Grub & Vine Opens at Norval Foundation

Good honest food and wine with abundant artistry in the wings

Matt Manning’s Bree Street bistro has just gained an artful new sibling in the Constantia Valley. Introducing Grub & Vine Norval, an airy glass-walled restaurant at Norval Foundation overlooking striking sculpture gardens, rolling mountains and a beautiful outdoor deck.

Grub & Vine comes of age

“Grub & Vine Bree Street will have been open for five years in December,” says Matt. “We’ve learned many lessons; we’ve survived a pandemic; we’ve refined what we do; and we’ve grown up. It is now time for us to expand. On a personal level, I have started a family and moved to the southern suburbs. It occurred to me that there’s a ‘gap’ in the area for what Grub & Vine does well: elegant, refined bistro fare partnered with a fantastic wine offering in a relaxed but gorgeous setting.”

Penny-drop moment

Finding the perfect space was the next step. “I have enormous respect for Louis Norval, who frequents our Bree Street restaurant, and we enjoy a shared appreciation for food and wine. His Norval Foundation is one of the continent’s custodians of – and a haven for – African visual art,” Matt says. “When I visited in August, Louis showed me his impressive on-site wine collection. That was my ‘penny-drop’ moment: we needed to do a Grub & Vine at Norval, where we would celebrate the synergy between food, wine and art.”

Grub & Vine Norval

Monya Eastman from Stokperd, the creative mastermind behind Matt’s four-in-one hub at 103 Bree Street has transformed the interiors with rich colours and gorgeous textures, while not distracting from the structural integrity of the Norval building. The kitchen is open and a key feature of the space, as are the stunning views. As with its sister restaurant on Bree, expect a small, seasonal menu and fantastic wine offering.

“Grub & Vine in the city is all about vibey, sexy dining in the heart of Cape Town. While we do lunches, we’re really a spot for dinners and date nights. I see Grub & Vine Norval as Bree Street’s sophisticated older sibling and, given the location and idyllic surroundings, I imagine lunchtime will be highly popular,” Matt says.

The space also has a staircase that leads up into a private bar and lounge featuring more stunning views that Matt plans to use for wine tastings, and as a hub for bespoke wine events.

“Art – whether it be visual, culinary or the artistry of winemaking – invokes emotion. It has the power to make you feel nostalgic, invigorated or inspired,” he says. “We not only believe in the beautiful synergy between food, wine and art; our vision is for our guests to feel it too.”

Opens 30 November 2023 (bookings open 1 November)
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday 12pm – 9pm
Contact 021 216 0021, hello@grubandvine.co.za
Where to find it The Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road, Steenberg Estate, Tokai, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

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