Heirloom Restaurant at the Cape Grace hotel has an enviable position – views that look out over the V&A marina, with Table Mountain rising behind. It’s a postcard-perfect setting, and with a new summer menu from Chef Wesli Jacobs, it’s set to become a go-to summer-sundowner-to-dinner destination.
Jacobs unveiled his first complete menu just as Cape Town shakes off a chilly winter and can’t-make-up-its-mind spring. The promise of those long evenings when dining feels less like necessity and more like celebration hovers just over the horizon. Chef Jacobs’ approach focuses on exceptional seasonal ingredients treated with respect and confidence.
Cooking That Tells Stories
Given that Heirloom is the name of the restaurant, bringing in traditional flavours and experiences was essential.
“It’s a heartfelt tribute to our incredible culinary heritage, honouring the traditional techniques and ingredients that have shaped us, while giving them a fresh, contemporary feel,” says Jacobs.
He goes on to say that each dish is designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia, telling a story of our land, our people, and the generations who’ve lovingly passed down these culinary practices. “It’s cooking from the heart, I suppose, with a deep respect for where we come from,” he says.
This philosophy manifests beautifully across the menu. The Abalobi sashimi – showcasing just-caught linefish with candied chilli, avocado emulsion, and grapefruit was a fresh start with zingy citrus. It’s the kind of dish that tastes of place and season, simple in concept but precise in execution.
We also enjoyed the dreamy housemade burrata with tomato consommé and balsamic pearls – so fresh and light, it spoke of summer’s imminent arrival.
Flavours of Tradition
The Karoo Pap and Vleis – lamb rack, boerewors and smoor, and Cape Malay chicken curry with coconut labneh and paratha were also favourites – both delivering unmistakable South African flavour in an elevated way.
We finished with the milk tart mille feuille, which reimagines this beloved local treasure as a classic French pastry. The flaky layers, sandwiched with a creamy custard centre, captured everything we love about milk tart but with added sophistication.
We also couldn’t resist the mini pavlovas – almost too pretty to eat, with fresh pineapple and lime adding bright tropical notes.
A Table Set for Season
Heirloom’s new menu is worthy of its setting – the cooking matches the moment: summer arriving, the mountain catching golden light, the Waterfront humming with energy, and a table where everything comes together.
Beyond the Dining Room
The Library, which is directly adjacent to Heirloom, now offers serious Champagnes and top-tier South African MCCs by the glass, so starting your evening here as a segue into dinner is recommended.
After dinner, drift down to the Bascule Bar for a nightcap. It’s the perfect full stop to an evening of exceptional food, wine, and hospitality at one of Cape Town’s most celebrated addresses.
The Cape Grace, West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town | +27 21 410 7100
