The impressive Adrian van der Vyve- designed Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront—home to Heatherwick Studio’s reimagined Grain Silo building—is the latest Cape Town location for Spanish-inspired all-day eatery La Parada; boasting impressive views of Table Bay Harbour and Table Mountain.
Set over two floors, the interiors are both a pleasure to the eye and befitting of the dynamic V&A Waterfront—with typical Spanish tiled walls and floors clashing with a controlled chaos harmony against palm tree-printed wallpaper and exposed brick walls that tell tales of the waterfront’s industrial past. Custom-made wooden furniture, bold artwork, and lush green plants complete the look downstairs, whilst up in The Durrage—La Parada’s private whisky bar—a darker, more atmospheric mood is on the cards through the use of dark leathers and golden hues.
An all-day dining destination, breakfast guests can soak up the morning sun taking in the harbour views from the terrace whilst munching on crispy jamon Benedict, frittata, or pastries. Come lunchtime, the cocktail bar is open and the real magic begins, with La Parada V&A’s tapas menu consisting of sharing plates such as spicy tuna tacos, patatas bravas, ham croquetas, grilled calamari, flash fried prawns … the list goes on, and on. And for those who have really worked up an appetite shopping beforehand, the V&A Del Mar sharing plate with 300g langoustine, whole baby kingklip, fried prawns, fried calamari, mussels, charred baby marrow and patatas bravas (or de la tierra) with beef short ribs, sliced carne, bone marrow, rib eye and toasted ciabatta, is sure to hit the spot. And then some.
Whether your waterfront stop off is for a coffee and croissant, tapas and cocktail, or a long and lingering dinner, La Parada‘s popping interiors and diverse menu brings the taste of España to Cape Town‘s new destination waterfront.
La Parada V&A Cape Town Photography, Andrea van der Spuy
