Are you curious about Cafe 1865?
It starts with people.
Without undue modesty one can say our story is really outstanding and exceptional.
We are Irina, Serge and Maria Datsenko, born in Moscow, Russia and moved to Somerset West at the end of 2022.
We have worked hard and rose from ordinary workers to top managers of leading companies. We have explored the globe, having had one passionate desire for three - to be free, happy and to live in nature, seeing the sun every day.
Through years of reflection, observation and preparation, we realized that South Africa and its beautiful southern point, Cape Town can be our harbor.
In fact, Africa always beckoned us for an inexplicable reason.
Not all who wander are lost.
Having completed our work and studies in Moscow, we bought tickets to Africa and stepped right from the snow into the sunny red land of the southernmost point of Africa.
We had never been to Cape Town before but from our first step off the plane, we felt at home. The Mother City welcomed us and introduced us to wonderful, amazing and ready to help in any way possible people who became our friends.
The team and business partners then led us along a beautiful road to our new life.
Believe in the impossible.
The dream of owning my own cafe has been in my mind for a very long time, maybe even always. Far from their homeland, people of the same nation always quickly find each other, thus fate introduced me to a wonderful chef Eugene Volkov, a fanatic of his craft who has honed his skills in the city of St. Petersburg - a mecca of culinary masterpieces throughout all the Russia and even Europe.
The idea of Wonderland was born years ago through long evenings of reading Alice’s story to my little daughter Maria.
We were absolutely passionate about discovering crazy adventures and that first book we brought to Africa.
In a charming local antique store, absolutely by coincidence, Maria grabbed the second Alice book, which confirmed our idea of naming our eatery Cafe 1865 - the year when Lewis Carroll went from being a mathematics teacher to becoming one of the world’s famous authors.
We’re all mad here.
Step into the pages of your own fairy tale at Cafe 1865.
The purpose of this flavoursome Wonderland is to serve delectable dishes, artisan breads and bold combinations made with the freshest ingredients to create a unique flavour experience.
The only promise we make to you is to always use exceptional quality, locally produced products, grown under the blissful sun of Africa and brought by the shortest route to our eatery to preserve quality and benefits.
Otherwise, let's leave room for the white rabbit to show us a curious way ahead!