There are many good reasons to visit Salsify at The Roundhouse, tucked away amid the indigenous forests overlooking Camps Bay. Chef and co-owner Ryan Cole’s inspired Cape cuisine for one; the dramatic mountainside location for another. And now, just ahead of the busy summer season, you can add a beautiful new interior to the list of things that make Salsify a must-visit.
Once a historic hunting lodge, Salsify at The Roundhouse has always worn its history lightly, neatly blending its locale and centuries of heritage with a decidedly contemporary approach to both décor and dining.
That’s now been refined even further, with the latest evolution of the interiors shaped by both Cole and designer Jean Francois de Villiers. The redesign stays true to Salsify’s three guiding pillars – history, seasonality, and sustainability – across several new-look spaces
The highlight of the redesign is the new Origami ceiling installation in the ‘Seasonal Room’, a smaller dining space that has seen several evolutions over the past few years. The new installation features thousands of old Salsify menus meticulously folded into flowers adorning the ceiling; a nod to the restaurant’s culinary journey and Cole’s commitment to sustainability.
‘While the roof represents hours and hours of work for my team and I, it was well worth it,’ says De Villiers. ‘Seeing something as flat as paper become something so textured and varying is unparalleled.’
Another eye-catching new addition is the Preservation Chamber. In what was once a private dining space, Cole showcases the pickling, fermentation and preservation of South African ingredients and flavours. It’s here that the Salsify experience begins, with the first gifts from the kitchen and a welcome cocktail. The Sea Room has also been reimagined, now featuring art from emerging South African artists curated in partnership with Cape gallery EBONY/CURATED.
But while the new décor has refreshed an already eye-catching space, those glorious sea views are just as fine as ever, making Salsify a hot table for the summer season.
No surprise Salsify makes our list of the Best Restaurants in Cape Town!