02/04/2026
Sometimes, you have to close one door to be able to see the next. After 25 years of welcoming thousands of guests from all over the world, I have decided to serve our last meal on 26 April, and to close Le Bon Vivant's doors for good, so I can start looking for whatever comes next.
Le Bon Vivant has been one of the best things that has happened
@ to me in the last 25 years, and I have you to thank for that! You may remember how I arrived in Franschhoek in 2001, with the unbridled and untouchable ambition that only young chefs carry at the start of their careers. Little did I know about the challenges and the celebrations that would follow. You were there through our highs and our lows. You were there to share our love of fine food, good wine, and great company. You were there through Covid-19, when so many restaurants were struggling to keep their heads above water. Le Bon Vivant is all of you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
But I have reached a point where I want to look back, count my blessings, and move on to new horizons. That may disappoint some of you, though then again, you know me too well. You know that, while this has been one of the best things in my life, the decision to close Le Bon Vivant has also been one of the most difficult. It scares me and energises me at the same time.
There will be a new project, I have no doubt. Something to do with food, people, good times ... and bitterballen. But first, I need to settle into a life without Le Bon Vivant. Close the door, to be able to welcome you at the next.
With sincere thanks,
Pierre, Silvia, and the Le Bon Vivant team@
