After more than a decade abroad, chef Luke Lawrence Barry is back on home soil and firing up the culinary experience at Mount Nelson, A Belmond Hotel. As the storied hotel’s Executive Chef, Barry returned to Cape Town last year after 12 years sharpening his knives and honing his craft in both Hong Kong and the Middle East.
"I’ve always appreciated and respected what Mount Nelson does and represents," he says. "This majestic property possesses 125 years’ worth of history that I feel I need to uphold."
And Barry has certainly reinvigorated the offering, from the revived Oasis Bistro to the al fresco dining experiences at The Fountain by Planet Bar where Mediterranean and flame-grilled fare are served on the famous lawns.
But when he’s not behind the pass, you’ll find Chef Luke exploring Cape Town’s food scene with the curiosity of a local and the palate of a professional.
“My goal is to eat out as much as I can,” he laughs. From bacon sandwiches at Oranjezicht Market to playful chef collabs at Chefs Warehouse, this is a man who knows his way around both fine dining and a good braai. Here’s where the chef eats out on his days off...
MORE CELEBS SHARE THEIR LOCAL SECRETS
This is a restaurant that really heroes local seafood. At Galjoen the food is simple, but with layers of complexity – really tasty. It’s run by the same chefs behind Belly of the Beast, and their flavour combinations are amazing. It feels like a bit of a hidden gem. You walk into this industrial-looking building and then step into a beautiful, intimate space.
99 Harrington St, District Six
On a Saturday morning, I love heading to Oranjezicht Market. I’m a big fan of markets in general, and I try to visit as many as I can. I enjoy doing a bit of shopping while snacking, especially the samoosas and the bacon sandwich from Bacon on Bree. I’m also a huge fan of Woodstock Bakery. Their sourdough is incredible.
V&A Waterfront
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My go-to place for pizza is Blue Peter in Blouberg. I grew up there, running around on the lawn as a kid, and now my kids do the same. So it’s a sentimental spot for me, but they also make a mean pizza. My favourite is the Rock 'n Roll: bacon, avo, and feta, with extra garlic.
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8 Popham Street, Bloubergstrand
My kids love Bacini’s on Kloof Nek, especially for the lasagne. It’s hard to find really good lasagne, so when you do, you stick with it. This a lovely, cosy little restaurant with a patio out front. A real neighbourhood spot that serves solid, comforting food.
177 Kloof St, Gardens
No surprise here, but La Colombe is truly a fantastic dining experience. The food is always brilliant, and the service spectacular. It’s very much an experience-driven restaurant, where every detail matters. I loved seeing that kind of attention to detail in every part of the meal.
Silvermist Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia Nek
My go-to breakfast spot is Egghead Diner on Kloof Street. The ‘Porky Bun’ is messy, in the very best way! It’s a homemade pork sausage patty with eggs and cheese, all on a soft brioche bun. It hits the spot every time.
34 Kloof St, Gardens
My wife, kids, and I all love going to Chefs Warehouse. Thoughtful, genuine hospitality is a real theme across the Chefs Warehouse group, and it shows. The tapas-style dining is fantastic, and the experience feels very family-friendly while still being refined. Dave and Adrian are doing incredible things in the kitchen.
91 Bree St, Cape Town
The Red Room at Mount Nelson is absolutely beautiful. The Asian flavours are wonderful: bold, layered, and perfectly balanced. It’s also got this wonderfully moody, atmospheric setting. A great spot for a special night out. My go-to dish is the prawn toast.
The Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens
Bao Down in Green Point is a favourite date night spot for my wife and me. The food is simple, but the flavours are bold. I’m not one for super formal fine dining – I prefer a relaxed environment – and Bao Down nails that. Their ceviche is fantastic, all the sides are great, and of course, the bao are amazing. There’s always something new and exciting on the menu.
79 Main Rd, Green Point
I was really impressed with Ouzeri. It’s a relaxed spot with simple but big, flavourful Greek Cypriot dishes. They use a lot of authentic, imported Greek ingredients. Their olive bread is light and pillowy, served with fantastic accompaniments. I loved the cabbage roll dish – lahanadolmades – and the prawn savoro. Their loukoumades are also very good. It’s the kind of place that delivers understated excellence.
58 Wale Street, Cape Town
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