I drink champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it – unless I’m thirsty. ~ Madame Lilly Bollinger
South Africans do love their wine and with good reason. The Cape Winelands is home to arguably some of the best wines in the southern hemisphere! From chocolate pinotages to buttery chardonnays and super crisp sauvignon blancs, there is something for just about every palate.
French Toast Wine & Tapas Bar is a wonderful French-style wine bar in the heart of Cape Town just shy of a year old and already becoming a firm favourite with the Cape Town set. Until a few months ago I was completely unaware that this little gem existed. One rather miserable winter’s day in Cape Town, severely congested traffic and a hankering for a great glass of red wine was all it took. My friend suggested we meet at French Toast and the rest is history!
French Toast Wine & Tapas Bar is the brainchild of John Harrison and Karin Visser and is located high on Bree Street in an old, two -level converted warehouse outfitted with plush leather couches, crisp linens and floor to ceiling windows. Despite the industrial feel the atmosphere is warm and welcoming, as is the service. Both ground and upper floors boast fireplaces, an absolute treat in winter, and large doors and windows that open up in summer to let in a cool breeze. A versatile venue with great attention to detail.
But the best is yet to come! French Toast offers more than 80 different local and international wines by bottle or by glass as they employ a preservation system called Le Verre de Vin, which reseals wines by removing any oxygen from the bottle. They also offer wine flights which consist of three 50ml glasses of wines selected to compare countries, regions, cultivars and vintages.
And what could be better to accompany this selection of fine wines than a comprehensive tapas menu or perhaps a selection of cheeses and charcuterie. My friend is particularly obsessed with the aubergine fries while I could happily order plate after plate of their sautéed calamari. For those looking for a more in-depth tasting experience, French Toast offers a regular food and wine pairing evening around once a month.
By local standards the French Toast Wine & Tapas Bar can be rather pricey, particularly when one orders several dishes off the tapas menu to compile a full meal. But the quality and freshness of ingredients and presentation of the dishes is more than worth it! I personally love this venue for an after work drink or a pre-dinner tipple, with a small plate of tapas to accompany. Wonderful too for a post show drink or an after dinner night cap. Wonderful all round, in fact!
Contact:
Address: 199 Bree Street, Cape Town
Tel: 021 422 4084
Tapas dishes range from R20 – R50 per plate; charcuterie and cheese platters start from R60
For more information about Cape Town restaurants, visit our website. And if you’re looking for a bed for the night, contact us and we’ll set you off on an exciting Cape Town rendezvous…