Cool Spaces: 91 Bree Street  

WORDS Ishani Chetty PHOTOS Supplied

After undergoing a transformation, the new and reinvented 91 Bree Street is now home to a multi-restaurant offering with two restaurants and an indoor-outdoor space designed for private events, all under one roof on the bustling Bree Street of Cape Town. 

Talented South African chef, Liam Tomlin and his business partner David Schneider have relaunched the iconic dining concept, Chefs Warehouse & Canteen on Bree Street alongside the Merchant Bar & Grill and a private events space.

The creation of this new multi-faceted offering follows the renovation and transformation of an existing restaurant space, The Bailey. 

Working alongside architect and interior designer Lawrence Holmes, the founder of Inhouse Design, Liam and Jan Tomlin brought their ideas and concepts to life in the newly opened 91 Bree Street. 

Redoing the entire building’s interiors, the project brief elements included creating a space that is more industrial, modern and urban edgy with accents and features that would appeal to a wider age range of potential diners while including elements of Liam’s personality, alongside his love for fine art and design. 

Ensuring that all levels were entirely different from one another to reflect each restaurant’s bespoke offering accurately, there is a synonymous flow through each of these floors, created purposefully to evoke a sense of unity between the different spaces and throughout the building. 

Each section of the building is fitted with bespoke furniture pieces created by Naturalis, a local furniture producer founded by talented designer Sandalene Dale Roberts. 

Key elements

Built into the interiors, a steel staircase fitted with wood treads connects the ground floor of Chefs Warehouse & Canteen with the Merchant Bar & Grill and features a one-of-a-kind chandelier suspended from above the staircase in Merchant Bar & Grill. 

The eye-catching chandelier features ceramic artworks created by Cape Town-based Ceramic Matters, with each piece forming part of a series called The Butchery. Featured ceramic pieces on the chandelier include a chicken, a cleaver, a leg of lamb, a tube of tomato paste, venison horns and more. 

Created by Monfalcone Design, the distinct and whimsical feature is lit from above and with low, white tubes creating the perfect lighting hue for the space. 

Chefs Warehouse & Canteen

Located on the ground floor, Chefs Warehouse & Canteen features an exposed brickwork and industrial feel with a variation of communal seating. A long wood table with barstools takes centre stage of the restaurant and is a nod to the original Chefs Warehouse & Canteens seating offering. 

The walls are adorned with a few of Liam’s favourite contemporary paintings including four pieces by Hermann Niebuhr and numerous paintings and ceramics by artist Paul du Toit. 

Within the far-right corner of the restaurant is a secondary nod to the original Chefs Warehouse & Canteen, a colourful cookbook library, featuring Liam’s and David’s personal extensive cookbook collection. 

The space also features a fireplace to create a cosy escape from the winter Cape Town breeze. 

Merchant Bar & Grill

Focused on offering producer-driven cuisine and centred around David’s vision, The Larder, the Merchant Bar & Grill on the first floor features a glassed-in temperature and ventilation-controlled room that stocks house-cured meats, charcuterie, cheeses, preserves and more. 

As a central feature of this restaurant, guests will be invited to take a tour of this room for a closer look at the bounty of goods housed within it. 

The bar on the first floor has been fitted with a range of seating to cater to everyone, from low round upholstered black ottoman stools around tables to sleek leather banquette seating and barstools around the bar.  

With attention to detail as a main thread through the design process, a wall of private liquor lockers features on this floor and can be closed off for private gatherings. 

Several art pieces by Gyotaku artist Jero Revett are featured on this floor, also known as the Wildwanderer, Jero’sartwork is made utilising the ink of the octopus and the cuttlefish he catches to bring it to life. 

Room 91

Functioning as a private events space, Room 91 is on the top level of the building and has been designed to be easily adaptable with indoor-outdoor spaces that overlook the bustling Bree Street. 

An integral design element in creating Room 91 is the separate entrance to this floor from Bree Street. The indoor interior features warm muted tones with classic dark wood parquet floors while the lower level includes a marble-topped wooden bar.  

The open balcony area offers breathtaking views of the city and nearby Signal Hill and Lion’s Head and is fitted with multiple long-seater tables. | chefswarehouse.co.za

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