A fantastic last half of April weather-wise has been a ‘second wind’ for Cape Town’s restaurants, delaying the closure of restaurants which will be inevitable in the long winter lying ahead.  Already April has seen six restaurant closures.  This list of restaurant openings and closings is  updated continuously, as we receive new information:

Restaurant Openings

*   Frères Bistro has opened next door to Col’Cacchio on Hans Strydom Avenue in the city centre.

*   Orphanage Cocktail Emporium is opening Orphanage Club upstairs, with 1920’s style music by live performers, later this year.

*   Cavalli restaurant is said to open on the stud farm on R44, between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, this year or next

*   Shake your Honey Mumbai is to open in the original Madame Zingara building on Loop Street, in August.

*   Chef Nic van Wyk, previously with Terroir, has opened The Eatery at Diemersdal in Durbanville.

*   Burger King has opened its first South African branch in Cape Town.

*  A coffee shop, chocolaterie, bar, and fashion boutique will open in a 3-storey building on Long Street, as yet unnamed.

*   Wilderer Distillery and La Grapperia at Spice Route restaurant have opened at Spice Route wine estate, in addition to their existing location

*   Deluxe Urban Café has opened in the old Cape Quarter.

*   A new restaurant and micro brewery is to open next door to The Bromwell in Woodstock (name not yet known).

*   Le Venue has opened at The House of JC le Roux

*   The Harbour House group is opening a new restaurant at 107 Loop Street.

*   Goloso Pizzeria has opened in Regent Road Sea Point.

*   De Dorf Krug has opened in Hermanus as a Bavarian/Austrian restaurant.

*   La Parada has opened in Kalk Bay.

*   The Crypt at St George’s Cathedral has opened as a jazz restaurant.

*   Cheyne’s has opened in Hout Bay.

*   Chef Reuben Riffel is to open an artisanal beer bar.

*   The Re:Public has opened in Hout Bay.

*   Lounge on Main is to open in the Cape Royale Luxury Hotel in Green Point

*   Nuri Sushi Factory has opened on Parliament Street.

*   Sinns on Long Street has opened.

*   Slaley Bistro has opened on Slaley wine estate in Stellenbosch.

*   BBQ is opening within Simon’s at Groot Constantia on 25 May, only open on Friday and Saturday evenings, with braai and live music.

Restaurant Closures

*   Café Le Chocolatier has closed down in Franschhoek.  The owner Daniel Waldis has taken over Apprentice in Stellenbosch.

* Pepperclub on the Beach has closed down in Camps Bay, to make way for a luxury boutique hotel.

*   Eastern Palace has closed down.

*   The Urban Garden has closed down

*   The Reserve nightclub and Brasserie have closed down.

*   St Yves Beach Club in Camps Bay is closing down on 4 May, to make way for the new Boutique Hotel in The Promenade.

*   Bar1 in Camps Bay, which was planned as a summer ‘pop-up’ bar and restaurant, has closed down.

* Café Benedict has closed down in Franschhoek.

*   Sofia’s at Morgenster in Somerset West has closed down.

Restaurant staff/venue changes

* De Oude Bank Bakkerij is expanding, and will open a retail section selling charcuterie, fresh meats, home-made ice cream, and wines, collectively called De Companje.

* Taste Restaurant has moved to Bilton Wines

* Chef Reuben Riffel and his colleague Maritz Jacobs have been contracted to design the menus and prepare the food for weddings and events at Allée Bleue.

* Isabella Immenkamp, the excellent service-orientated hostess at Burrata, has moved to Jordan Restaurant.

* Bukhara is said to be opening in the V&A Waterfront, where Passage to India was

* Jewel of India has opened upstairs in the ex Wale Rose Lifestyle building in Bo-Kaap.

* Josephine’s Cookhouse has closed down in Newlands (ex Caveau), and Toad & Josphine has opened in its space.

* Awestruck has opened in the ex-Caveau space on Bree Street.

* Sinn’s Ice Cream Emporium has re-opened in the Camps Bay Promenade, with a reduced space, and much cleaner interior and new furniture.

* Wild Peacock Emporium has named its restaurant The Larder for dinners.

*  Dane Blignaut has taken over as the Manager of Haute Cabriere Restaurant from Lasse Presting.

* Bayside Café has closed down in Camps Bay after 24½ years, and has moved to Portico Building, corner Marine Drive and Athens Road, Blouberg.

* Flatteur Café has opened where Gesellig was, on the corner of Regent Road and Church Street in Sea Point.

* Sage Restaurant has moved to Chabivin Champagne and MCC House on the Blaauwklippen Road.

* Massimo’s in Hout Bay is changing its name to Amici di Massimo’s for 10 – 12 months, to be run by Johan, while Massimo undergoes medical treatment in Italy. It will revert back to Massimo’s when they return.

* El Burro is expanding, by taking a section of the ex-Rhapsody space for a bar, whilst retaining its current location.

*   French Toast Wine & Tapas Bar is re-opening on 17 May as Odyssey, now run by Blues’ owners.

*   Wakame is not moving into the Salt Restaurant space at the Ambassador Hotel on 1 July, as originally confirmed by their staff and the hotel.  A sister restaurant from Johannesburg, called Koi Restaurant, will be opening at the Ambassador Hotel.

*   Sensei Deon de Jongh has moved from Okamai at Glenwood to Funiki Japanese Eatery at L’ermitage in Franschhoek.

*   James Penlington is the new owner of The Stall in Franschhoek, managed by Mark Fourie.

Restaurant winter breaks

* Waterkloof is closed on Mondays from April – September.  Closed from 13 May – 11 June.

* The Kitchen at Maison in Franschhoek will be closed in June and July.

* L’ermitage Restaurant, Franschhoek: closed for dinner from 1 April – end winter

* Tokara Restaurant: closed from 20 – 30 May.

* Makaron will be closed on Wednesdays in winter, and for all of June.

* Overture will be closed in June.

* The Bascule Bar at the Cape Grace has closed until 16 May for renovations.

* Oasis Bistro at The Mount Nelson will be closed from May – end September.

* Dornier Bodega Restaurant: closed for dinner in winter, but open for lunch and tapas daily.

*   Aubergine is closed for lunch from May – August.

*   The Spice Route restaurant is closed on Tuesdays until end August.

*   Bistro Sixteen82 is closed from 1 – 24 July.

*   Grande Provence is closed from 15 July – 5 August.

*   Pierneef à La Motte is closed from 17 June – 12 July.

*   The Delaire Graff Estate restaurant closes from 3  – 22 June.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Twitter:@WhaleCottage