Jarryd Segal’s Little Black Book of Cape Town

Jarryd Segal is the kind of restaurateur who understands the pulse of Sea Point better than most. As co-founder of No Name Hospitality Group, he’s quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) shaped the neighbourhood’s social rhythm through a string of favourite venues. From the laidback charm of Jarryd’s to the contemporary Italian elegance of Ariel, the casual cool of Brash to the evening buzz at Hugo Social Club, each space feels distinctly its own. One of the group’s most recent additions, Baby – a strictly no-under-25s bar and nightclub – is already cementing Jarryd’s reputation as someone who sets the tone for how the city dines and plays. But where does he like to go in and around Cape Town when it’s time to unwind?

For lunch…

The Table at De Meye in Stellenbosch is our go-to for a lazy afternoon lunch, and we’ve become very friendly with owners Brendan Thorncroft and Leigh Williamson. There’s no actual menu; Brendan cooks what he feels like, and the food is famiglia-style and very generous. Everything is imperfectly perfect – mix-and-match cutlery, crockery, tables and chairs, all tying together to tell a really beautiful story about the amazing produce and talented local artisans we have. They’ve got a great wine list, too. The tables are spread out under the trees, and it’s always a three- or four-hour experience. Between courses, throw down a picnic blanket, lie on the grass and relax.

Mano’s in Green Point is a quintessential lunch favourite. It’s been there forever, and it’s a local haunt for a reason. It’s very much a people-watching place. All the food is really yummy – but my go-to is the chicken prego roll… the chicken swimming in that delicious winey, garlicky prego sauce, on a soft Portuguese bun with lots of butter, with some house-cut fries. Absolutely delicious.

Between Us is another of my lunchtime haunts, and it’s nice to have such a vibrant offering in the city – super-considered space, super-considered menu, super-considered ingredients. I’m yet to have a bad meal there, and you can just see that there’s proper passion oozing from the two owner-chefs (the twins who originally owned Skinny Legs Café). Their salads are fantastic.

I’ll pop into Blondie on Kloof Street for a late-afternoon lunch when I’m feeling a little bit cooler or more trendy – which is not very often. The food is really yum, with a Middle Eastern twist – nice hummus, a little chilli plate, a whole roasted head of cauliflower – and they cook quite a few things in the wood fire. I like the rustic style of serving… wholesome, generous portions and approachable dining.

Hemelhuijs is a perfect representation of what happens when elegance and style marry. I’ve always admired the attention to detail, the visual drama in the plating, presentation and menus, and how considered everything about that space is. I love that it’s small, that it’s intimate, and that it’s a little bit off the beaten track – you have to seek it out. I think most people are gravitating towards the suburbs these days, but it’s so cool to have that city-style energy.

Arthur’s Mini Super is one of my favourite Sea Point cafés. I absolutely love [co-owner] Willie Hobson, and they just do everything really, really well. My go-to is sardines on toast, or a breakfast toastie, which is like nostalgia personified for me: bacon, egg, a little tomato and cheese… I feel like a kid when I go there. I just love the layout and the vibe, and I don’t think there’s a bad thing on their menu.

It’s been amazing to see Cooked grow from a market space at the Waterfront into a fully fledged store that’s doing so well. I always order Bobba’s Green Omelette… so, so yum. Beautiful smoked salmon, an amazing serving of avocado, all the little sauces and things on the side. It’s super-nice and healthy, packed with veggies and always cooked just perfectly. Definitely one of my faves.

Hats off to Tasha Sideris for her new space, Arlecchino in Sea Point. It’s incredible to see someone as successful as she is still pushing the boundaries and creating something new. We had breakfast there the other day and it was wonderful. We saw Savva, Tasha’s brother and business partner, and he was super warm and friendly. I love the attention to detail. The space oozes quality and style; the chrome and stainless steel is super on trend but effortlessly timeless. I have no doubt that it will be a massive success.

For dinner…

Ariel is our artistic interpretation of what a good, modern Italian restaurant might be. My brother Ariel and I aren’t Italian, but we’ve always loved how nuanced and layered Italian food is. Every part of the country has its own food culture – its own way of cooking Bolognese, its own way of making pizza, its own way of making pasta and bread. A Neapolitan pizza is completely different to a Roman pizza, which is completely different to a Sicilian pizza… and everyone fights about whose is the best. Ariel and I love New York Italian, we love Neapolitan pizza, we love Roman pastas, we love beautiful Sicilian-inspired dishes… so we put them all together in a love song to Italian cuisine.

When I feel like Italian (that isn’t ours), I go to Magica Roma in Pinelands. Going there feels like stepping back in time – the walls are lined with old wine bottles, it’s still got the white tablecloths, and owner Ezio De Biaggi is an old hand. He comes to the table – “a little pizza, a little pasta. Can I make-a you something” – and that tableside touch is really special. It’s my long-time date night spot. Whenever I go, Ezio makes me their tagliolini pasta (like a slightly thinner version of a linguini) with a simple aurora arrabiata sauce (a napolitana with a little bit of cream and chilli). It’s delicious… You can’t go wrong with anything on their menu.

If I’m feeling like Asian food I’ll head to Tomson on Bree Street. It’s owned by my friends Matthew Freemantle and Andrew Kai, and they’re two of the nicest people ever. They also own Max Bagels. Matthew is an incredible sommelier, and Andy spends a lot of time in Asia learning how to cook this South Cantonese-style food. Tomson is a great representation of that type of cuisine – it’s small, it’s intimate, it’s street-side eating and it’s very, very cool. I recommend the chilli beef broccoli, the steamed ginger fish and their traditional-style prawn and pork dumplings.

Out and about…

My go-to beach is Saunders’ Rocks in Bantry Bay. I just love the sense of community there. Five or six years ago, no one went there, but it’s now a local hangout where there’s always hustle and bustle. All the Clifton beaches are elite, of course. I grew up in Sydney – one of the best beach destinations in the world – and while they’ve got a plethora of incredible beaches that are truly unique and beautiful, very few places in the world can match the visual drama and quality of Clifton’s beaches. It’s a bit of a nightmare to get up and down, but I think that’s part of the allure – and the lack of accessibility keeps them as pristine as they are. The sand is super-soft and the water a bit cold – but on a hot summer’s day, it actually makes sense. When I go overseas, I find myself looking for that same fresh ocean hit, but I very rarely get it.

We probably have one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world in Kirstenbosch. I was there recently for a concert, and it is quite possibly one of the most incredible places to see live music in the world. The mountain backdrop, the setting, the grass, the amphitheatre, the Boomslang walk on the way there… It’s truly majestic. The acoustics they manage to achieve, and just the South African gees for life… It has an incredible impact and aura.

Zeitz MOCAA is a world-class gallery space. You can visit anywhere in the world – London, New York, Paris – and while you’ll find a lot of history and many world-famous artists, you won’t find a place that has utilised the architecture so well and embodied something so design-forward, and so specifically curated. It’s just amazing to see how that part of South African culture has blossomed. Our country’s artists are doing so well on the global stage, and I’m very proud of that.

The Oranjezicht City Farm Market has to be one of the best food markets in the world. I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot and I always seek out a market, because that’s where you have an opportunity to really see, taste, touch and experience a lot of the culture. We were in Madrid recently and we went to all their top markets, but they don’t hold a candle to what OZCF represents. All the operators deliver to a really high standard, and South African produce has really taken a step up over the last few years. You’ll find beautiful, exotic tomatoes, amazing cherries and all kinds of incredible seasonal fruit and veg.

Stellenbosch is like a little town lost in time. I absolutely love all the cutesy little shops and the heritage architecture, and it’s always so nice to walk around. There are so many amazing wine farms in and around Stellenbosch, but I recommend Tokara for a famously good crispy chicken burger, some really nice olive oil and spectacular views from the Helshoogte Pass. Nearby Delaire Graaf is another amazing estate; whether you’re eating there or not, the spectacle alone is worth a visit.

If you’re in the Winelands, then Babylonstoren in Franschhoek should definitely be on your to-do list. It’s a love letter to everything that is amazing about South African culture and cuisine, and such a special property. Boschendal is also amazing – a little bit more approachable and family friendly, with a wonderful Friday night market, beautiful grounds, great picnic offerings and just stunning iterations of the farm-to-table concept in both its deli and restaurant.

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