A mere 150 steps from Zeitz MOCAA, this sexy bar-bistro-boutique is perfect for a morning, afternoon or evening date…
Ideally situated in the V&A Waterfront’s buzzing Silo District, and a mere stone’s throw from Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, The Yard is one of those cool hybrid concept spaces, that’s just as suited to suits and Zoomers* as it is to tourists and serious shoppers.
The brainchild of creative talent Abigail Bisogno, the multifaceted space houses a restaurant, bar, coffee shop and lifestyle store filled with a beautifully curated selection of mostly local ceramics, jewellery and accessories, all handpicked by the owner herself.
Whether you pop in for an early morning Rosetta coffee and a freshly baked pastry before a morning at the museum; or even a post-cultural salad or smoothie, The Yard is an inviting space – day or night. Think raw concrete and slick marble, plush leather seats and huge industrial-style sliding windows that look out onto the Silo District and its oversized art installations.
The Spice Journey
We visited on a Friday evening for supper, and ventured straight into spice territory. The extensive lunch and dinner menus, inspired by Abigail’s travels to India, were recently revamped to boast a fusion of Indian and Mediterranean flavours.
We started with Bo Kaap High Tea samosas – two varieties of chicken, and potato and pea – served with spinach and onion pakora and seasonal chutneys, which were packed with flavour and perfectly crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The curries looked (and smelt) tempting: traditional Kashmir Lamb Rogan Josh and Butter Chicken, served with fragrant rice, tomato and onion salsa, coconut raita and chilli atchar.
But we couldn’t resist The Karoo Lamb, with biryani-style risotto, sauteed spinach, crispy kale, curry-leaf pesto, indian dukkah and fried shallot, which didn’t disappoint. The Cape Sustainable Fish (tuna), with tandoori cauliflower, roasted cauliflower purée, toasted almonds and fried shallot, was just as delicious!
If you prefer a good old-fashioned burger, you can’t go wrong with the grass-fed beef patty and all the trimmings – burnt onion aioli, tomato, spanish onion, local cheddar, pickles with fries or a house salad.
Its buzzy location in the art-drenched Silo District makes The Yard a wonderful place to linger, before or after your cultural escapades.
*Zoomer Somebody from Generation Z
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