By 
Galjoen is situated on the first floor of an unassuming building on bustling Harrington Street and boasts a stunning double-volume space that combines a harbour’s industrial aesthetic with touches of nostalgia, drawing inspiration from the seafood restaurants of the 1980s.
The interiors by Studio Nan are light, bright, and minimalist, with design highlights including a mural by Adele van Heerden, a wooden ship-hull chandelier by Duchenne Cabinetry, and hanging pendant lights by Amelia Jacobs of Kleipots. Also by Jacobs is the range of custom crockery designed for the restaurant. Inspired by the ocean, these include bowls and plates in the shape of seashells, others inspired by coral, and a “stop-and-think” dish in the shape of half an oil drum, drawing the diner’s attention to the scourge of ocean pollution. This small yet thought-provoking detail is not the only one — there’s definitely an effort by the team to raise awareness of the state of our oceans.
Even the name, Galjoen, has been chosen in the hope of encouraging conversation. The restaurant is named after the national fish of South Africa, which is an endangered species and has been placed on the red list by the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative. Naturally, it’s not on the menu.
99 Harrington St, Cape Town
Comments