Slip Slops Kitchen Bar in Noordhoek

The new Cape Peninsula café where the dress code is strictly sandals

THIS SPOT HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

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It’s easy to feel like you’re on an eternal summer holiday in the seaside suburb of Noordhoek. And even easier to get lost in the sandy, salty sense of an oceanfront vacation at the new Slip Slops Kitchen Bar.

Gazing out at a long, white stretch of beach in the distance, the laidback eatery – it opened in November 2013 – captures the easy, breezy vibe of the area perfectly and, like its name suggests, is the sort of place where wearing thongs isn’t just acceptable; it’s expected.

“I’m always in shorts and slops, so I decided to create a restaurant that people like me can feel comfortable in,” explains owner and Noordhoek local Phillip Myburgh, who established the café with the aim of passing it on to his eager son as soon as he’s finished school. “Customers can even arrive barefoot; I don’t mind.”

The charming, beach-themed haunt claims both a large outdoor area – white tables sit below the gnarled boughs of age-old milkwood trees – and an intimate indoor space, and there are strictly no televisions, so guests can focus their full attention on each other and the soothing view that sweeps across the coastline from Chapman’s Peak to Kommetjie.

Though, the restaurant’s easy-eating food deserves some solid attention too. Slip Slops Kitchen Bar is open for early-morning meals, lunch and dinner and treats visitors to everything from design-your-own breakfasts, island-style omelettes and gourmet burgers to fresh seafood, pizza, pasta and, in Phillip’s own words, “phenomenal steaks”. While the eatery strives to make every dish memorable, its signature items include the creamy Mussel Pot, the Peri-Peri Chicken Livers (Phillip’s taken 10 years to perfect the recipe for the sauce) and the very unique bun-free Coll’s Burger designed specifically for those with wheat intolerances.

And because Noordhoek is such a family-oriented area, there are a few options for the juniors too: Egg Dunkers, Mac and Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognaise and a Slider and Curly Fries, to name some. Plus, kids can expend any extra energy on the wooden outside jungle gym while adults fill their bellies and wet their whistles on fine wines, beers and more but metres away.

Speaking of drinks, for many obvious reasons, the beach-y bar makes for a model sundowner spot and serves up what the owner deems are “some of the best cocktails in the Noordhoek valley”. The menu was developed with the help of famed South African mixologist Kurt Schlechter and features items like a Candyfloss Martini ((it contains a colourful swirl of actual candyfloss), a Candy Apple Daiquiri and Kurt’s renowned Ama-Lekkerlicious, which won the title of FHM Ultimate Brandy Cocktail of the Year in 2011.

The lazy joint is, quite pointedly, not your average raucous pub though. Rather, it’s geared at those eager to indulge in a quiet fruity beverage while soaking up great vistas and summery vibes and re-discovering just why, as the eatery’s slogan says, “life is better in slip slops”.

Tip: Watch out for new vegetarian options being added to the food menu soon. Also, don’t forget to come wearing your favourite flip flops.

The Bill: Expect good quality at affordable prices. Breakfasts range between R26.95 and R69.95, burgers are priced from R59.95 to R84.95, meat dishes and steaks sit between R59.95 and R139.95, pizzas cost from R49.95 to R89.95, pastas are all R69.95 and cocktails go for between R34.95 and R59.95.

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8am – 10:30pm

Corner of Beach Road and Pine Weg | Noordhoek | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 789 0122

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Searching for other alfresco eateries that look out over the ocean? Take a peek at our overview of restaurants with sea views in Cape Town.

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