WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Adel Ferreira

For aesthetes and long-time admirers of Natasha Sideris and the Tashas Group, the launch of Tashas Home is an opportunity to bring Tashas’ signature warmth into their own space – an invitation to explore and live with pieces that have shaped the restaurants for two decades.

The concept for Tashas Home – a curated collection of crockery, glassware and collectable objects sourced from and used across the Tashas Group’s restaurants – is rooted in both practical experience and the desire to create something beautiful, deeply nostalgic and functional.

Located in Dolce Vita, an Art Deco building in the heart of Sea Point, the Tashas Home retail space reflects the Group’s signature design simplicity, with a focus on warmth and understated elegance. Natural textures and thoughtfully selected finishes create a warm, inviting atmosphere, while the understated interiors provide a refined backdrop that allows the curated collection to take centre stage.

Pieces for living

The collection comprises crockery, glassware, linens and collectables sourced from and used across the Tashas Group’s restaurants over the past two decades. Each item has been selected for its craftsmanship and premium materials.

Tashas Home currently showcases a curated selection of pieces from three of the Group’s restaurant concepts, including tashas, Avli and Arlecchino:

The tashas range

Centred on crisp white crockery and simple glassware, the range is clean and timeless. White linen tablecloths and napkins complement the collection, reinforcing the brand’s classic, relaxed aesthetic.

The Avli range

Inspired by the Group’s Athenian-influenced locations in Dubai and Bahrain, the Avli range reflects Mediterranean influence with its bold detailing and textured finishes. The collection incorporates silver-toned metalware and statement serving pieces, alongside artisanal tableware that speaks to Avli’s Greek-inspired approach to shared dining.

The Arlecchino range

Inspired by the newly opened restaurant, the range introduces a more playful Italian dimension. Across the crockery selection, materials include porcelain, stoneware, earthenware and bone china in finishes ranging from slip-cast to hand-thrown. All pieces are chosen for balance, weight and durability.

The Tashas Home collection includes an array of glassware, linens and textiles, with each piece chosen for its material quality and designed for everyday use.

Over time, the intention is to introduce many of the Group’s 14 brands through capsule collections, offering South African customers a glimpse into the broader Tashas Group world beyond its local footprint. | tashashome.com

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WORDS Steve Smith PHOTOS Jan Ras

Paying homage to a revered piece of design can go disappointingly wrong. Recreating the aesthetics without the original materials and finishes usually ends in something that descends into pastiche.

Natasha Sideris is certainly someone who understands this and has made sure that her new restaurant in Sea Point is underpinned by the same materials and workmanship of those iconic Cape Town restaurants like Venezia, Mario’s, Aldo’s and of course, the legendary and still-going La Perla.

Arlecchino (pronounced with a hard “c” … so “Arlerkino”) is just around the corner from La Perla and stepping through the doorway its appropriately 70s signage is to step into a time when Italian restaurants were not the homely pizza-and-pasta joints we mostly now know them as, but classy establishments that offered a slice of Mediterranean glamour.

And Tasha has clearly insisted on the best for her latest establishment. Those floors are part poured terrazzo and part hand-laid Italian marble mosaic… the tubular steel and woven cane Cesca chairs originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1928, are not replicas, but originals made by Austrian furniture company Thonet who have been making the chairs from the start … and the bar, flown in from Milan, is made of burled walnut and rounded stainless steel. And how cool are those ruffle chandeliers … a nod to the neck ruffles on the iconic costume of the Arlecchino harlequin.

Along with those are solid wood surfaces and furnishings with brass and stainless steel details that you know are going to age beautifully into that beautifully patinated look those old restaurant all wore with pride. In fact that patina is already evident with some vintage furniture and ceramics adding a gently broken-in layer to the Arlecchino aesthetic.

The food, when you eventually start to think about that, has a suitably Mediterranean inclination and Arlecchino is open from 7:30am for breakfast, lunch and dinner, where its open and sunny spaces slink into an elegant parlour.

Breakfast runs from virtuous to decadent: Chia & Acai bowl – mixed berry and acai sorbet, chia, yoghurt, frozen blackberries, sweet cherries, a granola tuile – or Panettone French Toast with mascarpone and crème anglaise. The Italian Scramble delivers eggs, feta, tomato, peppers, bacon, spring onion, salsiccia, melba toast.

The menu shifts into antipasti, insalata and pasta. Verde Salad combines rocket, parmesan, fennel, dill, crispy artichoke – green on green with bite. Prawn Roll: buttered prawns, marie rose, grilled brioche. Amalfi Lemon achieves that elusive balance of sharp and silky. The Genovese takes the long route: slow-cooked beef sauce, calamarata pasta, the kind of comfort that requires time.

The mare (seafood) selection: Bazaruto Prawns in spiced cherry tomato and lemon with shoestring fries. Branzino, 500g line fish with either Salsa Fuoco Di Mare or Olive Oil and Oregano Salt, a dish that demands company and conversation.

Desserts walk the line between nostalgic and unexpected. A table-side Tiramisu layers dulce de leche, mascarpone cream, cocoa nib madeleine and hot espresso for a moment of theatre. The Campari Jelly – candied pistachios, vanilla custard, citrus jelly and negroni syrup – is a very boozy and grown-up take on jelly and custard.

“Arlecchino,” says its proprietor, “is a performance space disguised as restaurant. It possesses a certain theatrical charm – the sort of place that understands the difference between playing a role and playing at one.”

And it’s performance we highly recommend you witness.

Key details

• Location: 16 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
• Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean / Italian-inspired dining
• Owner: Natasha Sideris (Tasha’s Group)
• Vibe: Chic, lively, coastal Mediterranean glamour – think 1970s Italian “Dolce Vita” style
• Bookings: arlecchino.co

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WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Adel Ferreira

As a space animated by memory and layered with personal history, Cafe Sofi is a love letter to Sophia Electra: an old-school romantic with an eclectic spirit.

Located on Park Road in Cape Town, Cafe Sofi is the latest brand to launch in South Africa under the Tashas Group banner and was developed in collaboration with Master Interior Architecture. The interiors draw inspiration from the Victorian era, evident in the home’s structure and original detailing, and are contrasted with 1960s and 1970s brutalist furniture, reflecting styles from Sophia’s era. This mix creates a dialogue between elegance and eccentricity, balancing heritage with modernity while referencing influential design movements.

High ceilings and original detailing are offset by clean-lined furniture; a consistent thread of colour ties together eclectic pieces, calming the eye while allowing whimsy to shine through. As a tribute to Sophia’s loves, personal touches punctuate every aspect of the space: cats, polka dots, orchids, leopard print, dried flowers, and even playful nods to Pac-Man and the Pink Panther.

“This house had everything she loved – old meets new, contradiction and character,” says Savva. “It just felt right.”

Cafe Sofi is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. | cafesofi.com

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It’s all in the details.

A tasty salmon bagel with steaming coffee or sexy cosmopolitan with friends, Tashas Rosebank has always been a hub for well-curated menus, cool, tranquil vibes and beautiful scenery, and now this hub has a new look! Inspired by the bustling high-end energy of New York City and its similarity to Johannesburg, the newly renovated restaurant is a breath of fresh air in the busy city.

Sitting in the heart of Rosebank on a busy corner at The Zone Shopping Centre, the high-end restaurant has made subtle changes to its space that can be easily missed at first glance. Known for its contemporary modern look with earthy warm finishes, the Tashas group decided to modernise their space by swapping out their dark wooden slats on the centre food island for a lighter golden stained oak look, making the space feel warmer, luminescent and lighter. With square carved decorative wooden details- the giant island adds character to the space while dividing the restaurant from the kitchen.

The autumnal hues and lighter wood aesthetic are carried throughout the inside area – found in the large eating tables, the walls and the cash bar station. The wainscotting beautifully contrasts the creamy walls, adding texture and depth to the space, and with the added soft ambient lighting, the atmosphere is intimate and relaxing. With circular wood carvings and golden door handles, the cash bar station is its own work of art with a creamy stone top for the screens. The golden details are also found in the finishes, like the candle holders at the entrance and the lamps and vases positioned across the space, making it grand and elevated but still inviting and familiar. 

There are parts of the restaurant that have remained unchanged like the classic book centrepiece by American-based visual artist, Lisa Occhipinti. The installation, made out of rescued and repurposed books, was transformed into a hanging art with pages turned into books to create shape and movement. “The piece, found by Natasha for the opening of the store in 2010, is iconic. The renewed inspiration comes from the architectural and cultural significance of the NewYork libraries,” says Savva Sideris, Natasha’s brother and business partner in Tashas Group. 

Famously known for its garden-fresh dishes and evolving menu with fresh flavours, this natural green energy blooms across the interior as well – in the deep green tiles and vases with lush healthy plants adding colour and life to the restaurant. | tashasgroup.com

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We asked Tashas Group founder and CEO Natasha Sideris about the thinking behind the revamp of Le Parc by tashas in Hyde Park Corner, which is a celebration of colour, passion and great local design.

Since opening in 2010, tashas in Hyde Park Corner has become a cornerstone of the centre, and is one of the brand’s most beautifully designed spaces. In September 2020, Tashas Group founder and CEO Natasha Sideris brought the restaurant back into her own hands – and if the new Le Parc by tashas is anything to go by, it’s the start of a bold new era for the brand. VISI caught up with Natasha in Dubai (where the brand already has eight stores!) to learn more about the new space, and about her vision for tashas going forward.

The Hyde Park Corner tashas is a special space to a lot of people. Why is it important to you personally, since taking the business back into your own hands?

First, let me say that my partnership with Famous Brands was an extremely beneficial one. It enabled me to expand my business acumen significantly. Once I felt that my team and I had gleaned as much as we could from the partnership, we opened the discussion to buy my birthright back. It is my name, after all! We pursue excellence in everything we do. We make fresh food to order, using only the best ingredients. We ensure our service is top-notch with rigorous hands-on training. Our restaurant spaces are beautifully designed.

How did you approach the redesign of this space?

After being open in Hyde Park Corner for 11 years, my team and I realised we needed to do something different. Soon it became clear that this was not going to be just another tashas. It was Le Parc by tashas: a new standalone brand, fully endorsed by Tashas Group, but with a totally new look, feel and offering. The decor was spearheaded by Nicky Greig, head stylist for Tashas Group – she has brought to life a number of collaborations, elements and expressions from local designers and artists.

READ MORE: Cool Spaces: Ouzeri

The real point of departure from the more conservative look and feel of tashas was when we conceptualised the idea for the papier-mâché fruit bowl by David and Alexandra Ross. It ignited a more artistic and colourful interpretation for the space. The more we developed the concept, the more we realised we were creating something completely new for the South African market. Le Parc has always had a Parisian flair, but this has been pushed to new levels. With whimsical inspiration from Annabel’s in London, the pink colour palette has added pops of fun, with wild fabric prints in contrasting and contradictory colours. The floors were replaced by slate tiles in a typically French pattern, to make the space feel separate from the mall – and more like a courtyard in Paris. The end result is an experience, one that I think people need. It’s not just a dine-and-go place any more – it’s a step into a whimsical world.

The inclusion of a retail offering – including brands such as Assouline and Botanicus – brings a new dimension to the restaurant. What was the thinking behind this?

We don’t typically offer a retail section in our other 14 stores in South Africa – other than selling our cookbooks – so this is very different. More than 300 items are available to purchase at Le Parc; some are made in-house, some are sourced from local partners, and a few are even flown in from international suppliers. It is the broadest selection of products available from one place, in the centre.

What are your hopes for the future of tashas?

We have already established ourselves in South Africa and Dubai, and are now exploring the potential of other international markets, including the UK and Europe. We’re looking at big cities with high-volume traffic.

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Designed by interior architect Neydine Bak and architect Dewald Struwig of B&SStudios, the Flamingo Room by tashas is an opulent, ‘70s-inspired restaurant located in the luxurious Jumeirah Al Naseem resort in Dubai.

The space, which won the studio the award for Best Regional Interior Design at the Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Awards in 2017 and is nominated for a 2018 Restaurant & Bar Design Award, aims to pay homage to the diverse flora and fauna found in South Africa.

“The core interior design concept focussed on craft,” says Neydine. “We collaborated with South African and Australian artists to explore and execute a delicate balance between luxury and whimsy.”

The colour palette, a mixture of salmon pink, emerald greens, gold and cream is inspired by nature, more specifically “the colour of flamingos, the shades of the baobab flower and the richness of the golden African sun,” adds Neydine. “These all transpired into the golden details and mottled salmon glossy plaster throughout the dining space.”

The space, divided into three separate areas, is tied together through South African artist Mike Hyam’s abstract, baobab-inspired installation that lines the ceiling. Made up of hand-blown glass discs, the installation is lit up, creating the illusion of shadows. “Vibrant, salmon-coloured Venetian Stucco is beautifully reflected in the scalloped, antique mirror wall cladding,” says Neydine.

From the three-metre-high brass-coated banana leaves behind the bar to neutral fabrics used throughout the interiors, the space makes use of a range of bold materials, from solid brass, velvet and faux ostrich leather to marble and linen.

“We aimed to be innovative with our combination of different styles and materials,” says Neydine. “Embroidered cushions depict African fauna, an unfilled travertine champagne bar is finished off with crushed glass and hues of pink marble are used sparingly throughout the space to create a unique, majestic interior.”

For Neydine, the project tells a story. “The interior energy resonates with the story we wanted to tell. It is a story of South African hospitality, a story of unique African beauty and a story of design.”

To see more of B&SStudios’ work, visit basstudio.com.au. For a look at the first tashas that opened in Abu Dhabi, click here.

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After the success of tashas’ first location in the United Arab Emirates, which opened its doors in 2014, tashas founder and creative director Natasha Sideris decided it was time to open the new Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi, the second of five locations that will open in the region in 2017.

Designed by Sydney-based South African husband-and-wife team Neydine Bak and Dewald Struwig of B&SS Interior Design, the space seats 183 people. As with all tashas restaurants, the menu and decor is inspired by a specific theme, in this case the Mediterranean.

Natural fabrics and furniture in pale wood perfectly complement the warm tones found throughout the space. The focal point within the restaurant is a ceiling installation made from waterproof paper, created by Pretoria-based multi-disciplinary artist and paper architect Elonah O’Neil, in collaboration with B&SS Interior Design.

tashas Al Bateen is located at Unit B02 Cafe, Marsa, Al Bateen, Abu Dhabi. For more information, visit tashascafe.com.

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From unique and artistic Wi-Fi router cases and Dale Halvorsen book cover illustrations to a dinosaur themed kettle and a striking protea-inspired chandelier, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 111.

1. OnHub Wi-Fi Router Covers For Google

Google asked a group of artists to design covers for their OnHub Wi-Fi Routers to make them more aesthetically pleasing. “I just love Thing Industries’ fluffy creation, made from synthetic fur and wood,” says online editor Lindi Brownell Meiring.

Image credit: designboom.com

2. Dale Halvorsen Illustrations

“South African illustrator Dale Halvorsen, aka Joey Hi-Fi, is one of the best book cover designers in the business. I love his covers for Lauren Beukes’s novels, and this one for Chuck Wendig’s Blackbirds,” says copy editor Kay-Ann van Rooyen.

Image credit: alexandersband.com

3. Alessi Tea Rex Kettle

Editor-in-chief Sumien Brink loves this 30th anniversary adaptation of Michael Graves’ kettle with a whistling dragon replacing the traditional bird.

Image credit: alessi.com

4. Willowlamp Protea Chandelier

“This Willowlamp chandelier in a gradient of brass, copper and smoke is just fabulous!” exclaims editor-at-large Malibongwe Tyilo.

Image credit: willowlamp.co.za

5. Tasha’s at Nelson Mandela Square

“The new Tasha’s in Joburg is a perfect venue for a delicious afternoon lunch,” says features editor Tracy Greenwood.

Image credit: Supplied

6. Plantation Shutters

Lise Avis thinks these shutters help blur the line between indoor and outdoor living.

Image credit: plantation.co.za

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 111 on picks of the week 324.

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