the restaurant

The Restaurant is situated in an old Backpackers building, and is an evolving art project on its own. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and the resulting Lockdown the restaurant had to close doors for a few months, giving the creative forces a chance to stir the pot again. The interior was ripped apart and put together anew, the flower gardens gave way to vegetable gardens, restrooms got a revamp - every aspect of the restaurant got an overhaul. A fresh new approach has been adopted and changes can be seen all around.

Stunning views sweeping over the Blue Swallow Reserve can be enjoyed from the spacious verandah, and meals are served in the garden or on the covered patio, on heavy wooden tables with bulky wrought iron legs. Glühwein heated in old kettles on the coal stove is served in front of roaring fires which are lit in each corner of the restaurant when the mist rolls over the escarpment. During sunny weather sip on a colourful cocktail and enjoy the sun setting over the mountains. The wild horses of Kaapsehoop can be seen from the verandah on sunny days. The village of Kaapsehoop is situated on the escarpment of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg and the weather can change in an instant from sunny days to misty weather.

The Service had to be adapted to a new and faster system - orders are placed at the front counter for all meals and drinks, and the waiters deliver everything to the tables and clear the tables after your meal. We have limited staff, due to the lack of staff availability in the area and restrictions in staff accommodation. This system proves to offer faster service, adding to the visual gastronomical feast when visiting the front counter to order – and we love to chat to our customers!

sundays

Sundays is family day and is the day when things happen at Bohemian. Book your table early and enjoy a great day out in the sun! Great food, groovy music and warm atmosphere is all you need to make every Sunday the perfect Funday! Kids and dogs are welcome, so enjoy some fresh outdoor walking fun and round it off with the perfect lunch!

Live Music

Live Music is performed every Sunday by local upcoming musicians during lunchtime, with a cover charge added to your bill. The total amount raised with cover charge gets paid directly to the musician – they perform not only for their pleasure, but also for their income! Charl and Andrea, being artists themselves, are passionate about developing recognition for the talent of artists and musicians – after all, a musician’s talent takes more time to perfect than it takes a doctor to achieve his degree! The amount of the cover charge changes with the artists, and payment is done voluntarily, we thank you for your support in the Arts! The live music creates a fantastic atmosphere on Sundays, so remember to bring your friends for lunch for any occasion.

Homebuilt Smoker

The Homebuilt Smoker was built by Charl in his workshop and is fired up every Sunday morning with locally sourced wood. By lunchtime a sweet smoky smell fills the restaurant as an array of smoked Eisbeins make their way to customer’s plates. Come early to avoid disappointment, limited portions are available!

kaapsehoop

Kaapsehoop (also known as Kaapsche Hoop) is a small country village situated against the Kantoorberg on the Mpumalanga Drakensberg Escarpment, 30 km west from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. The village thanks its existence to the gold rush in 1882 to the adjoining farm Berlin, which was proclaimed as the De Kaap Gold Fields. The village of Duiwel’s Kantoor spontaneously popped up on the current site, but the name was soon changed by M.W.Pretorius who was sent out by the Transvaal Government to investigate the growing gold digging activities. Upon his visit to the lookout over the De Kaap Valley he remarked that the rocks reminded him of Table Mountain and renamed the village “Kaapsche Hoop”. A succession of Mining Commissioners were stationed in the village, which created a flow of regular diggers and fortune seekers who were required to register their claims, do their daily business and spend their fortunes in the many saloons, canteens and shops. Richer findings of gold in Barberton and the Witwatersrand drew the attention of the diggers and soon the village was almost deserted for close to a 100 years.


Today the village is a sleepy residential tourist village which offers a host of accommodation and outdoor activities to tourists. Beautiful walking trails cross the mountain with the option of day trails, overnight hiking trails, horse riding, scootours and picnicking. A total of 17 km of delightful walking trails are offered to outdoor enthusiasts, permits for the trails can be bought at Bohemian. The Battery Creek waterfall is a mere 15 min walk away and is most definately one of the most beautiful waterfalls on the Lowveld Escarpment. Birdwatchers will be delighted in the abundance of rare species seen on locally guided birdwatching tours, and the Ghost Tour offers a walk through the village showcasing the interesting personalities of the past. The pristine Blue Swallow Reserve is alive with caracul, mountain rhebuck, porcupines, genet, jackal, otters and much more. Access to the Blue Swallow Reserve is on foot and requires a permit which can be obtained from Bohemian. The village is home to artists, writers, philosophers, potters, hippies, gypsies and singers - creativity seems to be infectious here. Quaint pubs, restaurants, shops and guesthouses dot the village and the chapel is used regularly for weddings and services. The Victorian cemetery dates reflect bygone hardships endured during the gold rush years, with beautiful marble tombstones silently guarding the secrets of this special mountain in the mist.

Wild Horses

Wild horses made their home here, and can be seen all around the village. Their origin remains a mystery, but they might be descendants of the domestic “Boerperd” which were used during the Anglo Boer war. They roam free and a Wild Horse Fund was established by residents to address their medical needs – donations can be made with Mariska cell 076 108 0081.