Famous Cape Town eatery – featured on Netflix show – set to close down

Say it ain’t so! Mzoli’s Place, the internationally-lauded shisanyama in Gugulethu, Cape Town, has been forced to close its doors due to a multitude of reasons. The long-running braai masters are set to shut up shop indefinitely, and there are no guarantees that the venue – previously featured on the Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil – will ever open again.

Cape Town to lose one of its best loved institutions – as Mzoli’s Place ‘closes down’

It’s truly a sad moment for Cape Town and its rich cultural heritage. Mzoli’s Place is an institution in the Mother City, and serves as a major draw for tourists looking to learn more about township life. Patrons were allowed to choose their own cuts of meat, take it over to the Grill Masters, and let them cook it to your own specific requirements.

Phil Rosenthal, host of Somebody Feed Phil, was particularly impressed by the way this establishment was able to ‘bring people together‘. The cheery presenter gave a brilliant account of his visit to Gugulethu – you can see a snippet here:

Watch: Mzoli’s Place on Netflix show Somebody Feed Phil

Blame it on COVID-19?

Sisanda Mangele, the daughter of businessman and philanthropist Mzoli Ngcawuzele, has spoken with a heavy heart about the future of Mzoli’s Place. She concedes that the pandemic, and subsequent lockdown restrictions, have played a part in the restaurant’s closure – and cannot guarantee if the local favourite will ever reopen:

“I am not sure if the business will open again. It’s a lot of things, from physical safety to the state of the economy and restrictions of the pandemic. It’s not really the end of the journey because we are still assessing if it’s worth the risk. We are waiting to see if tourism will get back on its feet. If not we might have to let go completely.”