café Roux opens in Cape Town
Founded in Noordhoek 10 years ago, café Roux will open on Shortmarket street, Cape Town on 25 November. Siblings Paul Le Roux and Lindi Green, alongside Paul's wife, Bernadette, opened the largely outdoor daytime restaurant in Noordhoek in 2006. Since then, it has become a well-known live music venue.
The café’s origins
café Roux has always had a strong music culture, starting with weekly “Braai Nights” which featured Matthew Mole strumming in the corner for the first two years. Lindi’s husband, Dan Green, of well-known covers and party band Me & Mr Brown, spent his early days creating a late afternoon Sunday vibe that had people on tables and kids on the dance floor.
In 2013, Lindi began to experiment with staging weekly Wednesday Sessions, in partnership with Wolftrap wine. The first month saw Nik Rabinowitz, Arno Carstens, Watershed and Zebra & Giraffe on the lineup. This weekly night time offering quickly grew into four or five nights a week and the café Roux Sessions were born, attracting a variety of South Africa’s most popular and talented up and coming artists.
“As a family, we have always been huge lovers of SA music” says Lindi Green, “and I grew up watching my favourite bands & musicians around the country. So, creating an intimate live music space has been the easiest and most natural progression for café Roux. The artists are looking for a room to deliver an authentic musical performance. Where people actually listen. And at café Roux, we have the audience hanging on every note and every word. The size of our venue (approx. 100-seater in both venues) lends itself to an up-close and personal, intimate and unique live music experience. Like watching your favourite band in your own home. With your friends and family at your table. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Manager and host of the nightly café Roux Sessions, Deo Rwagasore, is a partner in the new venture and is integral in the staff culture and customer experience at both venues. Then, joining the team in Cape Town, are Lindi and Paul’s cousin Vanessa Bisschop-Louw and her husband Michael. Vanessa has over 10 years’ experience of running top London Restaurants and for the last five years has been managing some of Cape Town’s top event companies.
What’s on the menu?
café Roux Cape Town’s simple menu will change regularly showcasing a select offering of handmade wood-fired pizzas with fresh seasonal toppings. Think ripe fig and Gorgonzola in autumn; heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and grilled aubergine in summer. Delicious vegan and gluten-free options will be available. For the not so hungry, cheese-and-charcuterie boards will also be on offer with marinated olives, garden greens and preserves. Dessert is proudly Noordhoek with Kristen's Kick Ass Ice Cream served in a sugar cone or cup.
The newly renovated space offers a tiered seating plan of comfortable booth seating on raised platforms, leather bar stools and bench seating offering patrons the best viewing options. Textured wall panels and a moody blue palette with accents of brass and metal add to the ambience.
December lineup
Thursday 1 December: Doc MacLean
Friday 2 December: Bed on Bricks
Saturday 3 December: Grassy Spark
Wednesday 7 December: Lonesome Dave
Thursday 8 December: Robin Auld
Friday 9 December: Loki Rothman
Saturday 10 December: Opposite the Other
Tuesday 13 December: Frank Freeman
Wednesday 14 December: Alice Phoebe Lou
Thursday 15 December: Nate Mainguard
Friday 16 December: Prime Circle daytime show: 15h30 till 18h00.
Monday 19 December: Watershed
Tuesday 20 December: Tailor
Wednesday 21 December: Francois van Coke
Thurs 22 and Fri 23 December: Jesse Clegg
Tuesday 27 December: Arno Carstens
Saturday 31 December: New Year`s Eve
Ticket details
All tickets are pre-booked online through www.caferouxsessions.co.za. Dinner is available from 6:30/7pm and the show starts at approximately 8.30pm.
