Just off Cape Town’s busy Kloof Street, you’ll find the entrance to a newly opened eatery in the same space that also functions as a record store, soundbar and gallery. The name One Park (taken from its street address) is a carefully curated environment that sees the collaborative energy of its founders come to life in a way that melds food, music and art.

Chefs Lisa Knipe and Yoraya Nydoo may be familiar faces to those who visited Oxalis, the Wale Street pop-up restaurant that operated from August 2020 to March 2021. The duo has now combined forces with Mishka Mahomed and Matt Hichens, the founders of the collaborative One Park space. To compliment the heritage-inspired dining experience, they brought in The Other Records – a community record store for curious vinyl browsers. Headed up by Aaron Peters, Philiphus Johan and Matt Hichens, it was an easy choice to have them in the space as an extension of the immersive experience.

Lisa heads up the kitchen, where her intention is to celebrate flavours that bring about nostalgia, community and creativity. With a lean towards familial heritage dishes, guests can look forward to twists on favourites like tomatie bredie, fish and chips, and gebraaide boontjies. The menu format is concise yet considered, where dishes are served as small plates ideal for sharing (or not!). There is a “bar snacks” section with items that beg to be enjoyed with an exciting cocktail – spiced nuts, samoosa crisps with a smashed pea and carrot dip, and paneer “popcorn” (little balls of crumbed paneer cheese) served with tangy mint chutney. The menu changes based on seasonal ingredients and there are plans to host special Sunday lunches where Lisa and her team will cook something bespoke for the day.

The drinks menu is a superb reflection of the country’s local liquor talent, from cocktails and wine to beer and cider – with some lesser-known names given a shoutout. One Park is one of the few places we’ve seen that celebrates South African spirits in every drink. Mhoba white rum mingles with mango, lime and curry leaf in the Tropical Hand Gesture cocktail while Pienaar & Son vodka gives a kick to the creamy, chai-laced Spice Route.

 

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One Park’s minimalist decor and low ambient lighting create a sophisticated but relaxing ambience, attracting a cool, eclectic crowd of locals and visitors that arrive from the early evening “AWD” (after-work drinks) window and are tempted to stay until late, listening to the rousing beats of the in-house DJ sessions. There is an outside courtyard area that is perfect for balmy summer evenings but will soon be covered to make space for the upstairs soundbar and gallery, which the team says will be ready by mid-year.

 

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One Park is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 4 to 11pm and Sundays from 12 to 6pm.

Brought to you by Retail Capital. Click here for more new restaurant news. Eat Out was invited as a media guest to experience the restaurant but all views are our own. Please note, this is not a review.