The Story Behind Urban Playground: How It All Started
Urban Playground wasn’t born from a business plan – it was born from survival, passion, and the belief that real food and real people always find their way to each other.
When Covid-19 hit, the world stood still. Our tenant at the time returned to Mozambique, and the small space in Maitland, the very first space we bought 23 years ago during our years of high-end catering, suddenly stood empty. At that point, our focus was on Sense of Taste Chef School, so the space had been rented out for many years. But Covid forced us all to rethink, reshape, and rebuild.
One day, Chef Peter and Chef B looked at Debs and said, “Let’s open a little restaurant.” The answer was a very firm hell no, but in true Urban Playground fashion, that didn’t last long. Something sparked. A tiny idea grew legs. And before we knew it, we were knee-deep in rubble, paint, and power tools, renovating the entire space ourselves.
From Roadside Pick-Up to Cosy, Edgy Eatery
Urban Playground began as a simple pick-up-and-go concept. With lockdowns in place, it was the perfect roadside collection point, right where the Chef’s Table now sits. It wasn’t glamorous, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but it was honest. And that honesty is still what defines us today.
As restrictions eased, people began asking if they could sit down, stay a while, and share a meal. Slowly, the take-away window transformed into a cosy, personal little restaurant. The growth was organic, fueled by word-of-mouth, local support, and incredible diversity. Young and old, locals and international visitors, people from different backgrounds and cultures, all found their way to this edgy skateboard-graffiti space we now lovingly call our “Boujee in Maitland.”
This authenticity didn’t go unnoticed. Urban Playground won the Cape Town Tourism Award for Best Hidden Gem in both 2024 and 2025, solidifying its place as one of Cape Town’s most unique culinary destinations.
A Restaurant That Gives Back: Training Future Chefs
Urban Playground is more than just great food, it’s a purpose. We run a four-year internship program that selects motivated candidates from disadvantaged communities who dream of becoming chefs. Each candidate goes through a careful selection process to ensure they’re committed and ready to grow.
These interns receive:
- A structured four-year training program
- All exams and practical assessments
- The same qualification earned by our two-year diploma students
- Full-time work experience at Urban Playground
- A monthly stipend
- Inclusion in the staff tip system
- Full uniforms
They become part of our family. They cook with us, grow with us, and discover careers they may never have believed were possible.
Cook. Eat. Love. That’s Our Mantra.
Our style is a playful take on global street food, bold flavours, honest cooking, and no pretence. Whether you sit at a table or at the Chef’s Table (the best seat in the house), you experience every sizzle, shout, laugh, and hustle inside the kitchen. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s ridiculously fun.
Urban Playground has always been, and will always be, a space built on passion. A space where food brings people together. A space where chefs are made, dreams are built, and community matters.
