Eleven

Eleven is the argument that Ryan Shell isn't a specialist who happened to open two Asian restaurants. He's a chef whose range extends well past that, and Eleven is where he's chosen to prove it. For the Collection, that's worth having on its own terms, not just as an extension of Ōku and Yama's reputation.

It also completes something useful for members: three rooms from one kitchen group, each built around a genuinely different idea of what a meal should feel like, all within a few minutes' walk of one another.

Eleven opened in August 2023 at 11 Huguenot Street, a short walk from Ōku and Yama, on a corner of Franschhoek's main road that has passed through a string of the town's defining restaurants over the years. It is Ryan Shell's first restaurant built around global contemporary cooking rather than Asian technique, drawing on his own travels through the UK and Southern Africa's five-star kitchens.

The room is industrial rather than minimalist: wood, raw brick and burnt copper against white linen and Cape-made furniture, a deliberate departure from the register of the chef's first two restaurants. Chic and relaxed rather than hushed, it is designed for a longer evening, with slender candles softening the brick and copper.

Eleven's list is built around its tasting menu pairing, drawing on the same Cape-focused sourcing philosophy as the group's other rooms.

Tafeleen members enjoy privileges, preferred rates and curated experiences across the Founding Collection. The details are shared personally by Tafeleen Concierge once membership is active.

Experiences

• The eleven-course tasting menu — With wine pairing. It runs long by design, so plan the evening around it.