As the relatively new Communications Consultant for newkings boutique hotel and Zest Restaurant in the hotel, I was invited to spend a night in the hotel on Monday evening, and to enjoy the Zest breakfast the following morning.

The newkings boutique hotel and Zest Restaurant are located on the second floor of Piazza da Luz, the shopping centre housing Woolworths and Spar at the end of Regent Road in Sea Point.

newkings boutique hotel owner Romao da Luz bought the block at 94 Regent Road in Sea Point, formerly housing the Spar and a parking lot, in 2000. In 2006 he demolished the existing buildings, building the 8-storey Piazza da Luz shopping centre, known predominantly for its flagship Spar and expanded Woolworths stores, and parking. Initially he planned to add apartments, but as the 2010 World Cup was held in our country, and there being a shortage of accommodation, Romao decided to turn the 3rd to 5th floors into a 42-bedroom hotel instead, naming it the newkings boutique hotel, the site having housed the Kings Hotel many years ago, named after the nearby Kings Road in Sea Point.

In the past few months an extensive hotel refurbishment has taken place, with brand new Oxford bed linen and soft furnishings, a new digital key lock system, a number of rooms offering fridges and microwaves, chairs reupholstered, a new range of natural amenities, showers improved, and new throws on beds.

The bathroom amenities by Botanical Collection (hand wash and hand lotion) and Peppertree African Collection  (shampoo and bath and shower gel) are colourfully labeled and of good quality, with natural ingredients.

All of the upgrading, coupled with the opening of the in-house Zest Restaurant, has led to the newkings boutique hotel rating being upgraded, in being awarded 4 stars by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa.

The crowning glory of the newkings boutique hotel transformation has been the opening of a magnificently decorated Zest Restaurant inside the hotel. Zest Restaurant boasts beautiful sea views, and is independently operated and owned by Chef Pavel Dimitrov and his team.  ‘We are delighted with the zest and energy which Zest Restaurant is giving our Hotel, and look forward to welcoming locals as well as visitors to Cape Town to stay at our hotel and to dine at Zest Restaurant ’, says newkings boutique hotel owner Romao da Luz.

The brand new wood-fired Grill at Zest Restaurant is a highlight of the new kitchen of Chef Pavel, also the co-owner of Utopia Cape Town. The coals of the Kameeldoring wood give a wood-smoked aroma to the meat, fish and vegetables prepared on the grill. Chef Pavel believes that Fresh is best, and that Less is more.  He does not use smoke, gels, foams, or smears in his dishes. He does not use more than three ingredients per dish.  Chef Pavel holds values of honesty and trust, a person with soul and no ego.

Zest Executive Chef Scott Melvin, originally from Scotland, worked at Gordon Ramsay’s maze in London, and then followed Chef Jason Atherton to Shanghai for most of his career, recently moving to Cape Town. Chef Pavel has surrounded himself with staff that have worked with him at previous restaurants, such as Pigalle and NV-80, including Zest GM Nelson Ferreira. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Cocktails, Oysters, Teas and Coffees, and other in-between meal treats are served. A 40 seater private Event venue is available, to celebrate special occasions, or to host business workshops and meetings.

Zest Restaurant Interior Designer Landy Walker explained the collaboration between the hotel and restaurant as follows:

‘We were extremely privileged to collaborate with Chef Paul ( Pavel ) Dimitrov.  My partner Romao and I ran with the decor and styling while Chef Paul focused on his culinary vision. We felt drawn to carefully layering a space and inviting a mood that was earthy, contemporary, raw, yet still polished. Our choice of colours was inspired from the earth, natural, neutral, strong and bold, yet always with a little splash of green. We chose oversized, metal, Moroccan style pendant lights for our main dining areas, with knitted, black mesh shades outdoors. The wood fired grill is new to the culinary Industry.  Our ‘Piece de Resistance’ is our super imposed, tribal face wall art, capturing serenity, calm, youth, Africa’.

When staying at the newkings Hotel, a cooked Breakfast and a beverage (tea, coffee, freshly squeezed juice, or a smoothie) is included in the rate. Breakfast is served daily from 7h00 – 11h, and is open to local Atlantic Seaboard residents too.

Zest and new kings boutique hotel, 2 nd floor, Piazza da Luz , 94 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town.  Take the lift outside the Woolworths entrance to the second floor.

newkings boutique hotel: Tel (021) 430-5580 www.newkinghotels.co.za Instagram @newkingshotel

Zest Restaurant : Tel (021) 010-7010 www.zestcapetown.co.za Instagram: @zestrestaurant_ct

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

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