Casa Labia is a huge house built in 1929 by Count Natale Labia, Italy’s first minister plenipotentiary, to serve as his and his wife’s family residence. It was also the home of Italy’s official diplomatic representation in South Africa. The expansive house was built in the style of 18th century Venice with furnishings and even a decorator imported from Italy. Since Count Labia’s death in 1936, the house has served variably as his wife’s summer home, and the embassies of Canada and Argentina, and an extension of the South African National Gallery art museum. Count Labia’s son and granddaughter regained ownership of Casa Labia a few years ago, restored it, and reopened it as a cultural center, function venue, café, and art gallery.

The café is open for brunch and lunch offering a relatively small menu of Italian favorites and café dishes like quiche and savory pies with several good vegetarian options. I tried the pancake roulade—layers of spinach and ricotta, creamed leeks, and roasted butternut with a fresh basil cream sauce. South African pancakes are more like crepes than the American style flapjacks. The dish was very tasty and something I’ve never tried before, so that was nice.

The atmosphere at the café is really quaint. The décor is very opulent and old fashioned and has a different vibe than anywhere else I’ve been in Cape Town. Eating at Casa Labia feels a little like taking a time machine back in history. The view out over the beach at Muizenberg, the sea, and the mountains on the other side of False Bay can’t be beat. Service is friendly and helpful. When you’re finished eating, take a stroll through the contemporary art gallery upstairs and check out the CasBah Boutique. The only problem with Casa Labia is the extreme lack of parking, made worse by the current long term road construction on Main Road. In the future, they are meant to be getting access to a new parking lot. For the moment, be prepared to park down the road and walk quite a distance.