Following on from their amazing success in Victoria Falls The Three Monkeys restaurant has recently opened a new branch in Harare – great news for foodies and families. The Victoria Falls branch was awarded four and a half points out of a possible five by the international travel experts, TripAdvisor, so you know that they’re highly recommended. The Harare branch, which opened at the end of April this year, has so far only received a few reviews, although you can expect the same great dining experience.
The Victoria Falls branch is partially under a huge canvas awning giving it a great informal indoor/outdoor atmosphere – perfectly suited to the laid back atmosphere of the resort town. The Harare venue is sophisticated and elegant but still maintains a relaxed ambiance and the same indoor/outdoor feel. The structure has a large wrap around verandah as well as a spacious outdoor deck at the front for al fresco dining – weather permitting. The teak floor from inside the restaurant continues out on to the deck so that when the folding aluminium and glass doors are fully opened it feels like one continuous space.
Blinds and Designs have installed roll down blinds on the deck which are semi-transparent and help to block the wind and the rain when the weather is not so great. The blinds can also be dropped down in the evenings, and together with gas heaters, they ensure the deck stays cosy on crisp winter nights.
The deck floor level steps down a little to create two different dining areas and to ensure that the people sitting outside don’t block the view of the diners inside. The interior floor and the deck are slightly raised above ground level to enhance the sightlines to the outside. The teak floors and decking and the teak doors and frames were supplied by Balzar Trading.
There’s a great view of the dam and the gardens in front which has been enhanced by the architectural design to take full advantage of the outlook. Right from the entrance you can see through the restaurant to the beautifully landscaped gardens so it draws in diners immediately and sets the atmosphere for a great dining experience. The design of The Three Monkeys was in part inspired by the Lookout Café in Victoria Falls (designed by Architectural Planning Studio) which is all about the view. Even the balustrades at the front of the deck facing the dam are particularly delicate so as not to impede the view. The balustrades are made from steel cables set in black steel uprights which have a slightly nautical feel. The balustrades at the front were supplied by local company Ironlife.
Hennie Jordaan from Henning’s Nursery worked extensively on the landscaping and also supplied the huge potted plants on the east side separating the verandah from the paved walkway and car park. The dam was created a few years ago as part of the grand master plan for the site so the plants and birdlife are already well established. There’s a delightful paved path around the dam so diners can enjoy a leisurely pot prandial stroll. Bruce Rowlands from Achitexture Spatial Design started working on the master plan together with the owners of Honeydew Lifestyle Centre in around 2015 so it’s been quite a long and gradual process to get to where they are today. The restaurant was always planned to be built overlooking the dam.
Before construction on the site could begin it was necessary to put down deep piles and ground beams as the black cotton soil expands in the rainy season and contracts when its dry. The piling was done by Pile Africa to ensure that the structure remains stable. Construction by Skillfish started in June 22 and the restaurant was fully fitted out and ready to open in April this year.
The architectural design of the restaurant is a fairly simple steel skeleton, supplied and installed by Agristructures, filled in with red, unplastered face brick – in keeping with the other structures in the complex. The high Chromadek roof with an east facing glassed in gable end also fits in with the other existing buildings giving the whole complex a slightly rustic and industrial look. The high roof has exposed black steel trusses and a tongue and groove ceiling which helps to make the interior feel light and airy. The east facing glass gable end and a few scattered skylights allow the space to be filled with natural light throughout the day and enhances the indoor/outdoor feel.
The restaurant structure was designed by Gemma Temlett for Architexture Spatial Design with Geoff van der Ruit from Skillfish Enterprises as the main contractor. The interior design was done by the South African firm White Thread Interiors with Temlett assisting with some of the implementation and the technical drawings for the suspended metal work over the bar, the wine storage and the shelf unit across the big window into the kitchen. Work on the interior design started in October last year – drawing up the specifications and deciding on details – so by the time the construction was done it was fairly quick and easy to complete the plans. The interior has a lot of black details in the steel beams and the light fittings creating a modern, sophisticated industrial look against the brick work and the extensive use of timber. There’s also a dramatic, big, black chandelier over the front foyer that makes the entrance more imposing and emphasises the roof height. A feature wall has wallpaper with a lush tropical foliage design that emphasises the outdoor feel and complements the exterior landscaping. The bar has a green marble countertop that adds a touch of sophisticated elegance. The pillars along the front verandah deck and the columns at the entrance are lit up at night to accentuate the structure.
Most of the interior finishes, apart from some feature tiles and the wallpaper, were locally sourced, making the design very durable and unfussy. The Three Monkeys restaurant management were also quite involved during the design and construction specifying how the kitchen and the back of house should be set up as well as the positioning of the bar and the wine room.
Both the management of Honeydew Lifestyle Centre and The Three Monkeys restaurant have a special family friendly policy. The restaurant has a kiddies’ menu to cater for younger diners and there’s a playground in front (with a child minder) for children to amuse themselves while their parents are eating. The playground is visible from the deck so parents can keep an eye on their children and make sure they’re safe and happy. Temlett has included a baby changing room with an easy to use baby changing table. The changing room can be accessed by both Mums and Dads helping to share the child care load.
The main entrance to the restaurant is quite impressive with a decked walkway leading from the parking space and a high portico sheltering the front door. Zambezi Roots supplied the unique handrail made from a twisty tree trunk – the same as the trees in the dam – so there’s a flavour of the outdoor appeal right from the start. There’s a simple teak lectern at the entrance for the host or hostess to greet diners as they arrive – just a little extra touch to make your dining experience more memorable. There’s also a big cut out sign at the entrance that’s backlit at night which reads ‘I ‘heart’ Zim – emphasising the local flavour of the place. In Victoria Falls there’s a similar sign that says ‘I ‘heart’ Vic Falls so it follows on from the original theme and links the two restaurants together.
The restaurant can get quite busy so it’s advisable to book.
It’s situated at the Honeydew Lifestyle Centre, 16 Greendale Avenue in Harare.
Call: 071 693 8368
Website: 3monkeys.co.zw – you check out their menu before you arrive.
-text by Michael Nott
-photos by Fotohaus and Gemma Temlett
-plans courtesy of Architexture Spatial Design
