Tag Archives: closures

New Restaurant Openings in Cape Town and Winelands grind to a halt! April 2019

Winter is on our doorstep, autumn making itself felt already. Traditionally winter commences at Easter, giving the restaurant industry just three weeks to make its last bucks. The only new restaurant that I have heard open is Botanicum Café & Grill in Constantia, previously Bootlegger Café & Grill, now (silently) 50% owned by Bootlegger, as the concept was not working with the Bootlegger name, it being seen as a coffee shop and not a stand-alone restaurant. 

Restaurant openings Continue reading →

Is a winter Restaurant bloodbath lying ahead for Cape Town and Winelands, after very tough summer? Restaurant Update March 2019

I am hearing about the current tough summer season in the local restaurant industry, with a depressed local as well as international economy, and one can therefore only be concerned about restaurant closures lying ahead in winter.  There are no new restaurant openings that I am aware of. The closing down of Primal Eatery is a surprise, and of Open Kitchen in McGregor too. 

Restaurant openings

#  Bones Kitchen & Bar has opened in the Palms Design Centre in Woodstock. It is owned and owner-managed by well-seasoned restaurateur Rudi Minnaar.

Continue reading →

Few restaurant openings and closures in Cape Town and the Winelands: February 2019

The tough conditions for the restaurant industry in Cape Town and the Winelands continue, with few restaurants opening or closing. A surprise is that Bertus Basson @ Spice Route is no longer operating, a killer negative review late last year possibly being the nail in the coffin. Now Basson only has five Stellenbosch restaurants plus all his catering assignments and TV appearances to juggle! Interesting is that Chef Liam Tomlin has opened a ‘contemporary ecological tapas’ restaurant in Barcelona, well-suited to his tapas restaurant offerings!

Restaurant openings

#   Ellen Jay has opened inside Constantia Fabrics. Continue reading →

Few restaurant openings in Cape Town and Winelands: February 2018

New restaurant openings in Cape Town and the Winelands appear to still be on the slow side. Coco Safar has opened its Coffee and Rooibos Emporium, with a Brewery, a coffee roastery, a Parisian-style Pâtisserie, and eatery in Sea Point, its first global launch, with New York to follow. 1987 is opening in Hertex in Gardens. Chef Oliver Cattermole has opened his Bovine restaurant in the former Dutch East space in Franschhoek. Chef Piet Huysentruyt of one Michelin Star Likoké restaurant in France has a pop-up at The Conservatory in Franschhoek at the end of the month. The Benguela Collection has opened Nom Nom in the former Benguela on Main space. Chef Bruce von Pressentin has opened his restaurant at Molenvliet in Banhoek, Stellenbosch.

We update information about newly opened and closed restaurants continuously, and welcome such news.

Restaurant Openings

#   Coco Safar Parisian-style Pâtisserie and Café has relaunched itself, opening in Sea Point, having left Cavendish Square. (Photograph) Continue reading →