A chef’s guide to Observatory: Julia Hattingh’s neighbourhood picks

“It’s an amazing community… I know all my neighbours and we look out for each other.”

By Jeanne Calitz

Julia Hattingh’s Reverie Social Table in Observatory, an Eat Out starred restaurant, is built around one big, shared table where strangers sit down to eat together. You need only chat to the chef for five minutes to realise that fostering a sense of community has always been a major goal for her. It’s that same drive that makes her the right person to guide us through the best spots around her neighbourhood.

“I want our guests to step away from the world and switch off, to be present, and have a proper conversation with an actual human in real life,” she emphasises. “And if that person is of a different nationality, culture and religion from you, that conversation just makes everyone so much richer. I’d like you to remember how you felt eating here – even if you don’t remember what you ate.”

Reverie is very much a part of the neighbourhood. “It’s an amazing community… I know all my neighbours and we look out for each other.”

With this in mind, we asked the chef to share some of her neighbourhood gems from the area – watch as she shows us around:

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The Local Baker
“I first met Warren Rasmussen when he was baking from home and doing deliveries on his skateboard,” says Julia. Now she regularly stops there for breakfast pastries – her favourite is the cardamom bun. “Who doesn’t LOVE a fresh bake in the morning?”

Gracious Daisy Vintage
With Obs known for fabulous thrifting, a vintage shop was always going to make the list – and naturally it’s her mom’s space, Gracious Daisy Vintage. “My mom and I started our businesses in the same year,” she explains. “There’s always something to find in her treasure trove of a store; it makes you feel like Alice in Wonderland.”

Woolworths Food Stop at Engen
Another habitual stop for Julia is the Woolworths Food Stop at the Settlers Way Engen – she’ll often pop in pre- or post-walk with her dog, Luke, for some tasty snacks on the go. “Woolies goodies available 24/7… I mean it’s just so easy.”

Ferdinando’s Pizza
For lunch, Julia loves having a pizza at Ferdinando’s. She says that co-founder Diego Milesi is an incredible person and makes his restaurant feel like a genuine local favourite. The pizzas are fabulous and “you feel like you’re part of the family going there, and they love Luke, too.”

Ganesh
Finally, no visit to Obs is complete without dining at Ganesh. Julia describes this popular Thai street food joint as “funky, vibey and delicious – and the people-watching is a very entertaining bonus”. She recommends trying all the snacks, a few mains, and is a very big fan of their tamarind cocktails.

From morning buns to afternoon pizzas and evening cocktails, Julia’s picks capture exactly what makes Observatory such a distinctive corner of Cape Town and a neighbourhood worth spending time in.