Clay Café Paarl is settled into a 300-year-old homestead on the Groot Parys Estate. Opened in March, it is the latest in the Clay Café family, which started in the early 2000s.
There are three outlets run by the original company – in Hout Bay, on Bree Street in central Cape Town, and now in Paarl. There are also several franchises countrywide.
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‘Food is not the focus, but it still needs to be the best,’ says the inimitable Tamsin Snyman, who is at the helm. As much as possible is made in Paark, with plenty made in-house from scratch, such as the homemade mayos and pestos, and tahini. The butter bean hummus is not to be missed.
The food is thoughtful, considered and extremely tasty. The menu covers it all from breakfasts and burgers to pizzas, toasties, salads and cakes. Vegans, vegetarians and gluten-free are welcome. There is a fantastic children’s menu, with offerings such as veggie crudité jar and crispy crumbed chicken strips.
Fabulous milkshakes, fresh-pressed juices round out the usual drinks.
Snyman, who is the academy chair for South and East Africa on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, is planning a deli and boutique wine shop on the property as well. And she is turning the 316-year-old cellar behind the homestead into a function space.
It promises to be the whole package once complete, with a sloping lawn inviting children to play and tumble, two trampolines, a small climbing frame and a slide.
Although the focus, of course, is on the arts and crafts of ceramic painting, you are also welcome to simply stop by for a meal or coffee and cake.
It’s a large, airy, open space, the colours neutral so as not to distract from the painting.
Have a glass of CC or a coffee, choose your bisque (there are about 150 models to choose from, ranging in price from R50 to R180 for a large teapot) and your paints, and get creating over brunch.
All bisques are fired on-site and can be collected about four weeks after painting.
The price of your chosen bisque is added to the studio fee of R45, which gets you three paints and two dotters of your choice. Then you go mad choosing stickers, scratchers, stencils, masking tape and more. This also covers the glazing and firing, making it a happy bargain.
Clay Café Paarl is open seven days a week. Walk-ins are welcome, but it is a popular space and booking is advised.
Details:
- Location: Groot Parys, Jan Van Riebeeck Drive
- Times: Monday to Sunday, 9am to 5pm
- Contact: call 064 656 6165 | WhatsApp 071 207 3616 for collections
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Picture: Clay Café Paarl