A friend of mine wanted to find a venue for her upcoming birthday bash. We’d heard that Cafe Royale in Long Street had recently opened up a few extra floors above the ground floor eatery, so we decided to go and investigate.

Before venturing upstairs, though, we quenched our respective thirsts with Royale’s famous milkshakes (I had a small chocolate mint shake for R17 – a sugar rush soon followed) and each chose a burger from the incredibly varied menu.

The Googa Mooly is a vegetarian burger made out of all sorts of good ‘n’ healthy veggie stuff, like soya and chickpeas and guacamole and more. Plus, Cafe Royale is one of the only burger joints I know that offers wheat-free burger buns. Hallelujah!

It’s also the only one to offer sweet potato fries, as far as I know, and you can ask for a mix of normal fries, sweet potato fries and potato wedges to accompany your already enormous burger. What’s more, you get three generous bowls of delectable sauces to go with the chips: sour cream, sweet chilli sauce and tomato sauce. Yum!

So, we stuffed our faces, paid the bill and then wandered upstairs to check out the new space.

There are two dining areas. The one on the ground floor is mostly comfy booths, with the feel of an American diner. The first floor dining area is more upmarket, or appears that way, with tables and chairs, and funky decor.

On the second floor things get more interesting, with a lounge area filled with 70′s retro chairs and tables, and a funky bar to one side. It’s here that Royale will be hosting a variety of live bands and holding special evenings (more on that when I see them for myself). A very very funky place indeed, and I can’t wait to go there in the evening (not open during the day).

And then, the coup de grace, the cherry on top, the exclusive third floor, which Royale rents out for private functions. A plush red cushioned enclave with cosy spaces, and, best of all, an outdoor sundeck, perfect for summer sundowners.

Perfect for a birthday bash, too – problem solved.

PS – Royale launches its new cocktail menu this Friday (6 October), and it sounds quite decadent indeed.

Cafe Royale is located at 273 Long St, Cape Town. Tel: 021 4224536. Our meal, which included two milkshakes and two gourmet burgers, came to R120. Go there hungry – the burgers are huge! And, if you don’t like burgers, don’t worry – they have great salads and pastas too.

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