Salsify, an Eat Out 3-star restaurant, recently reopened after its annual winter break, but it seems that executive chef and co-owner Ryan Cole didn’t take much time off, as he again worked with designer Jean Francois de Villiers to reimagine the restaurant’s interiors in time for the reopening. Rooted in the restaurant’s three guiding pillars – history, seasonality and sustainability – the redesign, along with two new rituals created to help guests savour the experience, shines a light on Salsify’s commitment to thoughtful, deliberate dining.  

“It’s been six years to get to where we are now – a considerable amount of time – and with time comes evolution. This year, and with this iteration, it really feels like a coming of age for the restaurant. We’re constantly striving to elevate the experience, and we can’t wait to share this new season of Salsify with our guests,” says Cole. 

A highlight of the new space is the origami ceiling installation in the Seasonal Room. Comprised of thousands of old Salsify menus (some from as far back as the restaurant’s opening) folded into intricate flowers, the installation symbolises both the restaurant’s journey and the team’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. “While the roof represents hours and hours of work for my team and me, it was well worth it. Seeing something as flat as paper become something so textured and varying is unparalleled,” says de Villiers. 

Other notable changes include the transformation of the old private dining room into the Preservation Chamber, where Cole showcases the local ingredients that are preserved, fermented and pickled for use in Salsify’s dishes. This space features the original masonry of the 300-year-old Camps Bay building juxtaposed against graffitied murals by international street artist Louis de Villiers. In the Sea Room, emerging South African artists are celebrated with a collection of artworks curated in collaboration with EBONY/CURATED. Throughout the restaurant, local art has been used to ground the space and pay respect to the surrounding land and sea.  

This third reimagining of Salsify’s interiors, along with Cole’s commitment to serving dishes that are inspired by nature and driven by the seasons, makes the restaurant a one-of-a-kind experience and a must-visit for anyone in the Mother City.