Popular Cape Town eatery Chefs Warehouse & Canteen closes
· The South African
One of Cape Town’s most influential restaurants has served its final meal.
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Chefs Warehouse & Canteen has closed its Bree Street restaurant, bringing to an end Liam Tomlin’s 14-year presence on one of the city’s best-known dining strips.
In addition, Merchant Bar & Grill and the private events venue Room 91 have also ceased trading.
The closure applies only to the group’s premises at 91 Bree Street, with Tomlin confirming the decision forms part of a broader strategy to consolidate operations and focus on the next phase of the Chefs Warehouse brand.
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“After 45 years as a chef and restaurateur, including more than 20 years in South Africa and the last 14 years building our reputation on Bree Street, we have decided to consolidate our operations,” Tomlin said in a statement.
An institution of Cape Town’s dining scene
According to TimeOut Cape Town, Tomlin launched Chefs Warehouse in 2010 as a cookery school and specialty food store on New Church Street before relocating the concept to Bree Street in 2014.
The restaurant quickly earned a loyal following for its informal atmosphere, communal tables and ever-changing “Tapas for Two” menu, helping popularise small-plate dining in Cape Town.
Its success laid the foundation for the expansion of the Chefs Warehouse group, with restaurants opening in Constantia, Franschhoek, the Atlantic Seaboard and Stellenbosch.
After the original Bree Street site closed, the restaurant returned in 2024 at 91 Bree Street alongside Merchant Bar & Grill, which showcased South African produce through house-made charcuterie, cheeses, pickles and preserves.
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Other restaurants remain open
Tomlin stressed that the closure is limited to the Bree Street operation.
Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia, Maison in Franschhoek and Tintswalo Atlantic will continue operating as normal, as will Thali and Cantina in Stellenbosch. The Red Room at the Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, also remains open.
“Our remaining restaurants and businesses will continue to deliver the warmth, generosity and hospitality that have always been at the heart of Chefs Warehouse,” Tomlin said.
“We remain as committed as ever to exceptional food, thoughtful service and memorable experiences.”
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Looking ahead
Rather than signalling a retreat, Tomlin said the closures will allow the group to focus on its next venture – a new hospitality destination in Stellenbosch.
The project will combine accommodation, dining, travel and design, with food remaining at the heart of the experience.
“We are creating a truly distinctive hotel experience in Stellenbosch – a hospitality destination where exceptional food is not simply part of the experience, it is the reason for it,” Tomlin said.
While the closure of Chefs Warehouse & Canteen marks the end of a defining chapter for Cape Town’s culinary scene, Tomlin believes it also marks the beginning of an ambitious new era for the brand.
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