WORDS Michaela Stehr PHOTOS Daniel West (Plato Coffee), Sarah de Pina (Iris Garden), Supplied (Susu, Cafe Chiffon)
You don’t need to travel far for Asian inspiration: we have rounded up four stylish new joints right on our doorstep that pay homage to Japan and South Korea.
Susu
An Instagrammer’s dream, the new Susu Bubble Tea cafe in the heart of Green Point is a kaleidoscope of colour and playful moments. With interiors by local design team Cooked Studio, the vibrant space features Mondrian and pop art-like wall art, primary-coloured seating, a mirror on the ceiling and a fully functional seesaw. “I pretty much had full range to play with colour, texture and human curiosity within a relatively small space,” explains Mel Cook of Cooked Studio. “I’m a bit of a maximalist by nature, so more is generally more in my eyes, and I loved developing this colour palette.”
Susu is an embodiment of Japan’s “super kawaii” (meaning “super-cute”) lifestyle, and boasts an extensive bubble tea menu. It includes milky teas, fruit slushies and yoghurt drinks – which you’ll obviously want to add fun popping bubbles and tapioca pearls to.
Cafe Chiffon
Owned by 23-year-old entrepreneur, baker and architecture student Christine Hu, Cafe Chiffon brings Eastern street-cafe culture to the streets of Green Point. “I grew up in Asia, surrounded by cafes like this, and I saw a gap in the market in South Africa,” she says. “I’ve dreamed of opening an Asian-inspired cafe from a young age.”
The Korean-influenced cafe is earthy, comfortable and subtle in aesthetic. This allows the focus to be on the myriad delicate and prettily coloured patisserie, which are, critically, tasty to boot. Christine took charge of the interiors, which include a feature wall for custom birthday cakes and a cake-decoration counter, where her personal collection of ingredients and equipment is on display for the public to admire. From a matcha-and-raspberry chiffon roll to clamshell macarons, each treat is carefully and artistically created – sometimes right in front of you.
Platō Coffee
This minimalist series of pick-up-and-go cafes offers a welcome break from the hipster aesthetic that has dominated the coffee scene for almost two decades. Instead, owner Stephen Bredell and Indigen Architects used Japan as a basis for the look of their six shops. “Many of our clients’ reaction when they walk into our stores is, ‘Wow, this feels super-clean’ – which is not a bad first impression when you deal with food and beverages,” says Stephen. “Most of the inspiration for the brand comes from Japanese and South Korean cafes – they have a clean design style.” You’ll find state- of-the-art coffee whipped up by expert baristas at operations in both Pretoria and Rustenburg, but the team’s goal is to reach 20 franchised stores countrywide by the end of 2022.
Iris Garden
Perched on the edge of Joburg’s Rosebank Mall precinct, this cosy and inviting space was conceptualised with the idea of quiet contemplation in mind. It’s the second iteration of Iris Garden, and has stemmed from the success of the maiden Rivonia branch. The store is run by husband-and-wife team Zoe and Harry Zhuang, who decided on all the design elements of the Zen-like space together. The result is wabi-sabi in action, with cement walls, curved lines, wooden elements and even dried plants imbuing a relaxed and unfussy air. “We redefined our new cafe, and I think it conveys a peaceful mood and a perception of endless beauty,” explains Zoe.
On the menu, you can expect melt-in-your-mouth Japanese cakes and pastries, as well as a range of teas, coffees and bubble teas. This is exactly the place to escape to after a morning of mall-trawling.
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