The founders behind Dusk restaurant, winner of the Eat Out Retail Capital Best New Restaurant Award, chef and restaurateur duo Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin, will be launching Nocturne, a new restaurant and mixology bar in Stellenbosch.

Following the massive success of Dusk, the dynamic and talented duo began to cast their focus towards the world of mixology, merging the principles and focus from their award-winning restaurant into their newest venture.

“We wanted to create a space for us to explore our creativity through different disciplines. The obvious next step was to venture into the world of unique drinks and the art of mixology. With this in mind, we have created a space where the same philosophy for our cuisine at Dusk is applied to our mixology at Nocturne, with sustainability, seasonality and ethical ingredient sourcing being at the core of both our food and beverage offering. Expect incredibly creative drinks paired with innovative creations from the Dusk test kitchen,” say chef Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin.

Darren Badenhorst and Callum Austin

Developed by the Dusk test kitchen and fermentation lab, patrons can look forward to experiencing a one-of-a-kind gastronomical journey in both the drink and food offerings, with drinks crafted by some of the world’s foremost mixologists.

Led under the guidance of the two chefs and restaurateurs, the menu offering at Nocturne will centre around snack pairings and seasonal small plates that aim to complement the signature cocktails available.

Aptly titled Nocturne, which in musical references refers to a composition ‘inspired by or evoking the night’, the new establishment embodies a similar aesthetic and feel to that of Dusk.

“Mimicking Dusk’s ambience, the space was created to embody the mood and mystery of the night with an emphasis on opulence and custom-made finishes, including a handmade 3D tile feature wall, a 12m-long wrap-around marble bar and ambience-enhancing lighting.”

Located on 43 Plein Street, Stellenbosch, Nocturne plans to open in July and will be open on Tuesdays to Saturdays, from 3pm till late.

While patrons are not able to make bookings during standard operating days, the restaurant space is available for venue and function hire.

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