Blanko — Cape Town, South Africa

Dining area in the restaurant with leather seating with tables dressed, long white windows, 2 green plants in the corners and walls adorned in art
(Image credit: TBC)

The Constantia Valley ticks every criterion of a bucolic Cape Town tableau. Table Mountain looms over the landscape of vineyards and small farms, while a network of walking paths, woodlands of ancient oaks, and natural streams frame perfectly the valley’s tony mansions and 18th-century Cape Dutch homes. 

Taking full advantage of this vista is the newly opened Blanko. Located on the ground floor of the Alphen Boutique Hotel, the restaurant is headed by Amber-May Deetlef who delivers a light Italian menu speckled with imaginative crowd-pleasers like wild mushroom orzo, wild rocket gnocchi, and slabs of sirloin brushed with Shiraz butter and seasoned with black olive sea salt, though, apparently, the grilled local fish splashed with nothing more than olive oil and lemon is a best-seller.

Soda Creative’s Gregor Bremer sidesteps the potential monotony of an all-white interior by layering warm colours and textures. The handsome stain of the brown-bordered sash windows is mirrored in the broad-planked floors and exposed ceiling beams, while the Italian marble dining tables and a floating backlit bar are smartly paired with a collection of contemporary South African pieces.

And when the sun’s shining – which, in this part of the world, seems to be all year – the all-white outdoor terrace more than makes the mark.

Dining section of the restaurant with leather seating with tables dressed, long brown windows, artstic hanging lights and walls adorned in art

(Image credit: TBC)

Dining area in the restaurant showcasing leather cream chairs on the left and grey sofa on the right with a long table dressed with napkins, wine glasses and cutleries and a yellow rose in the middle. White wall with skull drawn art

(Image credit: TBC)

Dining area of the restaurant with leather seating, tables dressed, long brown windows, a peek of the fire place on the right and walls adorned in art

(Image credit: TBC)

The restaurant's all white bar with wine glasses hanging from the top , bouquet of roses set on 2 ends of the bar and 7 white bar stools

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Alphen Drive
Constantia 7806

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Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.