The Chef’s Studio Bree Street Cape Town is one of the Mother City’s most distinctive culinary venues — a state-of-the-art interactive kitchen and events space on the second floor of 103 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, directly above chef Matt Manning’s wildly popular Grub & Vine Bistro, Culture Wine Bar, and The Blue Room. Described as “a unique concept space located in the heart of Cape Town,” The Chef’s Studio hosts interactive and experiential events for people who are as excited about what goes into creating a beautiful dish as they are about eating it. Featuring custom-built workstations equipped with the latest Siemens cooking technology, a communal table for social dining, and an elegant private dining room, the venue is the permanent home of Matt Manning’s private chef service while also hosting cooking classes, masterclasses, guest chef evenings, corporate functions, birthday parties, and team-building events. Head chef Ukhonaye Mconi and his team run a monthly programme of themed events, “we just love to work in!” says Matt.

The Building: Above Grub & Vine on Bree Street

Bree Street is one of Cape Town’s most vibrant restaurant and nightlife corridors — a strip of bars, bistros, and boutiques in the heart of the City Centre. Chef Matt Manning — born in England, who perfected his trade in London’s finest Michelin-starred restaurants under the tutelage of Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Alyn Williams, and Bryn Williams — relocated to South Africa and worked at La Colombe before launching his own ventures. After becoming nationally known for his innovative pop-up dining experiences (such as One Ingredient), Matt opened his first restaurant, Grub & Vine, a relaxed yet refined bistro on Bree Street, at the end of 2018. The Chef’s Studio sits directly above the bistro — a “stylish, modern space” that has become the permanent home of Matt’s private chef service.

The Space: Siemens Workstations, Communal Table, Private Dining Room

The Chef’s Studio’s physical design is built specifically for interactive culinary events:

Custom-built workstations — equipped with the latest cooking technology from Siemens, with slick surfaces and professional cookware, giving every guest their own station to follow along with the chef.

Communal table — for social dining once the cooking is done, guests sit down together to enjoy the meal they helped prepare.

Elegant private dining room — for more intimate or exclusive bookings, separate from the main interactive kitchen space.

The overall aesthetic combines industrial elements with warm wooden touches, creating a bright, contemporary backdrop that the venue describes as the perfect setting for “exceptional dining.”

The Programme: How to Cook, One Ingredient, and Cooking With

Each month, head chef Ukhonaye Mconi and his team host a series of themed events:

How to Cook Masterclasses — combining an interactive cooking class with a communal feast. Guests are guided by the chefs through cooking the menu of the day (glass of wine in hand), then sit down together at the long table to enjoy a multi-course meal. Recent themes have included a winter “Barcelona” special exploring Catalan flavours, fresh produce, and time-honoured traditions, followed by a “South Africa” theme paying homage to local roots and heritage — from smoky braai dishes to reimagined classics. Pricing: R595 for the cooking class plus a 4-course dinner.

One Ingredient Interactive Dinners — getting creative with a single ingredient. Past editions have focused on berries and pumpkin, priced at R695.

Cooking With Collaborations — cooking alongside guest chefs, bakers, or specialist artisans — “your food heroes.” A past edition featured Cooking with Chef Sepial Shim at R750.

South African Dining Masterclass — intimate dining with limited seating, showcasing authentic South African cuisine through expertly crafted tasting menus, with chefs explaining the cultural significance behind traditional dishes. Signature offerings include slow-braised Karoo lamb with apricot sauce and a celebrated seafood potjie sourced from nearby Atlantic waters.

Corporate Events, Team Building, and Birthday Parties

Beyond the public masterclass calendar, The Chef’s Studio is “perfect for a hands-on cooking class, team-building event or event space.” The venue is regularly used for:

• Corporate functions and team-building events — colleagues cook together at individual workstations before sharing a meal
• Birthday parties — interactive and memorable celebrations centred around food
• Guest chef evenings — bespoke events featuring visiting culinary talent
• Private dining bookings — using the elegant private dining room for exclusive groups

What Guests Are Saying

A recent DinePlan reviewer captured the experience succinctly: “Fantastic experience.”

Practical Information

Operating hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 11am–10pm (some sources note Mon–Sat 9am–10pm — confirm current hours when booking)

Booking: Through DinePlan or directly via ev****@*************ef.com

Located in Cape Town’s trendy Bree Street corridor, within walking distance of major attractions and accessible by various transit options.

Location and Getting There

The Chef’s Studio is at 103 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, Western Cape, 8000 — second floor, above Grub & Vine, Culture Wine Bar, and The Blue Room.

Tel: 021 216 0035 | 087 1535 244
Email: ev****@*************ef.com
Facebook: @ChefsStudioCT

For cooking class bookings, masterclass schedules, and corporate event enquiries, visit The Chef’s Studio’s official website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Where is The Chef’s Studio located?
A: The Chef’s Studio is located on the second floor of 103 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre, directly above Grub & Vine Bistro, Culture Wine Bar, and The Blue Room. It’s in the heart of Cape Town’s vibrant Bree Street corridor, within walking distance of major attractions.

Q: What types of events does The Chef’s Studio host?
A: The Chef’s Studio hosts cooking classes, masterclasses, guest chef evenings, corporate functions, birthday parties, and team-building events. The venue also serves as the permanent home of Matt Manning’s private chef service and features an elegant private dining room for exclusive bookings.

Q: How much do the cooking masterclasses cost?
A: The How to Cook Masterclasses are priced at R595 and include an interactive cooking class plus a 4-course dinner. One Ingredient Interactive Dinners cost R695, while Cooking With Collaborations have been priced at R750.

Q: What facilities are available at The Chef’s Studio?
A: The Chef’s Studio features custom-built workstations equipped with the latest Siemens cooking technology, a communal table for social dining, and an elegant private dining room. Each guest gets their own station with professional cookware and slick surfaces to follow along with the chef.

Q: Who runs the cooking classes at The Chef’s Studio?
A: Head chef Ukhonaye Mconi and his team run the monthly programme of themed events at The Chef’s Studio. The venue is owned by chef Matt Manning, who trained in London’s finest Michelin-starred restaurants under Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing, Alyn Williams, and Bryn Williams.

Q: What are the operating hours for The Chef’s Studio?
A: The Chef’s Studio operates Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm, though some sources note Monday to Saturday 9am to 10pm. It’s recommended to confirm current hours when making your booking.

Q: How do I book an event or class at The Chef’s Studio?
A: Bookings can be made through DinePlan or directly via email at ev****@*************ef.com. You can also contact them by phone at 021 216 0035 or 087 1535 244, or visit their official website for cooking class schedules and corporate event enquiries.

Q: Is The Chef’s Studio suitable for corporate team building?
A: Yes, The Chef’s Studio is perfect for corporate functions and team-building events. Colleagues cook together at individual workstations before sharing a meal at the communal table, creating an interactive and memorable team-building experience.

Explore more unique dining and events venues in Cape Town’s City Centre through our Cape Town event venues directory, or browse all Western Cape event venue listings for venues across the province.