The hospitality industry is notoriously fickle, and perhaps nowhere more so than in Cape Town with its ‘swallows’, influx of tourists and jet-setting locals who are spoilt for choice and move onto the next new thing quicker than you can say ‘trend.’
For this reason, the institutions that have stood the test of time and remained in business for decades have achieved something quite extraordinary. The food and the service are not necessarily the best you’ll find in the city, but there is something about these places that keeps locals coming back for more, and managing to maintain customer loyalty means they’ve become an intrinsic part of Cape Town and its Atlantic Seaboard.
La Perla
No Cape Town restaurant list would be complete without the addition of La Perla, the most glamorous older lady on Sea Point’s Beach Road. Established in 1959, for a long time it was the only ‘good’ restaurant in the area. For this reason, it was the go-to place for marriage proposals, special birthdays, anniversary dinners and any event that required impressing your guests. Here, you were guaranteed a windless evening (a thing in summer), smart service, a pleasing view of the promenade and a delicious seafood meal.
For this reason, many Capetonians’ memories are tied up in this establishment. And, since so little has changed over the decades, and even though there are countless more modern, avante-garde and interesting eateries to pick, when you sit on her generous deck with a glass of something cold and delicious in your hand, you can’t help being seduced by her old-school charm and feeling quite fancy. It’s a bit like being on the set of Dynasty. There’s no surprise La Perla has hosted the likes of Marlene Dietrich and Sting in its day. It’s just that sort of a place.
Website: http://www.laperla.co.za/
Winchester Mansions
A skip and a hop away, and with a dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain, this iconic seafront hotel has maintained its original Cape Dutch architecture, making it look like somewhere your granny might have lunched in her youth. In reality, it was built as a private residence in the 1920s and converted into a hotel in the 1950s. Its charming facade opens up to an equally charming, shady courtyard with chairs and tables arranged delightfully around a fountain. You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d wandered into a restaurant in Rome, and it just gets lovelier when evening falls and candlelight is the order of the day.
It is in this courtyard that Jazz Brunch is served on Sundays. You’ll be handed a newspaper, a glass of bubbly and be invited to enjoy anything from sushi to a traditional English breakfast, salads and dessert. If brunch isn’t your thing, high tea is served every Saturday, and the terrace is an excellent sundowner spot. Order an old-fashioned cocktail and some tapas and feel something of how it was to be a Capetonian 70 years ago. It’s wonderful that these places still exist. They deserve our custom.
Website: http://www.winchester.co.za/
The ‘Nellie’
The oldest and grandest dame of all is the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel which opened its doors in 1899 and was the first hotel in Cape Town to offer guests hot and cold running water. It has had a long and illustrious history, hosting a list of dignatories longer than the palm tree-lined driveway built in 1924 in honour of the visiting Prince of Wales. The verandah set in verdant, perfectly maintained gardens remains one of the most delightful places in town to gather for a drink or a meal, and its restaurant (particularly the chef’s table) is a wonderful place to treat yourself and your friends to world class service and excellent food.
The Planet Bar with its comfy, leather chairs and live piano music is a great place to relax with a whiskey or three and you’re sure to spot a couple of celebraties in their natural habitat. The ‘Nellie’ is well-known for her high teas, but if you’re feeling casual, tasty bistro-style dining is an option, too. It’s impossible to resist being seduced by her Old Worlde charm – and, honestly, why would you want to?
Lance Real Estate is based in Fresnaye, Cape Town and covers the Atlantic Seaboard from the Waterfront to Camps Bay. With over 23 years’ experience in the most sought-after residential areas in Africa, Lance Real Estate has sold over R 1 billion worth of properties in the last 3 years.
It is this hands-on knowledge which sets Lance Real Estate apart from our competition. We have built an extensive database of buyers and sellers over the last 2 decades who have grown to trust our market knowledge and depend on us to negotiate the best possible deal in any property negotiation.
We are now extending our reach and taking on houses and apartments for sale from the Waterfront through to Camps Bay.
If you are looking for a remarkable agency to buy, rent or sell your property on the Atlantic Seaboard, our friendly customer care team are a phone call away.
We also have a range of holiday rentals to offer. If you appreciate beautiful African sunsets over the sea and sublime mountain views, then visit our holiday rentals section on our website.
Contact
Email: info@lancerealestate.co
Tel: +27 82 416 6103
Website: http://www.lancerealestate.co