The Level 1 regulations introduced on 1 March, with a restaurant closing time of 23h00, and the serving of alcohol being permitted since February, have been a boost to the local restaurant industry, one of the hardest hit industries since Lockdown started a year ago.

Despite the Lockdown regulations affecting restaurants so badly in the past 11 months, a total of 70 new restaurants have opened in Cape Town and the Winelands during Lockdown. Top chefs have opened new restaurants, including Chefs Peter Tempelhoff, Cheyne Morrisby, and Liam Tomlin. Chef Cheyne’s HIMITSU at the Camps Bay Retreat is one of the newest restaurants to have opened. Cape Town’s oldest pub, the Perseverance Tavern, has reopened with new owners. Restaurateur Michael Townsend has finally opened his grand Grand Pavilion in Sea Point.  Chef Michael Broughton has opened Cucina in Stellenbosch, and plans to open The Stud Burger, Ember, and a Tapas and wine bar, all in Stellenbosch, and all in conjunction with Brenaissance Wine & Stud owners Tom and Hayley Breytenbach. Chef Jan-Hendrik has finally opened KLEIN JAN at Tswalu Kalahari.  Continue reading →