

The controversial Eat Out 1 star, 2 star and 3 star Restaurant Awards were announced In November:

 

SA restaurants awarded with stars for the first time in 2022 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards!

 

The Restaurant Closure and Opening Lists are updated continuously throughout the month.

For a list of Restaurants offering Food Delivery and Collection as well as Sit-Down Service see the Facebook Group I created at the beginning of May 2020: https://www.facebook.com/groups/261165661682371/?ref=share

 

Details of new restaurants opening, and of restaurant closures, are highly appreciated. chrisvonulmenstein@gmail.com

 

Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.whaletalesblog.com www.chrisvonulmenstein.com/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide/Mein Kapstadt Guide, Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide