Tag Archives: New Year

Festive Cape Town and Winelands Festive Season Restaurant offers!

The Festive Season offers for Christmas and New Year follow below, and will be updated continuously as we receive new information:

Christmas Eve

*   Five Flies, Cape Town: 4-course dinner with ‘champagne and crackers’ R395. Tel (021) 424-4442

*   Rick’s Café, Cape Town: 3-course dinner R195.  Tel (021) 424-1100

*   Azure Restaurant, Twelve Apostles Hotel, Camps Bay: 4-course dinner R720. Tel (021) 437-9000

*   Franschhoek Kitchen, Holden Manz, Franschhoek: Dinner R300. Tel (021) 876-2738

*   Catharina’s, Steenberg: 4-course dinner R695.  Tel (021) 713-2222

*   The Kitchen, Woodstock: 3-courses R300, main course plus dessert R245, starter plus main course R268. Tel (021) 462-2201

*   Planet Restaurant, Mount Nelson Hotel: 5-course dinner R890. Tel (021) 483-1000

*   96 Winery Road, Stellenbosch: 3-course dinner R420.  Tel (021) 842-2020

*   Makaron Restaurant, Majeka House: 4-course dinner plus drink R 495 . Tel (021) 880-1549

Christmas Day

*   Haiku:  Set menu from R195.  Tel (021) 424-7000

*   Bukhara: Set menu from R195 per person.  Tel (021/ 4240000/(021) 882-9133/(021) 535-4444

*   1800, Cape Royale Luxury Hotel:  Lunch Buffet with welcome drink, R280 per adult and R120 for children under 12 years.  Tel (021) 430-0506

*   Delaire Graff, Stellenbosch:  4-course lunch R755.  Tel (021) 885-8160

*  Haute Cabriere Cellar Restaurant, Franschhoek: 3-course lunch  R400.  Tel (021) 876-3961

*   Monneaux, Franschhoek: 5-course lunch R 395.  Tel (021) 876-3380

*   Backsberg, Klapmuts: Buffet lunch and glass of John Martin Sauvignon Blanc R415. Tel (021) 875-5141

*   La Mouette, Sea Point: 5-course lunch R350. Tel (021) 433-0856

*   Allée Bleue, Franschhoek:  3-course lunch in Bistro and Wine Tasting Courtyard R250. Christmas Lunch Buffet in Main House Courtyard R250.  Tel (021) 874-1021. FULLY BOOKED

*   Chapman’s Peak Hotel, Hout Bay:  3-course lunch R395 + 10 % service charge.  Tel (021) 790-1036

*   Azure Restaurant, Twelve Apostles Hotel, Camps Bay: Lunch buffet, eggnog, a gift, party hats, and crackers. R945.  Tel (021) 437-9000

*   Asara, Stellenbosch: Buffet Lunch R275; Christmas Lunch R450.  Tel (021) 888-8000

*   L’ermitage, Franschhoek: Lunch R350.  Tel (021) 876-9200

*   Rivendell Estate & Bistro, near Kleinmond: Sangria welcome drink plus Buffet, R300. Tel (028) 284-9185

*   Rickety Bridge, Franschhoek: 4-course dinner R325. Tel (021) 876-2120.

*   Charl’s, Blue Gum Country Estate, Stanford: 5-course lunch R395.  Tel (028) 341 0107

*   Rhapsody’s, Green Point: 4-course lunch R 245.  Tel (021) 434-3004

*   Bistro Sixteen82, Steenberg: 4-course lunch, R 425.  Tel (021) 713-2222

*   The Kitchen, Maison, Franschhoek: 6-course lunch R 650.  Tel (021) 876-2116

*   La Belle Café & Bakery, The Alphen Hotel, Constantia: 4-course lunch R 350.  Tel (021) 795-6300

*   Ben’s on the Beach, Strand: 3-course lunch R 195,  11h00 and 13h30 sittings. Tel (021) 855-7977

*   La Colombe, Constantia: 4-course lunch R1100 + 12% tip.  Tel (021) 794-2390

*   Sofia’s @ Morgenster, Somerset West:  3-course lunch R400.  Tel (021) 847-1993

*   Two Oceans Restaurant, Cape Point: 3-courses R185.  Tel (021) 780-9200

*   96 Winery Road, Stellenbosch: 3-course lunch R420.  Tel (021) 842-2020

*   The Country Kitchen, Mont Rochelle, Franschhoek: 3-course lunch R320.  Tel (021) 876-2770

*   Mange Tout, Mont Rochelle Hotel, Franschhoek: 5-course lunch R 470. Tel (021) 876-876-2770

*   Cape Town Fish Market, V&A Waterfront, Tokai, GrandWest, Somerset West, Stellenbosch, Tyger Valley, Canal Walk:  4-course Christmas lunch R125. Tel (21) 418-5977

*   Dash, Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront: 5-course Christmas lunch R495. Tel (021) 418-1466

*   Ryan’s Kitchen in Franschhoek will be closed on 25 and 26 December.

New Year’s Eve

*   The Restaurant @ Clos Malverne, Stellenbosch:  Food & Wine Experience – eight latest vintages, each paired with a course.  R395.  Tel (021) 865-2022

*   Chic Café, Gardens: 5 course dinner R450.  Tel (021) 465-7218

*   Delaire Graff, Stellenbosch: 6-course dinner. R1200. Tel (021) 885-8160

*   Pepper Club on the Beach: 3-course dinner R850. Tel (021) 438-3174

*   Cocos, Hermanus: 3-course dinner R500.  Tel (028) 313-1178

*   Five Flies, Cape Town: 4-course dinner plus glass of Pierre Jourdan and music R795.  Tel (021) 424-4442

*   Rick’s Café, Cape Town:  Jazz, appetizer plate and glass of Pongracz R125.  Tel (021) 424-1100

*   La Mouette, Sea Point: 4-course dinner with welcome drink and L’Avenir Brut Rosé 2009.  Tel (021) 433-0856.

*   Chapman’s Peak Hotel, Hout Bay: 3-course dinner R395 + 10 % service charge.  Tel (021) 790-1036

*   Azure Restaurant, Twelve Apostles Hotel, Camps Bay: 5-course dinner plus glass of champagne R1650.  Tel (021) 437-9000

*   Asara, Stellenbosch:   Dinner Buffet R345; Dinner at Raphael’s R950.  Tel (021) 888-8000

*   Franschhoek Kitchen, Holden Manz, Franschhoek: Dinner R300.  Tel (021) 876-2738

*   Bertha’s, Simonstown: 3-course dinner, welcome glass of bubbly and jazz band R 350.  Tel (021) 786-2138

*   Black Marlin, Simonstown: 4-course crayfish platter, dinner and dance R 500.  Tel (021) 786-1621

*   Café Chic, Gardens, 5-course dinner R450.  Tel (021) 465-7218

*   The Conservatory, Cellars-Hohenhort Hotel, Constantia: 3-course dinner R1200.  Tel (021) 794-2137

*   Hildebrand, V&A Waterfront: 5-course meal, champagne on arrival, band R 1300.  Tel (021) 425-3385

*   Moyo, Bloubergstrand: African feats and music by CODA R595.  Tel (021) 554-9671

*   Oasis Restaurant, Mount Nelson Hotel: Buffet R650.  Tel (021) 483-1948

*   The Pepper Club on the Beach, Camps Bay:  3-course dinner and music R850.  Tel (021) 438-9551

*   Taste Restaurant, Somerset West: Dinner R385.  Tel (021) 855-3686

*   Ben’s on the Beach, Strand: 3-course dinner R245.  Tel (021) 853-7977

*   Bodega Restaurant, Dornier, Stellenbosch: 3-course meal, glass of Sterhuis Blanc de Blanc 2008 R380. Tel (021) 880-0557

*   Makaron Restaurant, Majeka House, Stellenbosch: 4-course dinner, pre-dinner drink, live music, glass of champagne R625.  Tel (021) 880-1549

*   Moyo, Spier, Stellenbosch: cocktail, snack, face paint, African feast, entertainment R495. Tel (021) 809-1138

*   Restaurant Mangiare, Capelands, Somerset West: 2-courses R190, 3-courses R240, 4-courses R 290.  Tel (021) 858-1477

*   Proviant Kaapse Tafel, Paarl: Spit braai, live music and bubbly R 195.  Tel (021) 863-0949

*   Pure, Hout Bay Manor: 6-course dinner R850. Tel (021) 791-9393

*   Lookout Deck, Hout Bay:  4-course dinner and live band R300.  Tel (021) 790-0900

*   Freedom Hill Restaurant, R301, Franschhoek:  Spit braai and music R 350. Tel (021) 867-0963

*   Rocca, Cape Quarter: 3-course dinner R 400.  Tel (021) 418-8000

*   Pepenero, Mouille Point: 3-course dinner, glass of ‘champagne’ on arrival R 700.  Tel 082 800 8542

*   Zenzero, Camps Bay: 3-course dinner R 950.  Tel 082 800 8542

*   The Kove, Camps Bay: 3-course dinner R 950 with glass of ‘champagne’ on arrival.  Tel 082 800 8542

*   Paranga, Camps Bay: 3-course dinner with glass of ‘champagne’ R 1200. Tel 082 800 8542

*   Rhapsody’s, Green Point: 4-course dinner with complimentary glass of MCC R 435.  Tel (021) 434-3004

*   French Toast, Bree Street: 3-course tapas dinner R 250.  Tel (021) 422-3839

*   5 Rooms, Alphen Hotel: 4-courses R850.  Tel (021) 795-6300

*    Dash, Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront: 5-course dinner R750. Tel (021) 418-1466

*    Myoga, Vineyard Hotel, Newlands: 7-course dinner R750.  Tel (021) 657-4545.

*   Le Franschhoek Hotel: 7-course dinner R1150.  Tel (021) 876-8900

*   6 Spin Street, Spin Street, Cape Town: 5-course dinner buffet and dance with welcome drink R450;  cheese and dessert buffet R250.  Tel (021) 461-0666

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

Tourism “slumped” over Christmas holidays, says Cape Town Routes Unlimited

Contrary to the optimistic picture which Cape Town Tourism CEO Mariette du Toit-Helmbold tried to paint for Cape Town’s tourism performance over the festive season, and which we have contested, Cape Town Routes Unlimited has stated that ‘tourism in greater Cape Town had slumped over the Christmas holidays’, after the success of the World Cup last year, according to its CEO Calvyn Gilfellan, as reported in the Sunday Argus.

Gilfellan blamed the unusually strong and extended gale-force south-easter in Cape Town between Christmas and New Year, and the heavy snowfalls in Europe for the tourism “damper”, but said that business had boomed on the Garden Route.   The heavy winds kept visitors from most Cape’s beaches and from Table Mountain, Gilfellan said.   He quoted arrival statistics, having dropped by more than 3000 international arrivals, on last year’s 77 000 arrivals between December and January, and a decrease by an astounding 16312 domestic arrivals at Cape Town International airport. 

The Robben Island ferry operation was not affected by the wind, and its 41000 visitors in December was up on last December’s figures, but the ferry did not operate for a week a year ago.  Cape Point saw a decrease in visitor numbers of 9 % and Boulder’s Beach of 14 %.   The Table Mountain Cableway had its lowest visitor numbers in ten years in December.  FEDHASA Cape Restaurant sector chairman Rey Franco reported “a drop in overall revenue in December”.  The impending closure of Jardine at the end of February is blamed on economic factors in the Argus report, in an interview it did with co-owner Wilhelm Kuhn: “Jardine … had not been impervious to the recession, and the World Cup had not brought as big a business boom as expected.”

Cape Town Tourism, by contrast, reported that Cape Town’s tourist season over the festive period had been “better than average”, the “average” undefined, and had experienced an “unexpected increase” in hotel occupancies, contradicting the information supplied by Cape Town Routes Unlimited.   In a media release dated 22 December, the Cape Town tourism marketing body stated that the city would not experience a “bumper season”.  Mrs Helmbold was quoted ten days later as saying that the festive season was “better than average”, at a time when the festive period had not yet ended, and this appeared to be a thumb-suck not validated by any tourism statistics, given that Mrs Helmbold herself was on holiday over the festive period!  She did however concur with Gilfellan in stating in the release that the effect of the World Cup was not yet visible in an upsurge in tourism.

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

Cape Festive Season disappoints, February looks promising

I am always astounded about how our local tourism authorities make comments to the media without foundation. 

Cape Town Tourism’s latest statement refers to a nonsensical “better than average” tourist season which the Cape has just experienced over the festive season, according to the tourism body.  The CEO Of Cape Town Tourism, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, has been at her holiday home in Pringle Bay over the festive season, according to her Tweets on Twitter, and no formal survey has been conducted amongst its accommodation, restaurant and product owner members to come to such a conclusion. 

In a report in the Cape Times, the festive season was described by Mrs Helmbold as “We have had a better than average holiday season with many accommodation establishments recording ‘higher than expected’ occupancy rates”.   It is unclear exactly how good or bad this is meant to be,  the newspaper interpreting her comments in its headline as “Cape Town had good ‘first summer season’, an exaggeration.   She described the Cape’s summer season as consisting of two parts:

*   “a domestic high point during December (and the school holidays)” – Mrs Helmbold has no clue of the reality of the tourism pattern in this quote, in that the festive season period is made up of a mix of international (German and UK in the main) and domestic visitors, who only arrive in the Cape in any large numbers from 26 December onwards, and who largely left the Cape to return home this past weekend, making it a very short festive season of two weeks.   South African visitors to the Cape were more likely to be staying with friends and family than in accommodation establishments.

*   “an international season that peaks between mid-January and the end of February” – once again, Mrs Helmbold is out of touch, in that a tourism vacuum started yesterday, and lasts for two weeks before things pick up again, and then the season will run through until Easter.    February looks well-booked ahead already, mainly by British visitors, and those attending weddings.

The Times  crows today “Hospitality industry coins it”, overexaggerating as it likes to do, but refers extensively to Durban.  The article also quotes one-month holidaying CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, Calvyn Gilfellan, in stating that tourism to Cape Town increased by 3 % over an unspecified period, and that occupancy increased to 65%.  No research source for Gilfellan’s statistics is mentioned.  Gilfellan expresses his satisfaction with the occupancy rate he quotes, but the industry would not be, given that this is the prime period in which it makes its money to survive the bleak winter months.

The exceptionally strong Rand, and the increase to 20 % in the VAT rate in the UK, have been prime deterrents to the UK tourists visiting the Cape, and are the region’s largest source of international tourism.   Its decline has been extremely noticeable this summer season.   However, the extremely severe winter weather experienced in the UK and in Europe has encouraged many tourists to come to the Cape in search of warmth and sun, which they would have had to the extreme last week, when Cape temperatures rose up to 42°C in Franschhoek, for example, Cape Town not being much cooler.   The extreme heat has caused the Franschhoek water supply to be severely depleted, and citizens of the village and its visitors have been encouraged to reduce their water usage by 50 %, ironic in that the village has the largest dam in the Western Cape on its outskirts.

A blow at the start of the festive season was the snow-stuck UK visitors, who could not fly out for three or four days, costing hospitality establishments lost bookings.   Seaside towns such as Plettenberg Bay and Hermanus experienced far lower visitor numbers than in previous years, Johannesburg visitors noticeably absent in the Garden Route town for the second year running.  Last year the Johannesburgers were staying home to save money to renovate their homes for the World Cup, a dream which came true for a small minority only.  Inland towns such as Franschhoek had lots of day visitors, but reduced numbers of guests staying over in accommodation.

It has been a different type of visitor coming to the Cape this festive season, and the domestic visitors in particular appeared to be more demanding, and in some instances dishonourable in cancelling bookings in the last minute, after the rooms have been held for them for many months, without adhering to the cancellation policy, more so than in previous years.   In part this was due to the endless days of a gale-force southeaster blowing over 100 km/hr in Camps Bay, for example, followed by two days of rain over New Year, which led to some guests departing early.  

POSTSCRIPT 20/1: Following our feedback to Cape Town Tourism in this blogpost, Mrs Helmbold has adjusted her definition of the second summer peak to “our international peak tourism season is from end-January until the end of March ” (Ms Helmbold had it as running from mid-January – end February in her December media release), in the newsletter which was sent to members today.  We are delighted that we could be of service to Cape Town Tourism, whose CEO seems severely out of touch with the reality of tourism in the city she is meant to handle the marketing of!

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