Nestled on a busy street in the leafy suburb of Craighall, Liberté transports you elsewhere when you arrive. A veil of greenery and blooming shrubs cleverly conceals the entrance, and before you know it, you’re seated inside this quietly confident French-inspired space.
It’s open and airy, the walls adorned with elegant greys, pinks, and blacks, and murals dotted here and there showcase powerful women. Sit down and enjoy the soft French music playing in the background while feeling welcomed by attentive and friendly staff, not to mention quirky, feminine coasters and plates. The result is an atmosphere that feels less like a restaurant and more like you’ve been invited back to a maternal home.
Liberté’s owner, Natasha Maciel, grew up in a hospitality family, where restaurants and hotels were her life. Growing up without the softness of a mother and surrounded by men, she learned early how to inhabit both worlds – to stand firm when needed, and to lead with gentleness. “I learnt how to deal with men…but also how to use my femininity in balance,” Natasha says.
Natasha started with Pronto, across the road from Liberté, 22 years ago. It opened as a quaint 38-seater and quickly evolved into a 140-seater. Pronto focuses on delicious, classic Italian foods that have clearly been a long-standing community favourite, built through quality, consistency and warmth. This is a testament to Natasha’s strong values and work ethic.
Two years ago, after a difficult personal chapter, she opened Liberté, a space she calls “a love letter to women, femininity and strength”. Designed with deliberate duality: pink ceilings against deep navy walls, murals of fierce women offset by soft archways, the room mirrors the balance she lives by.
Women have an inherent vulnerability that they use to uplift themselves and others.” – Natasha Maciel
The classic French menu is a bonus. The food is simple yet luxurious, classic dishes like Sole meunière and Chicken breast with an ultra-creamy Dijon sauce. It’s comforting food packed with flavour that’s not about trends or Instagram theatre, but rather “what people actually want to eat every week”.
Natasha’s values guide her through challenging times and remind her about inner strength. She values community over ego, open communication, nourishment, upliftment and treating everyone with dignity. Her long-serving staff and regular customers clearly showcase that. She reminds us, “Food is about community, nourishment and being a safe harbour.” And she sees her maternal instinct as a business asset, not a liability.
Today, between Pronto and Liberté, Natasha serves not only Craighall but a wider Joburg community with spaces that feed more than hunger. She isn’t simply building places to eat; she is building places to belong. Liberté is both refuge and rallying cry, a room that reminds you that softness and strength are not opposites but companions. In Natasha’s words, it is “my love letter to women, femininity and strength.”
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