LA PETITE COLOMBE | LIGHT AS A FEATHER

The “little sister” of world-renowned La Colombe in Cape Town, La Petite Colombe (“the little dove”) first opened in 2017. But since its recent move to the grounds of Leeu Estates, it’s levelled up in terms of the overall offering: with a magnificent venue to match its seamless dining journey (its neighbour is Everard Read, and sculptures in the garden are visible from the tables), it now offers an all-encompassing sensory experience.

The menu is elegant and refined, with immaculate attention to detail – nowhere more apparent than in the elevated take on snoek pâté, which arrives in a tin topped with caviar and served with a mini loaf, or the “living garden” starter snack box, and the salmon cooked with an hourglass at your table. The food is whimsical, engaging and minimal, and the interiors by MR. Thinking & Making (Rotem Shachar and Megan Bond) echo this elegance and honour the craft of cooking - the turning of raw ingredients into something sophisticated. The decor details allude to the idea of process: stone plinth waiter stations bear the markings of tools, while hand-cut terracotta floor tiles are a unique take on terrazzo. The walls, too, are textured.

“The terracotta wall was designed to look malleable, paused in the process of kneading and moulding,” says Shachar. Each piece and surface was made especially for this space by local artisans – including World of Decorative Concrete and Veelvlak (the floors), Gregor Jenkin and Clift Granite (the central bar), and Ceramic Matters (the entrance wall).

These tactile elements, as well as the soft lighting throughout, serve to create a soothing, natural cocoon. “We wanted guests to experience a potentially intimidating and complex food adventure as effortless and accessible,” says Shachar.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT La Petite Colombe’s food is sophisticated yet understated; the interiors by MR. Thinking & Making demonstrate the idea of process; the incredible setting of Leeu Estates, surrounded by art and manicured gardens, elevates the dining experience; the ideas of artistry and alchemy come through in the elemental natural materials throughout the space.