Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2025 i Cape Etc

SPRING IS A FUNNY SEASON IN CAPE TOWN. Technically, it arrives in September, but every Capetonian knows it doesn't quite work that way here. You still have mornings when you curse the South-Easter for rearranging your hair (and occasionally your sanity), or afternoons when a rogue cold front reminds you that the city is far too stylish to stick to a calendar. But then, suddenly, one morning feels different: the light is warmer, Lion's Head is sharper against the sky, and someone at the market is selling strawberries again. That's when you know – we've made it. After our long hibernation in winter – the red wine, the fireplaces, the smug satisfaction of finding parking on Kloof Street because no one else dared venture out – spring feels like permission:…

A SEASON OF RENEWAL IN CONSTANTIA Spring signals a sensory reset in Constantia. The vineyards begin their slow unfurling, the oaks and gardens green up after resting in winter, and the mountains stand sharp and clear against crisp skies. Water features shimmer in the light, birds pick at fresh buds, and the air feels washed clean. Amid this scenery, Steenberg Wine Farm is both a historic landmark and a modern destination. The Cape's oldest registered farm, founded in 1682, marries heritage with contemporary ease. Today, Steenberg is known as much for its elegant wines and five-star hospitality as its two distinctive restaurants, Tryn and Bistro Sixteen82, each led by Executive Chef Kerry Kilpin. Together, they form the heart of a full-day escape into flavour, relaxation and indulgence. Steenbera offers visitors…

‘I left without ink, but discovered a local brand that produced epic cuts’ During the 2019 Rugby World Cup, my boss lost a bet and had to get a Springbok tattoo. He asked me to come with him to Palm Black Tattoo, then tucked away just off Roeland Street. While the needle buzzed the pride of South Africa onto his chest, I wandered around the shop and found that upstairs there were hangers filled with garments, and textiles strewn around a workshop space. That's where I met Nico Nigrini, the founder of Stiebeuel. He was kind enough to let me buy a pair of pants, yet to be released, at a discounted rate. I left without any ink – luckily - but having discovered a local brand that produced epic…

TANTALISING TRIFECTA The Wiggle Room on Bree Street is a breath of fresh air on Cape Town's culinary scene, writes Ryan Vrede I was rapping along to ‘Hit ‘Em Up’. Aggressively. Matching Tupac's energy, while holding a glass of impossibly good wine from an off-the-beaten-track winery and snacking on something tasty that Chef Ismail Amos had created a metre away. His passion for food is matched only by his love of music, and it's central to The Wiggle Room experience. The lady sitting to my right asked, ‘Do you know this song?’ She looked less than enthused by the lyrics and delivery. ‘Yes, this is my vibe. I'm a ’90s child,’ I replied. The playlist delivered banger after banger, and the kitchen matched it dish for dish. Cape Town has been…

The other day, an old 4 x 6 image of my dad and I fell off the wall. I must have been close to three years old in the photo. I picked it up to Prestik it back to the wall, and on the back, in faded yellow lettering, was written: ‘ORMS Print Room and Framing/2003’. Walk down Roeland Street and you can trace a creative ecosystem of close to 30 years in the making in just a few city blocks. There is the ORMS store, where first cameras become first commissions. Across the way, a print and framing hub where prints become heirlooms, and next door, a repair bench that restores cameras and peace of mind. Around the corner, their school compresses years of trial and error into a…

Tucked between tourist-trodden Stellenbosch and the majestic Helshoogte Pass is the Cape Winelands’ hidden gem: Dwarsrivier. This quiet valley, rich in heritage and hospitality, is more than just a scenic detour – it's a soulful escape into slow, intentional living, local flavours, community connections and unbreakable family ties. BANHOEK CORNER GUESTHOUSE In the heart of Dwarsrivier is the quaint Banhoek Corner Guesthouse (banhoek.com). A boutique, cottage-core-style home – warm, cosy, comforting and fuss-free, like staying with an old family friend, albeit one who has a curator's eye for Cape Dutch interior design. You might perch with a view of the surrounding vineyards and mountains, or wake up to the quiet hum of birdsong, wind rustling through leaves and a golden mist settling over the valley, setting the tone for a…

COVID forced the film industry to shut down, especially international projects, which pushed me to focus more on Stiebeuel. Around that time, an old friend, Ryan Brussow, coincidentally someone I'd shared the music stage with years earlier, got in touch to explore an idea he had. This idea would become the brand Cultish. With film work dried up we began developing Cultish. In the early phases, production happened at other Cape Town manufacturers, similar to how Stiebeuel had operated. We soon decided to bring all production in-house, and that's how Lighthouse was born. Ryan and I co-own Lighthouse, which manufactures both Stiebeuel and Cultish. We started with just two machinists and a cutter when we weren't producing garments (the market was slow due to the pandemic). Lighthouse even manufactured branded…

Calling yourself a creative can be quite the commitment. Whether you're a writer, designer, painter, sculptor or stylist, it's time- and energy-consuming. But then you plan for months and plot your way to independence. One day, you leave your stable corporate job to answer your calling and be a full-time freelancer. One month, you know you're guaranteed a salary on time at the end of the month and that your medical aid is a sure thing. The next, you're doing your taxes and following up on invoices. That's been my life for the past few months, and, honestly, I'm getting tired – more exhausted than I ever was when I worked a 9-to-5. My main issue, though, is the search for inspiration. I'm only in my early 30s, but I've…