There’s something magical about a good road trip — the music, the snacks, the unexpected stops — and now, thanks to Chef Marcus Gericke, you can experience that same sense of discovery without ever leaving your seat. Welcome to Journey, the latest tasting menu at Urchin Restaurant inside the Hyatt Regency Cape Town — a delicious, multi-course love letter to the Western Cape.
Under chef Marcus’s award-winning hand (yes, that Global Chef Africa & Middle East 2022–23, San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy star, and SA Chef of the Year 2024), Urchin has evolved into something truly special — a place where every dish has a story, every ingredient has a name, and every bite takes you somewhere new.
To create Journey, Marcus and his team hit the road — 1,627 kilometres of it — from Kalk Bay’s fishing boats to the wild plains of the Karoo, through the lush Garden Route and back to the colourful heart of Bo-Kaap. Along the way, they cooked with locals, chatted with farmers, swapped recipes with home cooks, and gathered the flavours that define this diverse region. The result? A nine-course tasting experience that feels like a cross between a culinary road trip and a homecoming.
The menu opens with Voorhappie, where smoky snoek meets sweet-sour mebos and a whisper of curry leaf — a nod to Kalk Bay mornings and seaside rituals. Then comes freshly baked farm-style bread served with jam, butter, and fragrant fynbos oil (made with a sourdough starter affectionately known as Pete, who’s been alive and well for two decades). From there, the road winds to Paternoster, where buttery crayfish in lemon garlic sauce takes centre stage.
Things get more soulful with pickled fish dressed in Cape Malay spices, and braised oxtail with samp and fynbos atchar, rich, comforting, and deeply nostalgic. The Karoo lamb chops — smoky from the grill, doused in tomato bredie sauce and brightened with coriander — are a masterclass in balance.
And just when you think you’ve hit the end of the road, dessert arrives: a milk tart with vrugte ysblokkie that’s pure nostalgia, followed by a malva pudding with sago and custard that will have you texting your gran. To send you off, there’s even a box of padkos treats — think peppermint crisp tart, hertzoggie, and klapperys — because no proper South African journey ends without snacks for the road.
For those who prefer a more laid-back approach, the Navigator Menu offers an à la carte adventure featuring Cape classics like cured fish, lemon-butter prawns, and warm malva pudding — all with Urchin’s signature finesse.
The space itself has also had a glow-up: polished but unpretentious, intimate but social, with walls lined in breathtaking photos from the team’s travels. Every detail, from the art to the wine list, reflects a sense of place and purpose.
Urchin’s Journey is more than a meal — it’s a moving portrait of the Western Cape told through flavour, memory, and heart. For locals, it’s a reminder of home. For visitors, it’s the perfect introduction to the Cape’s culinary soul.
Urchin Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Cape Town
126 Buitengracht St, Cape Town City Centr