Known for creating dining spaces that are as soulful as they are stylish, Natasha Sideris has long been a global force in hospitality, her Tashas Group spanning South Africa, the UAE, and beyond. With the launch of Cafe Sofi in Cape Town’s Gardens, she and her brother Savva unveil their most personal project yet: an ode to their late mother, Sophia Electra.
This intimate new brand channels both nostalgia and innovation, weaving Sophia’s favourite dishes, sayings, and quirks into a concept that feels at once familiar and new.
Culinary Director Jill Okkers calls nostalgia “the anchor” and innovation “the bridge,” while Beverage Director Krystian Hordejuk blends comfort and curiosity in the drinks offering. Together, they’ve curated a space that balances authenticity with refinement, staying true to Sophia’s legacy while appealing to today’s guests.
Cafe Sofi is more than a restaurant — it’s a love letter to family, heritage, and memory.
Here, Savva speaks about Sophia’s influence, the inspiration behind the space, and how the Tashas Group continues to innovate while remaining deeply rooted in personal storytelling and South African hospitality.
With subtle nods to Sophia’s loves — cats, polka dots, leopard print, orchids, and dried flowers — woven into fabrics, artwork, and decorative accents, Café Sofi is officially open for bookings.
YLA: Cafe Sofi is described as an ode to your mother, Sophia Electra. Could you share a few defining qualities or memories of her that shaped the soul of this new concept?
Savva: Our mother, Sophia Electra, was a woman of beautiful contradictions: a conservative soul wrapped in eccentric packaging, an old-school romantic with an eclectic spirit.
She lived like her recipes — eclectic, irreverent, inexplicably perfect. She translated ordinary life into something magical, weaving together her Greek roots, African dreams, and a curious fascination with the wider world. Her wanderlust was both geographic and temporal: Cyprus for family and tradition, Africa for adventure, India for music and colour.
What my mom loved was writing letters and notes — which I have kept — and she would leave us notes all around the house. She would always say, “Baby Jesus, please look after my precious babies,” while falling asleep, and tell us she loved us — “Love you, Natasha mou,” “Love you, Savva mou.”
YLA: How does Cafe Sofi differ from the original Tashas experience, and in what ways does it reflect Sophia’s style or philosophy?
Savva: We always wanted to do something to honour to our mom, but we couldn’t find the right location. When we found this house, it had everything she loved — old meets new, contradiction, and character. It just felt right.
The aesthetic and size of Cafe Sofi are quite different to that of a Tashas. The menu is smaller — more focused, with a collection of our mom’s favourite dishes — from pot pie to her upside-down pineapple cake. It’s a celebration of all things classic.
YLA: How did Cape Town’s energy inform the design and ambience?
Savva: You cannot live here and not be influenced or moved by the ambience of Cape Town. Its genius lies in its refusal to choose sides: mountain or sea, township, or suburb, sacred or secular, rough or refined. The energy is a collision of things that shouldn’t work together but do. This restless energy and generous disorder became our blueprint. The ambience is nostalgic — and present tense. We designed Café Sofi as Sophia would have lived — letting contrasts coexist without explanation.
YLA: Can you tell us about any symbolic or sentimental design elements that pay tribute to Sophia?
Savva: The atmosphere is layered with references to Sophia’s life and loves — cats and polka dots, art, flowers, leopard print, beads, Pac-Man, orchids, dried flowers, and the Pink Panther. It honours her favourite things, including cakes (always cakes), Wilson 3x mints, Lata Mangeshkar on the radio, family, and toffee apples.
The interiors are a masterclass in the tension between colour and restraint.
This neighbourhood nook occupies a Victorian-style home, layered with 1960s and 1970s brutalist furniture from the time of Sophia’s prime.
YLA: What can guests expect from the menu?
Savva: The menu moves from wholesome breakfasts like spiced milk oats with maple syrup and a cheeky shot of whisky, to vibrant plates such as grilled salmon with honey-mustard dressing — dishes she made often, not just for occasions.
Each plate is a nod to Sophia’s favourites and a true reflection of comfort, honesty, and flavour. My own favourites include the rösti and beef ragu — a play on “the day after” in a nod to the perfect hangover breakfast — and the cheesy toast, which reminds me of after-school cheese toasties. And the steak roll: take everything good about a Sunday lunch and put it on a roll for Monday’s lunch — steak, horseradish crème fraîche, pickled beetroot, and watercress. A classic, perfect sandwich.
YLA: Cafe Sofi marks a new chapter for Tashas Group in South Africa. How was working with your sister on this new venture?
Savva: It’s always amazing to work alongside Tash. We do fight — just like all siblings do — but we do it to get the best results.
YLA: With your international footprint expanding, how do you ensure each concept remains deeply personal and locally resonant?
Savva: South Africa is always at the heart of everything we do — warmth and hospitality are part of our foundation. We always use the highest quality ingredients, spend time on creating comfortable interiors, curate beautiful installations and finishing details, and put a huge amount of time and energy into training and empowering our people. As Natasha always says, “This is what makes the bigger picture.” Every member of our team understands that every touchpoint matters — and that everything must reflect exceptional quality.
YLA: Launching a space in honour of a loved one must be emotional. What has the journey of creating Cafe Sofi taught you both — personally and professionally?
Savva: It has been a very emotional time. But also, a time to reflect on our beautiful mom. She always pushed us to study, taught us about the value of hard work, and was a perfectionist in everything she did — something that’s rubbed off on us. Most importantly, she taught us both about how important family is. She has moulded us into who we are today.
YLA: If Sophia were to walk into Cafe Sofi today, what do you hope she would feel?
Savva: She would probably say, “Oh my gosh, Natash and Sav… why did you spend so much money?” But then she’d also say, “I want that chair, I want that painting, I want those cups, I want, I want, I want!”
