The Living Journey Collection has announced an exciting new culinary chapter for Majeka House, following its recent acquisition of the renowned Stellenbosch boutique hotel. In partnership with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Callan Austin, the hotel will unveil Plenitude later this month — a relaxed yet refined neighbourhood eatery designed to re-energise Majeka House’s legacy as a beloved local dining destination.
Leadership and Vision
A Stellenbosch resident, Austin is celebrated for his sustainability-driven culinary philosophy and is the co-owner and executive chef of the fine-dining restaurant DUSK, based in the university town. He now steps into the role of Culinary Specialist for Majeka House, overseeing Plenitude’s creative direction alongside his long-time colleague Chef Orlando Reid, formerly part of DUSK’s senior kitchen brigade, who will lead the restaurant’s day-to-day operations.
“Plenitude means abundance, and that’s exactly the spirit we want to bring back to Majeka House — generous, delicious, personality-driven fare in a space where locals and travellers can linger,” says Austin. “We’re not creating a hotel restaurant. We’re creating a restaurant that just happens to be in a hotel — one that the neighbourhood will claim as their own.”
A Design-Forward Refresh
With the Helderberg Mountains as a backdrop and a reputation for design-led hospitality, Majeka House is being thoughtfully refreshed under the stewardship of Friedrich and Lorraine Schaefer, founders of The Living Journey Collection. While the hotel’s bold interiors remain intact, the restaurant space is being reimagined to feel more intimate and contemporary — with new tableware, stemware, and modernised seating to create a softer, more relaxed ambience.
Austin describes the concept as “relaxed sophistication blended with summer holiday energy — a place where lunch stretches into late afternoon and dinner feels quietly special without being formal.”
The property’s historic kitchen garden is also being revitalised to supply the culinary team with a daily harvest of herbs and vegetables. “Working with Friedrich, Lorraine and the Majeka House team has offered me an exciting new chapter in my culinary journey,” Austin adds. “The opportunity to lead Plenitude gives me the scope to cook beyond fine dining — to cook as I would for family and friends at home.”
Menus and Dining Experience
Plenitude opens with two menus:
An à la carte lunch menu available from 12pm to 4pm, featuring accessible favourites such as Summer Tomato Salad, Thai Seared Tuna, Chicken Prego, and Lamb Rib Flatbread.
In the evenings, the restaurant transforms into a space of confident sophistication, showcasing local estate wines alongside dishes like Gnocchi Mushroom, Prawn and Mussel Pomodoro, and North African Spiced Cauliflower.
Desserts include a Lemon and Raspberry Posset and a curated selection of Cape Winelands cheeses. Breakfast will also be served daily and is open to both hotel guests and visitors.
A Restaurant for Locals First
“Majeka House has always attracted international travellers and South Africans visiting the Cape Winelands, but the soul of a great restaurant lies in its local support,” says Desmond O’Connor, Group General Manager of The Living Journey Collection. “We want Stellenbosch and Helderberg residents to feel that Plenitude belongs to them — whether they’re here for lunch after the spa, a lingering dinner, or a glass of wine at the bar.”
Set in a quiet residential pocket between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, Plenitude is poised to become the area’s new go-to Winelands dining address. The restaurant opens on November 20th, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
