A popular Zulu fine dining restaurant at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront has recently undergone a revitalising makeover, transforming it into a showcase of South African design and cuisine
WORDS: SUPPLIED :: PHOTOS: PARIS BRUMMER AND WALTER TALMARKES
Emazulwini restaurant at the V&A Waterfront’s Makers Landing, headed by chef Mmabatho Molefe, has undergone an exciting transformation, thanks to a collaboration between creative agency Clout/SA and young interior designer Walter Train.
Kitted out in bold blues and reds, unique furniture and lighting by local designers, it celebrates its South African roots with a nod to global stylishness.
LOVE ON A PLATE
Food is at heart of the restaurant and the new design echoes chef Molefe’s energy and love for cooking. The young chef has already won many awards for her delicious fine dining Zulu cuisine that celebrates her culinary heritage and childhood food memories, including a spot on The World’s 50 Next list.
“Clout/SA is proud to have initiated and managed a design approach that we believe amplifies chef Mmabatho Molefe’s passion,” says Tracy Lynch, one of Clout/ SA’s managing executives.
INSPIRED BY HERITAGE
Collaborating with Clout/SA on the interior design, Train’s practice reflects his diverse heritage. He describes his work as sitting at the intersection of two seemingly disparate worlds: one an Nguni upbringing rooted in family and culture, the other a western lineage intimately part of his birth.
“Train is a young, talented designer with a strong connection to his South African heritage and roots, which made him a great collaborating interior designer for the project,” says Lynch.
His design for Emazulwini was inspired by the restaurant’s dockside location and includes an open kitchen and large glass doors leading out to a terrace overlooking the quayside.
CHAMPION OF LOCAL DESIGN
Emazulwini has become a stage for a developing South African aesthetic that pays respect to its heritage while charting the way forward in global style.
The restaurant features the work of talented local designers and makers, with fabrics and materials that evoke South African craftsmanship and heritage.
Nando’s Hot Young Designer (HYD) finalist in 2020 and the 2022 Decorex Cape Town Best New Talent award winner Siviwe Jali’s NoKhanya light, made in collaboration with Ashanti Design, hangs alongside 2016 Nando’s HYD winner Thabisa Mjo’s Tutu 2.0 lights.
Beautifully crafted chairs and tables by designers such as Houtlander, David Krynauw and Kent & Lane are also featured.
Clout/SA is dedicated to promoting local creativity and providing opportunities for collaboration between designers and makers. They are the team behind the Nando’s Design Programme, which has launched the careers of many up-and-coming designers, and the Nando’s Portal to Africa, an online shopping platform for designer furniture that exports South African design across the globe.
