No matter the season, Amelia’s at the Plettenberg proves that blue really is the warmest colour.
Is there such a thing as a perfect restaurant? No. All sorts of elements add to the delicate mix. That said, many of House & Garden’s — and our readers’ — favourite establishments share some confident design-minded details — a sense of place, a nod to history, an envious collection of art, to name a few.
There are a few rules for making restaurants an experience and a pleasure to dine at, but these aren’t exhaustive nor are they to be treated as an exact recipe, but perhaps a little food for thought. Amelia’s at The Plettenberg is one such locale that boasts the right recipe of comfort and sophistication.
Reimagined by the team at Hot Cocoa Interiors and Design — Dawn Dickerson, Carmel Naudé and Tammy Fourie — the restaurant boasts not only an unrivalled prime position in one of South Africa’s most sought-after beach towns, but also a bold yet intimate spot to enjoy clean and authentic dishes. Rich, royal shades of blue are punctuated by Portuguese- inspired mosaics, which perfectly frame the desirable destination against the unprecedented view of the bay.
For Dawn, the creative design and details of Amelia’s began with a sense of place, drawing crisp inspiration from the hotel’s sumptuous view of the ocean and sweep of the bay, plus the purple- hued mountains in the distance. These views also extend to the interiors of the restaurant where the mountain range is depicted in a hand-painted wall mural by artist Tiziana Giardini, below a blue and green assemblage of lanterns.
‘The unique sense of place had to be used in all the elements of the design, and we needed to bring those beautiful colours and textures into the restaurant,’ says Dawn. ‘This ranges from the white-tipped waves to teal and the deep blue of the sea, framed by the colours of the mountains and warmed by the shades of sand, changing from wet to dry.’
Whether you are sipping sundowners under the extended pergola, or dining indoors, tuck into refreshingly tasty blue hues that perfectly pair with the exploration of flavours at Amelia’s. Expect executive chef Ewald Schulenburg’s contemporary approach to signature dishes and The Liz McGrath Collection, including a bouillabaisse seafood soup, fluffy Dalewood Huguenot Cheese soufflé and pan seared South Atlantic ocean tuna.
Text by Kimberly Schoeman
