It’s the life at La Vie!

Sea Point’s beach-style restaurant and bar

It’s a sunny day in Sea Point and I’m across the road from the promenade at La Vie chatting to owner Catherine Malan. The white umbrellas and wooden tables have a light, summery feel that is echoed in the light stone pillars of this European-style street café and bar.

The outdoor seating allows for sunny lunches or drinks on warm summer evenings. “There’s a really relaxed atmosphere,” Catherine tells me. “We accommodate everyone: families with children, and people with dogs too. We’re a stalwart of the Sea Point scene. We’ve been here for eight years.” 

The promenade in Sea Point is almost always busy with people walking their dogs and children or taking an evening stroll. The relaxed atmosphere at La Vie makes it feel like an extension of this popular communal space.

Fresh, fresh, fresh

Catherine got an early start in the industry by helping out in the family restaurant from the age of twelve. The pizza dough comes from a traditional Italian recipe passed down to her from her step-father and, like all the food at La Vie, it's prepared from scratch. This may be one of the reasons why their pizzas are so popular. “The food could take 20 minutes; but it’s going to be fresh, fresh, fresh,” explains Catherine. She changes the menu every six months or so to include seasonal ingredients, so you’ll find local produce on the menu that suits the weather, be it rain or shine.

As well as the much-loved pizzas, there are some great seafood dishes, which you can enjoy with a sea view on the side. Try the paella, seafood pizza or the crayfish if you feel like spoiling yourself.

Local flavour

This isn’t just a lunch and supper spot – it also has awesome coffee and breakfasts, plus it turns into a buzzing party once the sun goes down. With Mutha FM broadcasting live from La Vie on Friday nights and Dave Ferguson performing his legendary live shows on Sundays this is the place to be on the Atlantic Seaboard. Catherine mentions the importance of booking on these nights “otherwise you can’t get your stiletto through the door,” she laughs. 

As well as cocktails (which go down well while enjoying the sunset) there’s Jack Black beer on tap along with a fully stocked bar. La Vie is also a favourite for sports fans; there are several big screen TVs and comfy couches to watch from. The open design of the restaurant creates a seamless flow from the inside bar area to the covered and open seating outside. Reminiscent of the cafés you see in Europe that spill out onto the pavement, La Vie also has South African flavour and a strong local following.

“If you want a local experience this is where you’ll find it.” With the reasonable prices and unbeatable views this is a local favourite that delivers the quintessential Cape Town experience with ease. “La Vie means ‘the life’, because that’s what it is. We have a fantastic lifestyle in this country,” Catherine says, and, looking out at the Atlantic ocean, I have to agree.

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