A chapter is coming to a close at Toast, the much-loved coffee shop at Lifestyle Centre, Ballito, that has served the community with warmth and flavour over the past 7 years. The café, owned by Bruce Rencken and operated by Suvina Mahadaw, will be closing its doors in early October, but only to make way for an exciting new venture that promises to delight regulars and newcomers alike.
While many will miss their favourite Toast breakfasts and brews, customers can look forward to a new café and bistro, launching in November. Rencken has partnered with Guy Cluver, the successful local entrepreneur and restaurateur behind Bellevue Café in Kloof, KZN, and Claudio Tripepi to introduce an exciting new concept to Ballito. Known for bringing vibrant, high-quality food experiences to the region, Guy’s new Ballito offering will bring something fresh, innovative and distinctly welcoming to the space, while retaining the familiar, friendly Toast team of managers, waitrons and kitchen staff.
The new café and bistro will continue to serve excellent coffee, but with an expanded menu and a modern twist that reflects today’s dining trends while retaining the sense of community and comfort that customers have always cherished.
“I’m excited to introduce Nook, a relaxed, contemporary coastal café and bistro designed to reflect Ballito’s elevated yet laid-back lifestyle and beachside charm,” said Guy Cluver. “Our menu will continue to offer exceptional breakfasts and brunches, that Toast is well-loved for. In addition to growing this daytime coffee culture, a new focus will be on light lunches and an evening bistro-style service, with an emphasis on simple yet refined coastal cuisine, such as risotto and fresh prawns. The addition of wood-fired sourdough pizzas and generous salads will be paired with a curated selection of white wines and cocktails. The reimagined space will complement a relaxed dining experience ideal for breakfast catchups, long lunches, quick bites or sunset dinners.”
The new Nook Café and Bistro will be brought to life during October and November to offer a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, encouraging casual dining and social interaction while capturing natural light and street side bustle. The space will undergo a complete refurbishment to balance modern aesthetics with warm, earthy textures to evoke a sense of comfort and quality.
Claudio Tripepi, a familiar face in the South African hospitality industry, will be the Operating Partner and hands on personality in the café. “Guy and I partnered at Butcher Boys Hillcrest a few years back, so I’m super excited to work with Guy and Bruce to bring the Nook Café and Bistro to life. My background in hospitality makes me really passionate about this new concept which will serve as a community gathering point from breakfast right through to dinner,” he said. “Nook will be all about embracing people, food and connection, and I look forward to contributing to a space where Ballito feels at home from early morning through to evening.”
Bruce Rencken, owner of Ballito Lifestyle Centre and Toast, is enthusiastic about the Nook concept.“This transition marks not just an ending of a successful chapter for our well-loved Toast, but an exciting evolution and next step that will add significantly to the energy and experience of the node. I worked closely with Guy for a number of years, when he was in the LUPA business, and have been looking for an opportunity to partner with him again, so I’m incredibly excited by this new Café and Bistro and for our customers to discover what’s coming. I have no doubt that Guy and Claudio, together with Suvina and the rest of the Toast team, will deliver a unique and tasteful food experience for Ballito families to regularly enjoy. It is a very fitting concept for Lifestyle Centre, the heartbeat of Ballito, where locals meet and connect, and it will certainly enhance life, the Ballito way.”
“We are incredibly grateful to all our loyal patrons who have supported Toast over the years,” said Suvina Mahadaw, Manager of Toast. “It has been a true privilege to be part of Ballito’s daily routines and special moments. My team and I look forward to being part of this exciting new development and to welcoming all our regular customers, along with some new faces, at Nook Café and Bistro in November.”
Customers can continue to visit Toast in the coming weeks to enjoy a last cup and bid farewell, before returning at the end of November to be among the first to experience the exciting new culinary chapter at Nook at Lifestyle Centre.
