Majeka House and Restaurateur, Callan Austin, to launch new Winelands restaurant – Plenitude
The Living Journey Collection has announced an exciting new culinary chapter for Majeka House, following its recent acquisition of the Stellenbosch boutique hotel. In partnership with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Callan Austin, the hotel will launch Plenitude later this month, a relaxed yet refined neighbourhood eatery designed to re-energise the hotel’s legacy as a beloved local dining destination.
A Stellenbosch resident, Austin is recognised for his sustainability-driven culinary approach. He is a co-owner and the executive chef of the critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurant DUSK, located in the university town. He steps into the role of Culinary Specialist for Majeka House, overseeing the creative direction of Plenitude alongside long-time colleague, Chef Orlando Reid, formerly part of the senior kitchen brigade at DUSK, who will lead day-to-day operations.
Plenitude means ‘abundance’, and that’s exactly the spirit we want to bring back to Majeka House: generous, delicious, personality-driven fare in a space where locals and travellers can linger,” says Austin. “We’re not creating a hotel restaurant. We’re creating a restaurant that just happens to be in a hotel – one that the neighbourhood will claim as their own.”
A new culinary era for Majeka House
With a backdrop of the Helderberg Mountains and a long-established reputation for design-forward hospitality, Majeka House is being thoughtfully refreshed under the stewardship of The Living Journey Collection’s founders, Friedrich and Lorraine Schaefer. While the hotel’s bold interiors remain intact, the restaurant space is being reimagined to feel more intimate and contemporary, from new tableware and stemware to modernised seating, creating a softer and more relaxed ambience.
Austin adds, “We’re opening the doors of Plenitude with relaxed sophistication blended with summer holiday energy – a place where lunch stretches into late afternoon, and dinner feels quietly special without being formal.”
Known for its kitchen garden in years gone by, this feature is being revitalised to provide the kitchen team with a daily harvest of herbs and vegetables. “Working with Friedrich, Lorraine, and the Majeka House team has offered me an exciting new chapter in my culinary journey. The opportunity to lead Plenitude gives me the scope to cook beyond fine dining – to cook as I would for family and friends at home.”
Plenitude opens with two menus: an à la carte offering available between 12 pm and 4 pm, featuring perennial favourites for all tastes and ages. Expect generous servings of Summer Tomato Salad, Thai Seared Tuna, Chicken Prego, and Lamb Rib Flatbread. As the sun sets, Plenitude transforms into a space of confident sophistication. Here, Austin and Reid will showcase local estate wines paired with an elevated menu including Gnocchi Mushroom, Prawn and Mussel Pomodoro, and North African Spiced Cauliflower. Desserts include a Lemon and Raspberry Posset and a selection of local Cape Winelands cheeses.
Breakfast is served daily and available to both hotel guests and visitors.
A restaurant for locals first
Comments Desmond O’Connor, Group General Manager of The Living Journey Collection, “Majeka House has always attracted international travellers and South Africans visiting the Cape Winelands region, but the soul of a great restaurant lies in its local support. We want Stellenbosch and Helderberg residents to feel like Plenitude belongs to them – whether they’re here for lunch after the spa, a lingering dinner, or a glass of wine at the bar.”
The location, set in a quiet residential pocket between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, positions Plenitude to become the area’s new go-to Winelands relaxed dining address.
Plenitude opens on November 20th, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. To book your table, book via Dineplan and follow the restaurant’s story via @Plenitude_MajekaHouse.
Majeka House Boutique Hotel by The Living Journey Collection is situated at 26-32 Houtkapper Street, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
For accommodation enquiries, visit www.thelivingjourneycollection.co.za.
