BLACKBRICK GARDENS, the flagship Cape Town property from pioneering hotel brand BlackBrick, is proud to announce a partnership with chef and food consultant Diego Silva, founder of Bonfire Experience. Through this gastronomic collaboration, he will take on the role of F&B Partner, working closely with the team to bring two distinct dining experiences to life.
A quietly charismatic Peruvian chef with deep global roots, Diego’s approach to food draws on simplicity, seasonality and story-telling. Over the past decade, he has worked behind the scenes with some of the world’s most respected boutique food destinations – including Noma (Copenhagen), La Granja Farmhouse (Ibiza), Tulum Treehouse (Mexico), Làlia Social Club, Bar La Sang, and Mercat Tramuntana in Mallorca.
With Cape Town’s vibrant culinary landscape as his latest canvas, Diego is collaborating with the BlackBrick Gardens team to shape something quietly compelling. Set to open in October 2025, the hotel will debut two distinct dining concepts where guests can unwind, connect and engage with food in a more intentional way.
Though Arriba and Atras share a focus on high-quality, ingredient-led food, they offer two very different moods. Atras is calm and considered – a more refined, intimate setting that leans into quiet precision and elegant restraint. It’s where the details do the talking. Arriba, on the other hand, is lively and social. Think open skies, shared plates and long-table spontaneity – a laid-back space designed for connection without losing the intention behind every dish.
Diego will oversee all culinary development at BlackBrick Gardens, including seasonal menus, immersive dining experiences, along with the integration of hyper-local sourcing, sustainability and cross-cultural flavours. Together these elements will bring a new food philosophy to the Gardens property – one that ignites curiosity, fosters community and reflects a slower, more connected way of eating.
