Vonkel at Simonsig: A New Chapter in Cape Town’s Cap Classique Story

Just in case you missed it, we have some exciting news: Cape Town’s beloved Cap Classique producer, Simonsig, has added a new chapter to its historic brand home with the launch of Vonkel.

Located in the scenic Stellenbosch Winelands, Vonkel arrives as Simonsig celebrates 55 years since producing South Africa’s first Cap Classique. The new restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired brunch and lunch designed to pair effortlessly with the estate’s wines and bubblies. Expect vibrant salads, handmade pasta, sharing boards and 36-hour sourdough Neapolitan pizzas, all coming from the wood-fired oven.

And, in true The Guide style, we made our way to Vonkel to experience it for ourselves and give you, our readers, the first-hand scoop.

With the Cape Town sun out, it felt like the perfect day to settle in, sip some bubbles and enjoy a long, leisurely lunch. Vonkel is housed in the space that previously hosted Simonsig’s wine tastings, with a beautiful patio that immediately sets the tone for a relaxed Winelands experience.

We were welcomed with a complimentary glass of their popular Shiraz — always a good start to lunch. It was a particularly warm day, so the wine was quickly followed by their freshly baked bread served with biltong butter. The bread was warm and soft, while the rich, savoury butter melted beautifully into it. It was the kind of simple opening that makes you want to slow down and settle in.

Starters

We were looking forward to trying the seafood tartare, but unfortunately it wasn’t available on the day. The beef tartare was the alternative, but I opted for something a little lighter: the Heirloom Baby Beets (R120) with toasted walnut, whipped goat’s cheese, charred orange and estate olive oil, alongside the Crispy Squid (R145) with lemon aioli, crispy capers and parsley.

The beetroot salad was fresh, vibrant and wonderfully summery, with the sweetness of the orange working nicely with the creamy goat’s cheese.

The crispy squid, however, was the standout for me. I rarely order calamari because it is one of those dishes that restaurants can get very wrong, but Vonkel got this one right. It was crisp without being heavy, tender on the inside and beautifully balanced by the lemon aioli and capers.

And, naturally, we paired it with a glass of Simonsig’s Brut Rosé — because the weather was very much giving rosé season.

The mains

For the mains, we went for two dishes that couldn’t have been more different: the Bone Marrow Burger and the Lamb Pizza.

The bone marrow burger was easily the most intriguing dish of the afternoon. It is not something you see on every menu, and I was particularly curious to see how it would work in a burger. The flavour is rich and distinctive, so it may not be for every palate, but the juicy patty, melted cheese and bone marrow came together surprisingly well. Definitely one for the more adventurous diner.

The Lamb Pizza, on the other hand, was an immediate favourite. Topped with aubergine, red peppers, baby spinach and balsamic glaze, it brings together flavours you might not immediately imagine working on a pizza — but they do.

The lamb was tender, juicy and packed with flavour, while the combination of the toppings gave the pizza a lovely balance. Add that beautifully charred, wood-fired crust and you have a pizza I would happily return for.

And then, dessert

For dessert, we tried the Chocolate & Hazelnut Pizette and the Dark Chocolate Fondant.

The fondant delivered exactly what you want from a good chocolate dessert: a soft, perfectly cooked exterior with that rich chocolate centre waiting inside. It was indulgent without being overwhelming.

The Chocolate & Hazelnut Pizette was a more playful take on dessert, with an interesting texture and plenty of chocolate and hazelnut flavour. It is a generous portion for a dessert, and one that I can imagine being particularly popular with younger diners.

Vonkel feels like a promising new addition to the Stellenbosch dining scene.

It is less about rushing through a meal and more about settling in for the afternoon — good food, good wine, sunshine and plenty of time to enjoy the setting. The portions are generous enough to make this a proper lunch rather than simply a wine-farm snack, and the menu has enough variety to keep you coming back.

The service was slightly slower than expected during our visit, although it’s worth keeping in mind that Vonkel is still finding its feet. The team was warm and welcoming throughout, and as the restaurant settles into its rhythm, we expect the service to become more seamless with time.  It is still early days, and I’m particularly interested to see how the menu evolves and what direction Vonkel takes as the restaurant finds its feet. If this opening menu is anything to go by, there is plenty of potential.

For now, our recommendation is simple: bring your friends, order the lamb pizza, pour yourself a glass of Cap Classique and give yourself permission to spend the afternoon doing absolutely nothing but enjoying the Winelands.

Vonkel is off to a very good start.

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