Majeka House and Chef Callan Austin to Launch New Winelands Restaurant — Plenitude

The Living Journey Collection has announced an exciting new culinary chapter for Majeka House, following its recent acquisition of the 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 set to re-energise Majeka House’s legacy as a beloved local dining destination.

A New Culinary Vision for the Winelands

A Stellenbosch local, Callan Austin is recognised for his sustainability-driven culinary approach and as co-owner and executive chef of DUSK, the award-winning fine-dining restaurant in the university town. He steps into the role of Culinary Specialist for Majeka House, overseeing the creative direction of Plenitude alongside long-time colleague Chef Orlando Reid, formerly part of the senior kitchen brigade at DUSK, who will head 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 happens to be in a hotel — one that the neighbourhood will claim as their own.”

Design and Atmosphere: Relaxed Sophistication

With a backdrop of the Helderberg Mountains and a long-standing reputation for design-forward hospitality, Majeka House is being carefully refreshed under the guidance of Friedrich and Lorraine Schaefer, founders of The Living Journey Collection.

While the hotel’s bold interiors remain, the restaurant space is being reimagined with a softer, more intimate aesthetic — modernised seating, elegant tableware and glassware, and an atmosphere of understated sophistication.

Austin adds, “We’re opening the doors of Plenitude with relaxed sophistication and summer-holiday energy — a place where lunch stretches into late afternoon and dinner feels quietly special without being formal.”

Sustainability Meets Simplicity

Known for its kitchen garden in years past, this beloved feature is being revitalised to supply the kitchen with fresh herbs and vegetables daily.

“Working with Friedrich, Lorraine, and the Majeka House team has offered me an exciting new chapter in my culinary journey,” says Austin. “Leading Plenitude gives me the scope to cook beyond fine dining — to cook as I would for family and friends at home.”

Menus That Celebrate Abundance

Plenitude will launch with two seasonal menus:

• Lunch (12pm–4pm): An à la carte selection featuring relaxed dishes such as Summer Tomato Salad, Thai Seared Tuna, Chicken Prego, and Lamb Rib Flatbread.
• Dinner: A refined yet welcoming evening menu paired with local estate wines. Highlights include Gnocchi Mushroom, Prawn and Mussel Pomodoro, and North African Spiced Cauliflower, with desserts like Lemon and Raspberry Posset and a curated selection of Cape Winelands cheeses.

Breakfast will also be served daily to both hotel guests and local visitors.

A Restaurant for Locals First

“Majeka House has always attracted international travellers and South Africans visiting the 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 like Plenitude belongs to them — whether they’re here for lunch after the spa, a lingering dinner, or a glass of wine at the bar.”

Nestled between Stellenbosch and Somerset West, the location is perfectly positioned to become the Winelands’ newest destination for relaxed, sophisticated dining.

Opening Details

Plenitude officially opens on 20 November 2025, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Bookings are available via Dineplan, and guests can follow the restaurant’s story on Instagram at @Plenitude_MajekaHouse.

Majeka House Boutique Hotel, part of The Living Journey Collection, is situated at 26–32 Houtkapper Street, Paradyskloof, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
For accommodation enquiries, visit www.thelivingjourneycollection.co.za.