Reading Time: 2 min On a rainy afternoon in early winter, I headed to Cape Town from the Winelands, and by the time I reached the Constantia valley it was pouring rain from all sides. I know what you are thinking – what can be more cosy than a rainy winter afternoon? Pair that with hearty food, wine and good company, and you’ve got a winner at Steenberg Bistro Sixteen82. From the moment you step into the Sixteen82 bistro, you are immediately taken in by the minimalist decor with the fireplace as centerpiece. My brother and his fiancee, who recently got engaged after dating for 11 years, joined ..read more

Reading Time: 2 min Need a few mixers and snacks before your night out? End of the month and low on cash? Or just a plain sucker for a bargain? The new Foodeez store in Stellenbosch will have you sorted with their incredibly low priced goods!  Stocking products from many well known South African brands, as well as some imported products (a Tessa top tip: The Fox cookies, nachos and Starbucks coffee pods are a win), Foodeez will have you stocked up from your pantry to your spice rack!  A bit of background:  Foodeez is a small chain of discount grocery outlets in the Western and ..read more

Reading Time: 5 min ICYMI – it’s National Pizza Day! At 9Lives we simply can’t resist the opportunity to indulge and support some of our old favourite (and new-found) pizza kings in Stellenbosch. If you think about it, the list could go on forever. But since we spend most of our time indoors now, it seemed appropriate to see what we can find on UberEats and just how well they eat at home. For all of us, it was love at first bite. So without further adough – here are some of our favourite pizzas to celebrate this very fine day: Caré – First Base Although First Base got introduced to Stellenbosc ..read more

Reading Time: 3 min The 9Lives team paid a visit to the Spice Route Destination in Paarl during the break from nationwide sobriety at the end of 2020. Supporting your favorite local wineries and tourist destinations might not be as easy now as it was back then. That should not stop anyone from supporting our local tourist industry, in compliance with Covid-19 security measures, of course.  For that matter, it also shouldn’t stop you from making a wine bucket list to experience once the second alcohol ban gets lifted. We took it upon ourselves to compile a list of wines definitely worth tr ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minHistory and Wine Pairing at Muratie Wine Estate I found myself making my way to Muratie Wine Estate at the start of December. I have heard of its accolades and its vintage flair, but what I found nestled in the Knorhoek Valley profoundly exceeded every expectation I had for this wine farm.  Being a very sentimental person and preferring my wines paired with a great backstory or a touch of history, I found Muratie Wine Estate to be a perfect match for my preferences as it is a time capsule of sorts (you can read more about this personal preference here). The rich history ..read more

Reading Time: 5 min I love the concept of date night, and I know what you are thinking… Elené, you have been married for all of five minutes and already you are looking for a change of scenery. To me, that is not exactly what date night is about, or why we decided to go on an adventure to Leeu Estate Franschhoek. Spending time away from the mundane routine of your home is both necessary and exciting, and my absolute favourite thing about being married at the moment. Don’t get me wrong, our small two-bedroom home just outside of Stellenbosch is my happy place. It’s an absolute sanctuary and I w ..read more

Reading Time: 4 min I consider gifting a gesture of thankfulness and appreciation, and therefore I will always search for something that gives me that “a-ha” moment when I see it. As gifting has many actions to it, it’s even more special when people receive something that has been tailor picked by you, and what can be more hand-picked than a coffee gift guide?  That being said, coffee lovers are a diverse lot, but the love from one aficionado to another is ever so strong. Also, never have I met a mild coffee lover – it’s completely coffee crazy or nothing. My gift guide was, of course, in ..read more

Reading Time: 3 min Hey there, I’m Liezel and I am a foodie. I spend shameful amounts on cookbooks and crockery, and I actually have to avoid farmer’s markets and deli stores for fear of blowing my salary completely. Sound like someone you know? Then this might be a good guide on the perfect local gifts to get them for Christmas. Here are a few of my favourite locally produced, delectable treats that can actually be found on my kitchen shelves. Cape Mediterranean: The Way We Love to Eat by Ilse van der Merwe R380, luuks.shopstar.co.za Ilse van der Merwe is a Stellenbosch-based foodie and one o ..read more

Reading Time: 7 min Summer is upon us, as well as a lightened curfew and more daylight time for activities. What better way to celebrate this newfound freedom than with some wine in a can? From picnics, hikes and even music festivals, they are perfect for your on-the-go adventure. They are easy to transport, a perfect portion size for one or to share, quick to chill, recyclable and the design is aesthetically pleasing enough to fit into any photo op. This is truly where convenience and quality meet.  The 9Lives team reviewed some of the most popular wine in a can options currently availab ..read more

Reading Time: 4 min What do we want? Craft beers! When do we want it? Now! Even though the weather in Cape Town is still a bit confused about it being Spring already, at 9Lives we are definitely ready to trade our red-wine-by-the-fire evenings for ice cold beers and a braai in the sun. It was for a recent office braai where Elené and I went on a witch hunt for some of the coolest, prettiest and most interesting looking beers we could find. Because we judged the beer by its covers, we were very keen to hear what everyone at the office, especially the guys, thought of our selections. Caré Darlin ..read more