Blanko — Cape Town, South Africa

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.
ADDRESS
Alphen Drive
Constantia 7806
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
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.
-
Aston Martin goes goth, ramping up power, poise and dark glamour with the new Vantage S
These moody images mark the debut of the latest model out of Gaydon, the dynamically focused Aston Martin Vantage S
-
After decades capturing the world’s fashion-set, photographer Johnny Rozsa picks up a paint brush
In his first exhibition of paintings, the New York-based artist celebrates the vibrancy of Tangier while rediscovering a familiar creative outlet
-
The Bentley EXP 15 brings the bling and delves into tomorrow's luxury automotive experience
The Bentley EXP 15 previews the company’s electric future, an asymmetric experiment in phygital form-making
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Few & Far Luvhondo: an intimate South African eco-lodge
With just six cliffside suites, Few & Far Luvhondo offers front-row seats to the untamed wilderness of South Africa’s Limpopo
-
The world’s best new hotels to love without reservation
Explore the best new openings in the world, from Aman’s exclusive mountain retreat in the Dolomites to Pak Hyatt’s debut in Johannesburg
-
Singita Ebony Lodge celebrates 30 years of wild beauty
Singita Ebony Lodge in Hazyview, South Africa, begins a new chapter with a refresh by Cécile & Boyd
-
A refreshed Cape Grace hotel embraces the best of South African heritage
Cape Town’s Cape Grace hotel reopens its doors following an extensive and playful renovation by international interior design studio, 1508 London
-
Cape Town: 8 things to do and see for the design-minded traveller
Cape Town is a capital of art, design, food and wellness; local resident Sean O’Toole on the best things to do and see, from a Bree Street meander to a Constantia wine route
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico
-
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland
-
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia