A new restaurant, a free afternoon, and an empty stomach. Say less. This past Thursday, I slipped into Harrington Street for lunch. I was drawn in by fire, flavour, and a very good feeling. Some lunches are forgettable. This one most certainly wasn’t. East City Grill is a restaurant built around fire, not as a gimmick, but as a philosophy. This flame-led concept is rooted in South African heritage, and layered with Asian flair. Where braai culture meets finesse. A thoughtful exploration of smoke, heat, and simplicity. Upon arrival, the sign immediately caught my eye. It was giving off a calm, confident, and unbothered energy. Just as I thought the sign was the main character, I took a peek inside only to see the most dramatic flight of stairs I’ve maybe ever seen. To be fair, I don’t generally go around admiring staircases, but this one was impressive. Walking up these red-lit, cinematic stairs felt like crossing into another mood entirely. Anticipation was slowly building with every step, and once I made it to the top, I was far from disappointed, quite the contrary actually.

I don’t know if I dressed for Grub & Vine, or if Grub & Vine dressed for me. Either way, it was a full Spring romance moment. Well, maybe just a Spring moment, it seems that romance died about right after my last review… Oh well, onwards and upwards. I mean, it’s probably for the best. I’m a full time eater, he’s a part time snacker. It would have never worked, right? Or maybe it was because he lives in Australia… Anyhoo. Swiftly moving on from Mr Aussie Anonymous. I spent my past Thursday afternoon sipping on generously sized glasses of wine, indulging in delicious food, and soaking up the sun. Because life’s too short to be crying over a no name brand, and an exchange rate I could never compete with. As I stepped inside, I immediately felt like my outfit had been waiting for this backdrop. The space is sophisticated without the “try hard energy” you sometimes get in fancy dining rooms. I’m convinced that’s mostly thanks to the warm, friendly welcome from our waitress, Flowers. Yes, Flowers. As in soft, pretty, quietly bright, and impossible not to like. I felt an instant connection to her as I was wearing a dress with flowers printed onto it. Coincidence? I think not. Since it was a stunning day, we decided to sit outside. En route to our table, I had a little look around the interior. I absolutely loved the sleek tables, sculptural chairs, and that slightly mysterious lighting that makes you look 11/10 in photos. I almost changed my mind about our seating arrangements. That was until I saw the terrace. Just wow. It’s modern, green, and tranquil. The soft shade sails filter the sun just enough, everything is bright, but not blinding. The tables are spaced with actual breathing room, no eavesdropping, just peace. Not to mention, the view. The terrace overlooks their sculpture garden, with mountains behind it. Greenery everywhere, basically a high budget countryside aesthetic. Sitting out there felt like we’d stepped out of Cape Town traffic and into a painting. I sat back, relaxed into my chair, and prepared myself for an indulgent spring afternoon.

Elgr is one of my all time favourites. It’s moody without being too moody, sophisticated without being pretentious, and somehow manages to feel both forest calm and city cool at the same time. I love the sage greens, charcoal tones, and soft foliage. The space looks imported from someone’s Pinterest board… It’s all just so thoughtfully put together. The open kitchen blends into the gorgeous, slightly mysterious atmosphere. And don’t even get me started on the menu. First of all, the cocktails. Elgr’s bar team doesn’t just mix drinks. They compose them. Every cocktail feels curated and intentional, and they’re absolutely stunning on the eye. Their food menu is exactly what I love. It’s globally inspired, beautifully plated, and made for sharing. These tapas style plates feel playful and social without any of that heavy commitment, which is perfect for a first date. This brings us to the reason I was here. You know those Hinge matches where you’re like, “Hmm… we could either vibe or this could be a spectacular disaster?” That was the energy going in. To make it more thrilling, he casually mentioned he’s a “snacker” on first dates, while I’m very openly an “eater”. My soul briefly left my body. Then I had a moment of CSI Paige logic. Tapas = snacks, therefore food. The perfect middle ground! So I suggested Elgr. And honestly? It was genius of me. Saturday night arrived, and Kloof Street was looking all moody and cinematic. It was making me feel like the main character, hopefully in a romcom and not so much a horror. Naturally, I was feeling a little anxious, but that all fell away when I was greeted by Jose, the doorman. There has never been a time where I haven’t instantly felt happier after seeing him. He is one of the most genuine and kind people you could meet. He smiled, warmly welcomed me, and showed me to the table. There my date was. I looked at him for the first time and felt relieved. No catfishing detected. The date started to settle into something that felt promising and low pressure, and then things went from good, to great. He suggested we share six plates, that’s when my soul ascended. I thought to myself, “Okay, if this is his version of snacking, I’m safe”.

This past weekend I found myself at Lazari. A relaxed and effortlessly homely cafe located in the heart of Gardens. It’s the kind of place that feels like it’s been a part of a neighbourhood forever, quietly holding space for people to read, write, think, flirt, cry, recover from pilates, or just exist.

There’s something about Muizenberg that feels like a mini escape. The salt in the air, the coastal hum, and that irresistible sense of seaside slowness. It’s that perfect in between of relaxed and awake. I mean, first of all: location, location, location! The ocean is your backyard, in my case, my front yard. I am so grateful to call this place my home. What more could you ask for? Well, that’s what makes Muizenberg special. It delivers even more than you could have ever expected. It isn’t just pretty on the eyes, but it’s full of personality, and that’s thanks to the people within the community and all the hidden gems around. Of course, as a foodie, I find myself out and about at restaurants all the time. I have tried most, if not all, the restaurants the area has to offer, and my constant favourite has to be Harvest. From the delicious food and coffee, to the incredibly friendly staff and warm atmosphere, it really has it all. The space itself is light filled, open, airy, and effortlessly grounded. That perfect mix of surf town casual and cafe chic. I love the natural wood, hanging greenery, warm lighting, and earthy tones. It gives off that energy of an island holiday, especially since it’s almost summer. Another bonus is that they have outside seating, perfect for the warmer months to come!

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending the launch of the newly opened Motherdough. It is set on a working farm in Jonkershoek, surrounded by gravel, mountains, and slow moving air. It feels like it’s miles away from the city, even though it’s just outside Stellenbosch. Very much giving off that farm to table charm, met with Italian countryside calm. Once I arrived, I took a slow walk through the garden, stopping to look at all the veggies they had growing. I am not much of a green thumb, however I can appreciate a good vegetable patch. I must say, this one was thriving. After having my head in the ground as opposed to in the clouds, I turned around and saw the most beautiful yellow and white Cape Dutch farmhouse. Yellow is my favourite colour, it was actually the colour of my very first bedroom, so this spot instantly felt like home to me. I am not sure what I loved more, the deep yellow signature wall, or the wall with “Eat Proper Bread” painted onto it in big, bold letters. Undecided, I made my way inside through the mint coloured doors and was immediately hit with all things sourdough. More specifically, “MOTHERDOUGH”, which stood proud on the sage green walls. In front of the sign was a counter with a glass display of pastries that looked too perfect to disturb. Thankfully for them, I left them at peace as I was there for the launch.

I’ve wanted to go to Meuse Farm for the longest time. It’s one of those places that is always spoken about in the Cape Town foodie circles, and it was finally time for me to experience it for myself. This beautiful hidden restaurant is located in Hout Bay, on a very well manicured, but natural looking working farm. Not only do they use most of their produce in their own eatery, but they also supply some of the country’s finest restaurants, so you already know it’s the good stuff. This past Saturday I attended their special wine pairing dinner with Painted Wolf Wines, a conservation driven winery whose heart beats for both vines and African wild dogs. These wines are made with as much purpose as flavour. Pair that with Chef Caitlin Kennedy’s thoughtful, local, and seasonal cooking. Her food not only feeds the palate, but the soul too. This event felt intentional and meaningful. From sipping on wine that supports a charitable cause, to munching on environmentally friendly, farm grown produce, there were so many positives before even getting there. But, from the moment I arrived, I knew I was where I was meant to be.