There’s something extra special about a private dining experience. There’s the careful consideration that comes with planning, the intimate setting, and the undivided attention you receive from the chefs and staff who prepare and present delicious multiple-course dishes exclusively to your table. With that special experience in mind, we’ve rounded up five great private dining experiences in Cape Town that are sure to leave an impression on any dinner party guest.

Chefs Studio (City Bowl)

Chef Matt Manning (of Grub & Vine) hosts private and interactive dining experiences and events, where guests get an intimate and exciting front-row seat to the action of chefs preparing and presenting a five-course menu (with a wine pairing option carefully selected by the in-house sommelier) especially for them. And, to top it all off, guests will get to participate in the cooking of the main course under the guidance of chef Matt. This unique experience is available for groups of between eight to 16 guests for R750 per person (R1200 with wine pairings), from Wednesdays to Saturdays between 6pm and 8pm. Bookings are essential and can be made via www.thechefsstudio.co.za.

 

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THE CHEF’S TABLE with @MattManningChef at @ChefsStudioCT.⠀ ⠀ Elevate your next dinner party by booking the Chef’s Table, our long dining table overseeing the Chef’s Studio demo kitchen, for an intimate and exciting front row seat to the action. ⠀ ⠀ Available for groups of between 8-16 guests to book, your party will be able to watch the chefs preparing and presenting a five-course menu specially for you and your friends.⠀ ⠀ AVAILABILITY:⠀ Wednesday – Saturday⠀ Time: 18h00 – 20h00⠀ Location: @ChefsStudioCT⠀ Cost: R 750pp (five-course menu) | with wine – R1200⠀ Includes: Welcome glass of bubbles⠀ ⠀ Reservations: Minimum of 8 guests | Maximum of 16 guests⠀ ⠀ Bookings are required via our Dineplan calendar on our home page.

A post shared by The Chef’s Studio (@chefsstudioct) on May 31, 2019 at 3:40am PDT

Chef’s Table Cape Town with chef Santi (City Bowl)

Chef’s Table Cape Town is a boutique and intimate social dining experience hosted by Chef Santi Louzán in his home kitchen, where he takes guests through a culinary journey from his Spanish roots and traditional home cooking to his Michelin background. It seats up to 16 people and can be booked either as a social table – where the experience is shared with strangers – or it can be booked for private events, celebrations or family gatherings. This year the experience is being elevated, with the introduction of interactive cooking classes in chef Santi’s home kitchen. A seat at the Chef’s Table Cape Town with chef Santi is R1050, which includes seven courses and five tasting wines. Email bookings@chefstablecapetown.com to make a booking.

Chefs Table Cape Town venue. Photo Supplied.

Lapo’s Kitchen (Newlands)

Lapo’s Kitchen offers an authentic, exclusively curated Italian private dining experience, allowing guests to have the venue solely to themselves. This unique social dining experience includes a feast of six carefully constructed courses shared with fellow friends and foodies. The six-course seasonal inspired menu is a collection of traditional and contemporary dishes from chef Lapo’s Tuscan-Florentinian heritage fused with the rich South African array of fresh, sustainable and ethical produce. Lapo’s Kitchen caters for groups up to 40 people and pricing ranges from R690 to R2000 per person, depending on the size of the party. The team highly recommends a surprise menu, but are also happy to create a customised menu crafted based on Lapo’s style of cooking and recipes. Bookings are essential and can be made online. https://www.laposkitchen.com/

The social dining set up at Lapo’s Kitchen. Photo by Darryl Gouws from Lapo’s Kitchen Instagram.

The Reverie Social Table (Observatory)

Chef patron Julia Hattingh’s Reverie Social Table is a proudly South African d’hôte-style eatery located in quirky Observatory. Her contemporary focus is strongly influenced by a combination of the chefs that have mentored her throughout her career, respect for the food she works with, her vast travels, and Cape Town’s diverse cultures and culinary heritage. At The Reverie Social Table, chef Hattingh welcomes guests to sit around an 18-seater table to enjoy a five-course meal exclusively prepared for them and paired with carefully selected wines for R700 (including wine). Guests are encouraged to put away their cellphones and engage with one another. Booking is essential, and both reservations and payment can be made online. www.reverie.capetown

The set up at Reverie Social Table by Chef Julia Hattingh. Photo by Michael Le Grange.

Table Seven (Salt River)

Table Seven has a unique dinner club dining experience that allows you and 20 of your guests to have your own private dining facility, where you can enjoy five courses for R600. They can accommodate between 16 and 20 guests, and work on an exclusive basis with no venue hire fee. Guests are encouraged to advise of any dietary requirements in advance and a substitute meal will be provided where applicable. There’s also a carefully selected beverage menu available for guests to purchase on the night. Call 079 286 1811 or email katie@tableseven.co.za to book. (50% of the food payment is required up front in order for your booking to be confirmed.)

The beautiful, warm interior set up at Table Seven. Photo Supplied.

One lucky Eat Out reader stands a chance to win a social dining experience for two worth R2100 at Chefs Table Cape Town hosted by Chef Santi Louzan in his home kitchen. Enter now!

Have you enjoyed a private dinner experience at any of these places around Cape Town? Remember to review your experience using our free app.