Welcome to Ëlgr Restaurant

“ Always love coming here, the atmosphere is amazing and very stylish. The food is made to share your platters, so you can try a few different dishes, amazing quality. Also very good wine selection and the service is great. ”

“ AMAZING cocktails, amazing food, amazing service. Such unique flavours and combos, what an experience. Slightly pricey for locals but SO worth it. What an incredible evening. ”

“ Elgr is one of my all time favourites. Moody without being too moody, sophisticated without being pretentious, and somehow both forest calm and city cool. The sage greens, charcoal tones and soft foliage look straight off someone’s Pinterest board. The open kitchen blends into the slightly mysterious atmosphere beautifully. And the cocktails… Elgr’s bar team doesn’t mix drinks, they compose them. Every drink feels curated and intentional. Their food menu is globally inspired, beautifully plated, and made for sharing, perfect for a first date. Which brings me to why I was here. You know those Hinge matches where it could either vibe or be a spectacular disaster? That was the energy. He also casually said he’s a “snacker” while I’m a very open “eater”. But CSI Paige logic kicked in: tapas = snacks = food. Perfect middle ground. So I suggested Elgr (genius of me). Kloof Street was moody and cinematic when I arrived. Jose, the doorman, instantly made me feel calmer, he always does. I saw my date and thankfully, no catfishing detected. Things instantly felt promising. When he suggested we share six plates, my soul ascended. Our waitress, Shanice, had the warmest energy. She explained every dish like someone who has opinions, and I loved that. First cocktails arrived, my Spring Tea came in a tiny jug and was light, refreshing and nostalgic, like a Cape Town summer in a glass. The plates landed and my faith in humanity was restored. The burrata was creamy with bright lemon, mint and bergamot. The croutons were buttery perfection. It needed a touch more seasoning, but flaky sea salt fixed that. The blood orange and Belnori cheese salad was a total surprise, refreshing, sharp, sweet, sexy. Then the negronis arrived (hydration!) and they slapped. Two beautifully dark plates followed. The beetroot salad with goat’s cheese and pistachio was delicious, though I wished the beetroot was slightly sweeter. Still solid. Then the showstopper: the raw beef dish. One of the best tartare style plates I’ve had. Tender beef, bright dill and sour cream, crunchy potato crisp, and trout roe popping like tiny fireworks. Mr Raw Beef could definitely get a second date. For the final course, we ordered smoked apricot sours, my favourite drink of the night. Warm, smoky, bright, caramelised, dangerous in the best way. And, of course, you can’t go to Elgr without getting a pizza. We chose the kale, oyster mushroom and hazelnut pizza with cucumber salad. The pizza was dramatic and gorgeous with a smoky, blistered crust. The topping combo made complete sense on the palate, salty kale, meaty mushrooms, earthy hazelnuts. The cucumber salad was the perfect palate reset and genuinely a hidden gem. Overall, such a fantastic evening. Elgr proves again why it’s one of my top Kloof Street favourites. Stylish, intimate, reliable, and always hitting the brief. The cocktails are memorable, the food consistently brilliant, and Shanice tied everything together. You leave full, happy, floaty, and ready for whatever comes next. It’s the kind of place that makes a Hinge date feel cinematic. Thank you Elgr, till next time! ”