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Southern Africa

The Southern African hot list
May 2025

Southern Africa • Insider guides • The Southern African hot list May

What we’re loving in May 2025 (and you will too)

Stay informed and stay inspired! The Southern African hot list is your monthly dossier of what’s shaping the cultural and creative landscape across Southern Africa. From smart new openings and design-forward projects to events worth pencilling into your diary, we spotlight the ideas and initiatives that matter. Whether you’re a local with a keen eye on your surroundings or a traveller seeking authentic inspiration, this is your curated guide to the things that are getting our attention (and deserve your’s, too).

Top photography courtesy of Franschhoek House

Blou: barefoot luxury in Keurboomstrand

At Blou, eight self-catering cottages sit on a sea-facing strip of Keurboomstrand, just minutes from Plettenberg Bay, offering barefoot luxury on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Developed by the team behind Babylonstoren, Blou brings their signature farm-to-table ethos and sensory rewilding to the beach. The accommodation comprises three ocean-facing cottages, two courtyard cottages and three courtyard cottages featuring a kids’ loft. Courtyard cottages boast their own braai areas, while the sea-facing cottages come with gas braais for al fresco dinners as the sun dips below the horizon. In the central courtyard, you’ll find the sparkling pool flanked by a steam room, sauna and jacuzzi – a mini version of the Babylonstoren spa. A welcome house at the heart of the estate handles concierge services and grocery provisioning, making self-catering seamless. You can only book at Blou if you have previously stayed at Babylonstoren or The Newt, their property in Somerset, England.

Blou
52 Main Street
Keurboomstrand
South Africa

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Photography courtesy of Blou

Bohemia Art Gallery & Wine Bar: Port Elizabeth’s quirkiest wine bar

Art, wine, good vibes – that’s what you’ll find at Bohemia Art Gallery & Wine Bar. As you step in, you’ll find the show-stopping wine wall – rows of wine bottles refilled weekly with fresh flowers, like a constantly evolving floral installation. Behind this wall, Bohemia unfolds – walls filled with a curated selection of art, quirky antiques and shelves stocked with rare wine bottles that blur the line between décor and display. Every element of the interior design was handpicked by the owner and brought to life with the help of Strukt Architects. Striking design features include the bespoke wallpaper, featuring the Vase of Flowers painting by Jan Davidsz De Heem, pink marble tables and two grand antique mirrors. The wine list? Eclectic and exciting – over 250 labels with a focus on boutique, small-batch and experimental wines. Bohemia’s philosophy is simple – make wine feel fun, unpretentious and full of discovery. It’s a place where wine lovers gather not to impress, but to explore, connect and raise a glass to creativity.

Bohemia Art Gallery & Wine Bar
29 8th Ave
Walmer
Port Elizabeth
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Bohemia Art Gallery & Wine Bar

Le Pickle: Cape Town’s Smash Burger Sensation

Le Pickle is Cape Town’s newest smash-burger sensation in De Waterkant, launched by four friends with a passion for perfecting the basics. Pieter Aucamp, Vincent Viviers, Trenton Devine and Enrico Ferigolli turned late-night braai experiments into a full-fledged restaurant, driven by a shared love for smash burgers. Combining high-quality ingredients, handmade demi-brioche buns, custom sauces and pickles, they deliver crispy-edged patties with juicy centres and next-level fries. Le Pickle offers two beef smash options – the double-patty Le Classic and the onion-smashed Le Onion with aioli, plus a standout chicken smash paired with a house-made spicy sauce and Emmental cheese. Vegetarians aren’t left out, thanks to a versatile plant-based patty that fits any burger build. Breaking from retro-diner clichés, Le Pickle’s interiors pop with bold colours, communal seating and playful branding inspired by the founders’ emphasis on fun and community.

Le Pickle
Quarter Lifestyle Village
8 Jarvis St
De Waterkant
Cape Town
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Le Pickle

Franschhoek House: a private villa retreat in the Cape Winelands

Franschhoek House is an exclusive-use six-bedroom private villa on the La Residence. Designed by the owner, Liz Biden, the interiors have a vintage French aesthetic, with touches of African art and textiles. Handpicked artworks by African masters like Franklyn Dzingai and Grace Nyahanga hang alongside repurposed treasures from Marrakesh and Mumbai. There is also a remarkable 17th-century tapestry by David Teniers II, from Aubusson, France. The six luxury suites boast high-pitched ceilings, expansive windows, bespoke chandeliers and curated antiquities, like the magnificent chandelier in the Long Room, salvaged from Cape Town City Hall. Outdoors, multiple patios and a private heated pool lie beneath a 200-year-old oak, offering you the ultimate spot for sundowners amid the ancient vineyards.

Franschhoek House
La Residence
Elandskloof road
Franschhoek
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Franschhoek House

Dawn by Dusk: Stellenbosch’s culinary lab

At Dawn by Dusk, the minds behind the Dusk restaurant have unveiled an ultra-exclusive private dining laboratory in the heart of Stellenbosch’s Winelands. Dawn by Dusk offers an intimate venue, with seating for only 24 guests. An open kitchen set at eye level, paired with a 45-degree mirror above the pass, brings the action into full view. Every sear, stir and final detail is easy to follow, turning the kitchen into part of the dining experience. At its core, Dawn by Dusk doubles as a living test kitchen, where Executive Chef Callan Austin experiments with hyper-local produce, fermentation techniques and multi-sensory presentations that layer texture, aroma and flavour. The menu evolves constantly, depending on seasonal harvests and the chefs’ latest inspirations, so no two evenings at Dawn by Dusk feel the same.

Dawn by Dusk
43 Plein St
Stellenbosch
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Dawn by Dusk

Inga Somdyala at What If The World: a must-see exhibition in Cape Town

Dressed Overall is a solo exhibition by Inga Somdyala at What If The World gallery in Cape Town running from 5 April to 31 May 2025. Inga Somdyala originally from Komani in the Eastern Cape and now based in Cape Town, delves into the cultural and political negotiations of the post-apartheid generation through painting, print media and immersive installations. In Dressed Overall, Somdyala deconstructs vexillology – those graphic systems of squares, lines and colours – by breaking the rules of flag design and scattering hues across fabric banners. He transcribes old Latin phrases into nautical-flag motifs, then systematically scrambles them to challenge historical narratives embedded in visual symbols. Bold reds, blues and greens – drawn from both South Africa’s current and colonial flags – merge with the tactile textures of cotton and linen for an evocative play of form and meaning.

What If The World
First Floor
16 Buiten St
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town
South Africa

Photography courtesy of What If The World

Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront: coastal sophistication in Cape Town

At Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront, the interiors are inspired by the meeting of land and sea – imagine timber, brass and stone alongside a palette of oceanic blues, sandy neutrals and earthy tones that echo Table Mountain’s rugged silhouette. We love the on-site bespoke art gallery featuring curated pieces showcasing local fashion and architecture, giving the hotel a contemporary edge while spotlighting African craftsmanship. Staying at Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront also gives you access to an infinity pool overlooking the ocean and the Amani Spa. Also worth mentioning is the recently refurbished Tobago’s Restaurant Bar and Terrace and the newly opened Waveside Café, located in the west atrium, providing a luxurious deli and café experience.

Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront
100 Beach Road
Granger Bay Blvd
Mouille Point
Cape Town
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Radisson Collection Hotel Waterfront

Old Town Italy: Durban’s seaside Italian deli

Old Town Italy brings an authentic Italian deli and restaurant experience to Durban’s beachfront. Designed by KT Interior, the space unfolds like a sun-dappled Mediterranean village, with earthy plaster walls, arched openings and sculptural curves that direct your gaze toward the sea. Natural textures – terracotta floor tiles, olive-green upholstery and wrought-iron light fixtures – layer warmth and authenticity throughout. As you step in, you’re greeted by a sprawling market-style layout, where a bakery overflows with freshly baked focaccia and ciabatta, while the salumeria and cheese counters tempt you with house-cured prosciutto and artisanal pecorino. Central to the dining room are wood-fired ovens, around which chefs assemble hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas that blister at the edges and freshly made pastas sauced with slow-cooked ragùs and pesto blends.

Old Town Italy
39 Meridian Drive
Umhlanga Rocks
Durban
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Old Town Italy

Dokter & Misses: Cape Town’s innovators of modernist design

Step into Dokter and Misses and you’ll immediately get why they’re one of South Africa’s most recognisable design studios. Their showroom in Cape Town’s city centre is a riot of bold colours, geometric lines and playful forms – furniture and lighting that refuse to blend into the background. Founded by Adriaan Hugo and Katy Taplin, this Joburg-born brand has made its mark in Cape Town with its signature aesthetic that mixes industrial functionality with an unmistakable artistic edge. The duo’s designs have gained international recognition, with pieces exhibited in major design capitals, but they remain deeply rooted in African aesthetics. Visiting their showroom is like stepping into a living installation – each piece feels like a work of art, yet designed to be lived with. If you’re after something eye-catching but practical, this is a must-visit.

Dokter & Misses
First Floor
108 Shortmarket St
Cape Town
South Africa

Photography courtesy of Dokter & Misses

Chef & Co: bringing fresh flavours to Tulbagh

Locals go crazy for the 2025 addition of Chef & Co, a deli, bakery and eatery rolled into one by Chef Pieter Malan. It’s the kind of spot that feels like an instant classic – laid-back but polished, with a menu that celebrates fresh, local ingredients. Breakfast is a serious affair here, from the Tulbagh Benedict with smoked trout and MCC hollandaise to the Skottel Breakfast stacked with farm eggs and boerewors sausages. Flaky croissants and buttermilk scones fly off the bakery shelves, while lunch offers gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads and pantry staples to take home. Whether lingering over coffee or stocking up on artisanal treats, Chef & Co is already a Tulbagh essential.