COY: an Understated Statement

WORDS Ishani Chetty PHOTOS Jan Ras (exterior); KT Interiors (interior)

Located at the iconic V&A Waterfront, COY is a new restaurant that offers a refined dining experience heralding local produce and African cuisine in an understated and unique setting.  

Award-winning chef Ryan Cole of Eat Out three-star restaurant Salsify at the Roundhouse has opened a new restaurant at the bustling and iconic V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.  

Working with Creative Director Kobus Truter and Senior Interior Designer Tarryn Walbrugh of KT Interiors, a Cape Town-based interior and architectural design studio, Ryan brought his ideas and concept of COY to fruition.  

Understated yet striking

With the catchphrase of the restaurant being hidden in plain sight, COY is located between two busy precincts, namely the Time Out Market and the Silo. With this in mind, the design approach was led with the concept of curating a ‘hidden gem’.  

Both the interior and exterior of the restaurant have been created with a dark colour palette in mind, ensuring that the focal for guests while dining is both the refined dishes and the pristine views of the surrounding V&A Waterfront dock and Table Mountain.  

The integral structure of the restaurant was built to create somewhat of a ‘frame’ structure, “We went with creating purely black-toned interiors to ensure that the views will pop out, somewhat like a picture frame,” shares Kobus. 

Aptly titled COY, which means shy or unassuming, the restaurant design ethos reflects this in its sleek yet cool interiors and finishings, from the locally produced black and white chairs to the grey curtains and low lighting, the juxtaposition of the surrounding elements in contrast to the restaurant curates a timeless setting. 

A sensory experience

Focusing on African cuisine and cooking methods, the interiors of the restaurant aim to reflect the continent’s love for texture applying this to all areas of the restaurant, from the polished floors to the sandblasted bar area and uniquely textured dining tables etched with markings.  

“It’s all of a modern take of Afro Chic with a focus on sharing what Africa is [in design terms] and what African cuisine is as well” points out Tarryn. 

Ryan ensured that the restaurant’s food and drink offering ethos was echoed and woven through all the design elements briefing that all furniture pieces were sourced and created locally.  

“We had all the furniture pieces designed and manufactured locally by talented artisans,” shares Kobus. 

Being near the ocean, KT interiors ensured that there was somewhat of a maritime feel, with interior accents nodding to this.  

“The lights on the bar filter into a bit of a nautical aesthetic, a slight hint to a lighthouse and the surrounding ocean,” shares Kobus. 

Curating a visual feast for diners to savour while they dine on a range of tantalising dishes, the various design elements of the restaurant work in tandem to create a truly sensory-driven experience.  

As you walk into the restaurant you are greeted with artwork that lines the main entrance way and more art pieces can be seen through the main feature walls of the restaurant.  

Ensuring that the theme of locality continued throughout all elements of the restaurant, all artwork featured was sourced on consignment from Everard Read by local artists to help celebrate and spotlight their talented work. | coyrestaurant.com

 Don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest architecture and design news.