When one of our office colleagues suggested we go to the restaurant at the Gold Museum, Gold provided more than I expected!

Upon entering through the museum entrance, you are welcomed by the large smiles and (even larger) Mali puppet characters, who lead you through the entrance of the actual museum and to the courtyard.

Here we are welcomed by Easy, the drum master from Mali, with bright African printed clothes and a huge amount of patience – considering some of the less co-ordinated characters in our group! We all laugh and learn as Easy gives us a little history of the Djembe drum and attempts to teach us some of the West African rhythms and beats. A superbly enjoyable experience and we had all worked up a solid appetite!

As Easy leaves us, we are all lead through to our tables after a traditional hand wash and I can happily say that we were all not to be disappointed in any way by our dining experience!

The entire menu is served at the table as a set tasting menu of 12 unique and equally special portions. For example, you star with a superb Spiced Tomato Soup with Corn Pot Bread, followed by exquisite Peri-Peri Prawns with Oranges and a mouth watering West-African Peanut Chicken, to name but a few!

Between the culinary decadent courses, Easy returns banging out beats while singers and dancers entrance you with the magic of African culture and ritual!

To finish, there is a “Boeber”  (a Cape-Malay milk pudding is prepared with sago, vermicelli, sultanas and roasted almonds and flavored with cardamom, cinnamon and vanilla) and Fresh Fruit platters dusted with Gold. One word – YUM!

Each of the 12 dishes are small, portions are not large, but easily enough to leave you feeling satisfied!

While there were a small group in the restaurant, there was a larger group who booked out the upper level of the restaurant, which I am sure would be superb for groups or private occasions.

Having been in the South Africa for some time, I would easily say that besides the wonderful attraction and experience which this obviously is (and we will recommend to future overseas clients) I will also recommend Gold as an experience to both locals and travelers alike.

More than a restaurant, an experience.

Article written by Iain Gomersall, Senior Villa Consultant