Cool Spaces: Harvest Café and Deli

WORDS Amelia Brown IMAGES Christopher Smith

We sat down with the owners and the team responsible for the interiors to get some background on Cape Town’s infinitely Instagrammable new eatery in the Bo-Kaap.

Co-owners Lloyd Becker and Sean Moncrieff had been to look at the premises with a view to moving their ice-cream enterprise, The Nice Company, into the city. While they loved the space, they felt it was too big for their requirements and wrote it off. It had sparked an idea, however: The duo had always wanted to open a café. After a few months toying with the idea, they decided to contact the landlords and it was fortuitously still available.

To execute their vision for the interiors, they enlisted the services of Marlon Leggat from Framework Projects, a project management and spatial consultancy company. Marlon and Sean shared what went into giving the space its distinctive look.

What was the brief? 

Harvest: The brief was to create a relaxing space with lots of plants and natural light, something of an oasis that’s tranquil in comparison to the hustle and bustle that happens right outside in the Bo-Kaap.

Framework Projects: The interior needed to complement the menu, which focuses on healthy food options. We needed to combine a relaxed seated café area with a deli section that sells fresh produce.

Describe the aesthetic and how you achieved it?

Harvest: The aesthetic is clean, cosy and comfortable. By utilising neutral colours we allowed the plants to make an impact. We wanted the colourful houses and views to make the most noise.

Framework Projects: Our aim was to create a modern interior that reflects a specific part of Cape Town’s history. Key elements were inspired by the textures, palettes and materials seen in Bo-Kaap. The Malmesbury shale clad wall with relief grouting, coloured glass screens, and heritage green window frames, for example, were all taken from historical aesthetics around the city and used within a modern context. Another prominent feature is the curved walls filled with a variety of green plants, which help create a peaceful atmosphere.

Were there any challenges?

Harvest: There were many, of course, from time constraints to engineering concerns with the extra weight on the slab to being creative with the limited available kitchen space.

Framework Projects: The technique used on the bar counter was an experiment and the final result was achieved through trial and error. After the first attempt produced a bolder effect than we had been hoping for, we reapplied the substance and were able to successfully pull off the required rammed earth look.

What is your favourite element?

Harvest: The plants, installed by Mike Langley from Urban Xteriors. They instantly create a relaxed space and are by far one of the biggest talking points.

Framework Projects: The glass screens. Not only do they add a depth to the space, they also create a sense of perpetual motion: Each time of day creates different light patterns and casts its own distinct shadows.

What makes Harvest Café stand out? 

Harvest: It’s a difficult one to isolate, but it comes down to a few things: our tasty, colourful food; the tranquil, inviting décor; and our breathtaking views of the city.

Framework Projects: The first thing has to be its location within the Bo-Kaap, and the incredible views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and Devil’s Peak. Add to that the sense of sanctuary we’ve been able to create through the modern, fresh, inviting interior, which still reflects the café’s historical surroundings. Finally, and very importantly, the owners’ integrity and determination to make it a success.

Visit Harvest Café at 102 Wale Street, beside the iconic Atlas Trading, from Monday to Saturday, 7:30am to 4:30pm, and Sundays 8:30am to 2pm, and find them on Instagram and Facebook.