According to The New York Times, it’s the age of the pizza geek. And what better way to summon this palatable epoch in than with a new ‘Italian-ish’ eatery, in Cape Town, the capital of all things modish? 

This March, the refurbished Club Kloof in Cape Town’s quaint Tamboerskloof neighbourhood opened its freshly lacquered doors. Named after the thriving street on which it resides, the bold, sapphire-red eatery occupies the ground floor of a refurbished Victorian building – 84 Kloof to be precise. Opened by the dynamic duo behind Our Local, chef Shayne Schutte and creative director Michael Carter, Club Kloof is unapologetically gorgeous. 

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Not immune to visual impact, the pair have created a space that’s equal parts homely and ornamented. Unshy about colour, it offers three distinct spaces – the restaurant, the bar and the Amalfi-inspired outdoor seating area – allowing visitors to gravitate towards what suits them best.  

Dishes, which skew on the Italian street food side, include simple, flavour-packed Neapolitana-inspired pizzettes and small plate favourites, like gnocchi fritto cigars, baby roasted potatoes, schiacciata crostini and anchovy olives. 

If you don’t go solely for the decor or pizzettes, go for the cocktails. Club Kloof preens a medley of popular favourites, from a blistering Negroni to a rooibos old-fashioned or ocha spritz. (For the yachties, there’s even an espresso martini – all yours Claire!) As ubiquitous as Italian eateries are this one slants at a different angle. Club Kloof is instantly likeable, perhaps for its casual attention to detail or its warm, efficient staff – equally excellent. It’s pizza geek time friends and I’m here for it.

Photography House of Zaan