The Annex, 124 Main Road, Kalk Bay., Kalk Bay, South Africa
Cuisine:
Bistro, Contemporary, Mediterranean
Good for:
Breakfast/Brunch, Dinner, Late Night, Lunch, Reservations
The Annex
7 Visitor Photos +
Expert Review
Kalk Bay is one of my favourite places in Cape Town. It’s right by the edge of the mountain and...
Kalk Bay is one of my favourite places in Cape Town. It’s right by the edge of the mountain and right by the edge of the sea so you get the best of both worlds. It’s also home to so many hidden gems like antique shops, bookshops and cafes. I have walked past The Annex so many times but this was my first time stopping in for lunch and I’m so glad I did. We got a table outside, overlooking the sea and enjoyed a long lazy afternoon. The menu was big but I immediately knew I wanted the roast veg, goats cheese and pesto on toasted ciabatta. I was right. It was huge and delicious and satisfied all my ‘carb’ needs for the day. The others had burgers which they said were excellent and my one other friend had the chicken parmesan which he said was delicious. Overall everyone really enjoyed their meals. I think it was the combination of the good food, the great company and the incredible view that made the whole day so enjoyable. We all ended the lunch off with cappuccinos, mostly because we wanted to stay a bit longer.
The service was good and all our food arrived at the same time. The price was very good and the portions were big, so we all left very happy and satisfied!
They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner so I’d love to go back and try some of their other meals!
Expert Review
The Annex is a restaurant set in a stunning old building overlooking Main Road and the harbor in Kalk Bay....
The Annex is a restaurant set in a stunning old building overlooking Main Road and the harbor in Kalk Bay. Kalk Bay itself is an amazing seaside village to spend some time in—shopping, strolling, or just sightseeing—so The Annex is a nice place to pop in for a meal or drink. The restaurant consists of several different seating areas, all of which are lovely. The best must be the elevated terrace where we snagged a table for a Saturday night dinner. Sitting under the huge tree, it’s lovely to eat on the terrace and enjoy unfettered views of the sea if you catch the weather just right. Otherwise, there’s indoor seating available.
The menu focuses on Mediterranean style fare with a few options each of seafood, red meat, pasta, and poultry. I opted for the surf and turf to try a bit of red meat and seafood, but I was also seriously considering the crispy pork belly. The food was pretty good—a few tasty prawns and a perfectly cooked T-bone with nice crispy fries. I also tried the soup of the day, which was advertised as Thai butternut, but the soup actually delivered was green and didn’t taste like butternut, so I’m not really sure what I got in the end. I also sampled the lemon tart from the desert menu which was very tangy and a perfect end for the meal, but it’s a huge portion! A friend ordered the Amarula crème brulee which was also great.
The service was a bit unpolished, slow, and confused considering The Annex is a relatively fancy restaurant, but it was still very friendly. It is also perhaps a bit overpriced, but the nice atmosphere is the restaurant’s biggest draw card. The Annex’s sister business is a really nice bookshop downstairs that is a favorite destination for browsing. They always have some special books on display, so it’s easy to get carried away!