Balducci, Cape Town’s iconic Italian dining institution, is back – and this time, in a brand-new incarnation. Welcoming its first customers on Sunday, 13 September, 30 years since Balducci first opened its doors in September 1996, the much-loved name returns as Caffé Balducci, bringing its distinctive spirit to the vibrant Piazza St John precinct in the heart of Sea Point.
Welcome to Caffé Balducci, a modern-day ode to the glamour, energy and effortless allure of classic European café society, infused with the buzz, diversity and creativity of contemporary Cape Town. It is the same signature Balducci soul with a fresh new pulse.
Open early until late, Caffé Balducci brings an irresistible all-day café culture to Piazza St John. From early-morning espresso and ceremonial-grade matcha to leisurely breakfasts, Italian-style lunches, sundowners, wining and dining, and late-night socialising, it is a place designed for every part of the day.
Elegant yet relaxed, sophisticated yet vibey, Caffé Balducci is all about great coffee, chilled wine, cool beats and the easy pleasure of lingering over good food with good company. Two inviting alfresco terraces and tables spilling into the piazza create the perfect setting to soak up the sunshine, hang out, and be seen.
Inside, premium aesthetics meet artistic décor, creating a stylish setting that feels polished and chic, yet retains that unmistakable Cape Town energy. For the cool, on-trend crowd, big-screen televisions feature Fashion TV, while cutting-edge techno adds to the buzz – with DJ nights planned for the near future.
A LOCATION MADE FOR LINGERING
Caffé Balducci’s new home at Piazza St John couldn’t be better positioned. This premium open-air lifestyle and shopping destination combines a relaxed Mediterranean feel with everyday convenience, anchored by a large Woolworths Food Market and a lively terrace overlooking Main Road. With residential apartments above the retail level, the piazza has a constant neighbourhood energy that makes it an ideal setting for an all-day social destination. Just a short stroll from the iconic Sea Point Promenade and Atlantic Ocean, Piazza St John has all the ingredients for a vibrant neighbourhood social hub – with secure undercover parking conveniently located within the complex.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR A CAPE TOWN ICON
And so, a new chapter begins for a restaurant that has long held a special place in the hearts of Cape Town diners.
There are restaurants you visit, and then there are restaurants that become part of your life. For 30 years, Balducci was one of those places – a glamorous, lively and unforgettable fixture on the harbour side of the V&A Waterfront, where generations of locals and visitors celebrated birthdays, shared first dates, enjoyed family lunches, toasted milestones and simply stopped by because it was Balducci. Like many prized hospitality establishments, it was forced to close its doors during the COVID-19 pandemic – leaving a distinct Balducci-shaped gap in the city’s dining scene.
Now, Caffé Balducci is filling that gap.
While the address of Cape Town’s legendary Italian icon is new, the spirit is inimitably Balducci: a dedication to the Italian art of eating, a passion for good food and the freshest ingredients, a deep love of wine, slick service, seamlessly elegant interiors and, of course, that inimitable Balducci magic.
“Balducci has always been about more than just food,” says owner Ian Halfon. “It’s about the experience – the people, the atmosphere, the memories and that feeling you get when you walk through the doors. Caffé Balducci allows us to bring all of that back, while creating a fresh and contemporary Cape Town experience, something exciting for the next generation of Balducci lovers.”
Now those memories have a new address – and your table is waiting.
THE MENU
Caffé Balducci might be a new-fashioned expression of the celebrated brand, but much of what made Balducci so beloved remains. Expect acclaimed menu favourites and signature Italian classics, alongside flavour-packed noodles and fresh sushi from the Asian Noodles & Sushi Bar, trendy café favourites, and an array of exciting new additions.
The day begins with exceptional coffee and increasingly fashionable ceremonial-grade matcha, served as a Matcha Flat White, Iced Matcha, Iced White Chocolate Matcha or Matcha Blanc. Breakfast ranges from nutritious smoothies, power bowls, and granola with Bulgarian yoghurt and seasonal fruit to indulgent Brioche French Toast, Benedict Classico, the Royale of poached eggs, smoked salmon, trout, sautéed spinach, and Béarnaise sauce, and, of course, a traditional Balducci Breakfast.
Later in the day, Italian favourites take centre stage with classic antipasti, including the Balducci Antipasti Platter, a tempting taste of Italy piled onto one platter designed for sharing, as well as Melanzane alla Parmigiana, Venison Carpaccio, and more.
Then come artisanal Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas, handcrafted using imported Italian Caputo flour, with favourites including Puttanesca, Double Pepperoni & Chilli, Prosciutto, Smoked Salmon & Rocket and Flaming Prawns.
The pasta and gnocchi selection continues the Italian story, with linguine, penne, gnocchi and gluten-free tagliatelle paired with an enticing array of sauces and flavours. Favourites include Arrabbiata, Primavera, Pasta con Salmone, Butternut Ravioli, Ostrich Lasagne and Signature Mac & Cheese.
For lighter appetites, fresh, crisp and colourful salads such as Beetroot & Roasted Butternut, Blue Cheese & Avo, Burrata Salad and the Signature Four Tomato Salad, sit alongside Thai Chicken Salad and Balducci Japanese Salad for an Asian twist. Balducci’s popular Paninis provide a relaxed lunch or informal bite, served toasted or plain on freshly baked focaccia or a bagel until 5 pm.
The burgers are serious business too, with 200g handmade pure-beef patties served with homemade pickles and the restaurant’s secret #6 sauce on a lightly toasted brioche bun. Choose between artisan thick-cut fries or sweet potato fries. Standouts include the Wagyu Burger and vegetarian Eastern Burger.
For lovers of the sea, freshness is paramount. A distinctive Balducci touch is the inclusion of Mozambican shellfish, a rarity in Cape Town, adding another dimension to the extensive seafood offering. Fresh Wild Oysters, sustainably sourced, freshly caught Cape Linefish, Kingklip, Calamari, Queen Prawns, Grilled Crayfish, Norwegian Salmon and Balducci Prawn Curry all feature.
Meat lovers are equally well catered for, with grain- and grass-fed beef dry-aged and matured by sister restaurant Belthazar. Choose from perfectly grilled steaks – Fillet, Rump, Rib-Eye, T-Bone and Tomahawk – and hearty favourites such as Lamb Shank, BBQ Beef or Pork Ribs and Scaloppine Di Vetello.
The Asian Noodles & Sushi Bar adds a cosmopolitan dimension with an extensive Asian selection of wok-tossed noodles, Robatayaki, Tempura, Teriyaki and Poke Bowls, followed by what can only be described as sushi galore. Fresh, never-frozen fish includes 100% Norwegian salmon, with specialities ranging from Lemon Salmon Rolls to Tuna Crust, Tempura Soft-Shell Crab, Dragon Roll and Torched Nigiri, as well as generous sushi (including vegetarian options), sashimi and nigiri platters. The Balducci Royal Sushi Platter is the ultimate sharing experience.
Save room for Dolce. Desserts are made from scratch, with Biscoff Tiramisu, Signature Baked Philadelphia Cheesecake, Chocolate Fondant and Malva Pudding among the temptations, while the Pasticceria offers European favourites such as Pastéis de Nata and Pain au Chocolat. Then there are the Premium Signature WOW Shakes – spectacular hand-spun, double-thick ice-cream shakes in flavours such as Cookies & Cream, Oreo Cheesecake, Biscoff & Dubai Chocolate and Ceremonial-Grade Matcha, with adults able to add a choice of liqueurs.
From the first morning coffee to a leisurely lunch, aperitivo, dinner, or a late-night sweet treat, Caffé Balducci is designed as a place to eat, meet, linger, and return to.
WINE, COCKTAILS & MORE
The Italian art of eating invariably requires wine. You may get lost in the pages of the Balducci wine list, which showcases the Cape’s finest wines, Champagnes and Proseccos. The iconic wine bar, with its specialised nitrogen-infused tap unit, serves 60 premium wines by the glass, poured into Riedel glasses designed to enhance the wine-drinking experience. Not sure which wine to choose? Simply speak to one of the experienced sommeliers.
In addition to the extraordinary wine list, Balducci also specialises in whiskies and whiskeys, single malts, brandies, Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados, liqueurs, traditional and craft beers, and ciders.
Balducci’s cocktails are a must, made with fresh fruit juice and the best brand spirits and mixers, with gorgeous names such as Blush Horizon, Crimson Tide, Island Ember, Paloma Rosa, Georgia Bloom and Scarlet Clover.
At its heart, Caffé Balducci is about the things that never go out of style: exceptional ingredients, good food, great company and a room filled with energy.
Somewhere between the first sip of coffee, the first plate of pasta and the last glass shared around the table, Cape Town will remember exactly why it fell in love with Balducci in the first place.
THE SLICK RESTAURANT GROUP LOYALTY CARD
Join the Slick Restaurant Loyalty programme and receive 10% of the bill total credited to your card, redeemable at any Slick Restaurant (includes Belthazar and Gibson’s at the V&A Waterfront), as well as a R200 birthday voucher. If you have an old loyalty card, please note all accumulated points are still valid.
CAFFÉ BALDUCCI
Round up your family and friends and head to the vibrant Piazza St John precinct in the heart of Sea Point to enjoy the Italian art of eating at the Caffé Balducci table.
Daily operating times: 8:30 – late / Booking advised
Caffé Balducci, Piazza St John, 395 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 200 582I
Email: contact@slickrestaurants.com
For more information visit www.balduccis.co.za and follow Balduccis on Facebook, X and Instagram.
