Sophisticated private event space in Gardens

Bespoke menus, wine pairings, and timeless interiors

Last updated: Tuesday, 26 May 2026

This 100-year-old house is the secret to an event that your guests will be talking about for ages. Auslese, which serves wine and food with as much fine dining finesse as its sister restaurant Aubergine, makes for classy birthday parties, board meetings followed by chenin blanc tastings in the wine cellar, or team dinners with canapés on the terrace.

Auslese is closed for their annual winter break from 29 May and will open again on 25 June 2026. 

The Auslese building was restored with respect to its history. Image: Auslese

EVENTS IN A BEAUTIFUL 100-YEAR-OLD HOUSE

Auslese is the event venue extension of Aubergine, the restaurant by Chef Harald Bresselschmidt with a sterling 30-year reputation for “fine dining without the hocus pocus”. It serves refined dishes that focus on five or six key ingredients without the pomp of fine dining.

Just a four-minute walk from Aubergine, Auslese is a wine and food pairing venue based in a 100-year-old Cape building with restored wooden floors and teak ceilings.

The decor is neutral and fully customisable. Image: Auslese

VENUE FOR SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS

Auslese’s core offering, a sit-down meal for up to 36 guests at one long table, is well-suited for elegant birthday parties, from a 21st to an 80th. The impressive wine cellar can also fit up to 15 guests for a chenin blanc tasting, a cheese buffet, or a glass of port after dinner.

For a recent 60th party with a ‘60s theme, Auslese was decorated with pop art celebrity images and vinyl place mats, and the menu was tailored to the guest of honour’s favourite dishes. Chef Harald even served a bottle of wine from the birth year of the birthday person.

Auslese was transformed for a ‘60s-themed 60th birthday party. Image: Auslese

FOR LAUNCHES, CORPORATE DINNERS

Food and wine pairings are not the only offerings at Auslese – it also has screens and equipment for corporate functions, board meetings and guest speaker presentations, which are followed by lunch or dinner. The terrace can also be used if the weather permits.

It has hosted wine launches, where wine is presented and paired with canapés, and a beer tasting for the Belgian embassy; the Auslese team even built a Belgian beer station.

Guests enjoy the outdoor spaces when the weather permits. Image: Auslese

EXTENSIVE WINE COLLECTION IN THE CELLAR

Auslese’s very extensive wine collection is housed in an impressive maturation cellar. Built with mountain sandstone from Lesotho and windows from the old Cape Town train station, it includes a variety of foreign wines like Champagnes, Riesling, Rhone, Burgundies and Bordeauxs.

The collection also has a number of South African vintages, like the 1998 Kanonkop Paul Sauer, an incredibly rare wine that can only be bought at auctions. Auslese’s wine pairings are often themed, showcasing a single producer or favourites from a certain country.

A South African-themed pairing may include springbok loin paired with Sons of Sugarland by Reenen Boman Syrah 2022, or hake and octopus with Trizanne Signature Wines 'The Search' White Blend 2022.

The cellar can accommodate 15 people for wine tastings or cheese buffets. Image: Auslese

FINE-DINING QUALITY EVENT CATERING

The food pairings are pure Aubergine. Everything is prepped by Chef Harald and his team at the main restaurant before being moved over to the Auslese kitchen to be finished and served.

Whether it’s a three-course winter menu featuring a hearty lamb shank or a more elaborate four-course pairing, the focus remains on seasonal, organic ingredients, with vegetables coming from Aubergine’s garden in Stellenbosch.

The menus are bespoke and exceptionally flexible, catering to vegan, vegetarian, kosher (order in), and halaal-friendly requests with the same level of fine-dining finesse.

Auslese serves the same cuisine that has a 30-year reputation for its quality at Aubergine. Image: Auslese

HOW IT WORKS (AND WHAT IT COSTS)

The process starts with a conversation, and ideally a site visit. Once Chef Harald and his team understand what you want, they will build out a menu and a quote.

A three-course dinner starts from around R725 per person and wine can be served according to your budget. The venue hire is R2 200.

The built-in sound system means that guests can choose their own playlist, and there is also space for a DJ, dance floor, or even live musicians.

The menus are bespoke and exceptionally flexible. Image: Auslese

BOOK AN EVENT AT AUSLESE

Auslese will tailor everything to the most specific taste, even down to the decor and music, for incredible and unforgettable events.

Auslese is open: Available for private bookings
Find it: 115 Hope Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Contact: 021 461 9727; info@auslese.co.za, or www.auslese.co.za 

By Sharon Waugh

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SEE MORE DINING AND EVENTS

Here’s more about Aubergine, Cape Town’s fine dining gem. 

Apart from dinners, we’ve got team-building activities for every budget. 

Check out these cool function venues in Cape Town.

There’s plenty of things to do this week(end) in Cape Town.

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