More than a place to be seen at: How Our Local Kloof Street offers a sense of place
Our Local in Kloof Street works because it is so confident its uniqueness.
If our perception of reality is 'simply created by our subjective interpretation of incoming signals via our senses', then it would be very easy to create a computer simulation that would completely satisfy our human need for novelty.
Obviously reality is unimaginably more mysterious and unknowable than that.
Which is why we find ourselves oddly attracted to things that cannot easily be explained. One of these odd anomalies is the distinctive sense of place that you get from being in Our Local on Kloof Street, Cape Town.
Yes, all of the social media influencers are taking pictures of their food in a desperate quest to appear cool there, but there are also throngs of non-social media people who are happy to stand in a long queue just to get some time in the warm embrace of the unique energy that is in abundance at Our Local.
What was, at one point in time, a car workshop - has been dramatically transformed into a rustic, plant-populated, cavernous emporium of vintage chic that's buzzy and appropriately aloof.
This restaurant works because it is so confident its uniqueness.
There is no apology for the liberal use of ceramic dogs as ornaments. Frayed rugs are a critical part of the charm; while our animated, loud conversation with friends is also an important contribution to the collective atmosphere. (And BTW - don't even think about pulling out your laptop and having a Zoom meeting, while slurping down a tasty flat white. There are discrete cards on each table that expressly forbid such behaviour )
Our Local is not for everyone (and that's by design), but for those who are looking for a establishment that offers an authentic and unique sense of place (their winning strategy) then go there and feel it for yourself.
More:
Home