Interior view of Max Bagels featuring light coloured walls, a chrome sphere light, high level wooden shelving, colourful art on the walls, wooden counters, a black price board with white writing and view of the kitchen area
(Image credit: TBC)

What started out as a humble paella stand in Cape Town's food market, The Old Biscuit Mill, has resulted in the beginnings of a gastronomic empire for Andrew Kai and Matthew Freemantle, whose Spanish catering business Gusto has flourished to include a series of high profile events, a pizza food truck and a string of successful supper club nights. Their latest venture sees the pair embarking on a more permanent set up with the launch of New York-style bagel bar, Max Bagels. Located on Bree Street, surrounded by other hip culinary joints, the pocketsize shop has been outfitted by local designer Jakob Basson who maximised the space with sleek wood counters, monochrome geometric floor tiles, bespoke pieces by Xandre Kriel and colourful plasticine artworks by Dale Lawrence and Ben Johnson. Expect a variety of fillings from classics such as salt beef, pickle and mustard to smoked trout, capers and pickled red onion for the more local palate. Coming soon is a breakfast bagel and for the sweet-toothed among us, cinnamon and raisin with salted butter. As for the bagels themselves, they are freshly made using the traditional method of boiling in malt syrup before baking.

Alternative view of Max Bagels featuring light coloured walls, a black and glass door with shop information, colourful wall art, a black bench style seat, geometric flooring and a partial view of a wooden counter

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Shop 28
De Oude Schuur
120 Bree Street

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Lauren Ho is the former travel editor at Wallpaper*. Now a contributing editor, she roams the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website, alongside various other titles. She is also the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.