Food with a View

Renowned wine farm Haute Cabrière’s new restaurant space has the kind of view that makes it hard to focus on the delicious menu.

THIS PAGE AND OPPOSITE If you can tear your eyes away from the spectacular views, Haute Cabrière’s newly redesigned eating space provides a stylish canvas for chef Nic van Wyk’s (opposite, bottom left) “elegant yet comforting” menu. There is also a new deli and bakery on site, offering artisan bakes, fresh garden produce and specialty condiments.

Almost as well-known as its excellent Chardonnay Pinot Noir has been Haute Cabrière’s restaurant and its French-inspired menu. At the end of 2019, 25 years after it opened, the wine farm unveiled a completely redesigned eating area. Not only was its muchloved cellar space given a decor revamp, but most notably, a new pavilion has been built with unimpeded panoramic views of the Franschhoek valley. With glass walls and an expansive infinity deck, the new structure allows guests to enjoy chef Nic van Wyk’s delicious menu, which he describes as “elegant but comforting, offering dishes that would satisfy locals, yet impress international guests”.

Architectural firm A3D was entrusted with a brief to design a space that would continue to create a stylish, authentically meaningful experience for guests – one that could adapt and cater to a variety of needs of local and international visitors.

THE BRIEF WAS TO CREATE A STYLISH AND AUTHENTICALLY MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE FOR GUESTS.

The spectacular views and the cellar’s iconic stone arches were key elements that needed to remain, ensuring the establishment’s maxim of “living beautifully”.

“The ambience is lighter,” says AD Muller, lead architect at A3D. “There’s a powerful sense of arrival, and the flow of the property guides guests through the different spaces and offerings. All of this is offset by an exquisite view of the landscape on one side, and the original European-inspired underground stone cellar on the other. A creative approach to decor has brought a fresh feel of modernity to the space.”

With a new deli and bakery, where freshly baked artisanal fare, fresh produce from the vegetable garden and condiments from the menu are all on offer, Haute Cabrière’s elegant new space is a wonderful winelands stop for breakfast through to dinner.

cabriere.co.za