Chef Marcus Gericke has left Eat Out two-starred restaurant Chorus to embark on a new culinary chapter – taking the helm at Urchin Restaurant. Under his vision, Urchin has been completely reimagined as an honest expression of the Western Cape’s culinary heritage. The establishment, located within the Hyatt Regency Cape Town, occupies a prime position in the Mother City’s luxury hospitality landscape.  

Marcus brings exceptional credentials to his new role – he was recognised as Global Chef Africa & Middle East 2022–23, awarded the Fine Dining Lovers Food for Thought prize for his dish Remembrance (Quail Consommé) at the San Pellegrino Young Chef Academy 2020–21, and crowned South African Chef of the Year 2024. His departure from Chorus represents a significant shift in Cape Town’s culinary landscape, as he channels his world-class expertise into celebrating local terroir and heritage. 

“Urchin has always been about connection to source,” says Marcus. “This season, we have evolved the menu to tell a deeper story of the Western Cape through dishes that hold a sense of place, memory and the people behind every ingredient.” 

Chef Marcus Gericke

His commitment to authentic storytelling through cuisine led Marcus and his team on a 1 627km journey across the Western Cape. This resulted in the creation of Journey, a nine-course menu that pays homage to the road trip that shaped the menu. They travelled from Kalk Bay’s fishing docks to the Karoo plains, along the Garden Route and through Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap. This extensive research involved conversations with farmers, butchers and home cooks, uncovering the traditions and seasonal wisdom that define the region. 

“This tasting menu is our way of honouring that journey – a homegrown celebration brought to life by my team and me. It is crafted in close collaboration with the farmers and butchers who sustain us, and shaped by the stories, landscapes and flavours that have inspired us along the way,” explains Marcus. 

Urchin now offers two distinct dining experiences. The first is the signature Journey menu, featuring dishes like snoek with mebos and curry leaf, flame-grilled Karoo lamb chops paired with a rich tomato bredie sauce, and malva pudding with sago and custard. The second is the Navigator Menu, which offers a more relaxed experience in an à la carte format. It’s inspired by specific Cape Town areas like Kalk Bay, Elgin, and District Six, and features menu highlights such as cured fish with avocado and spring onion, slow-cooked egg with sweet potato, and warm malva pudding with brown-butter custard. 

The restaurant’s dining room features large-scale photographs from the team’s Western Cape trip, while the wine selection deepens the expression of local terroir. Each course champions sustainable sourcing and plant-based elements, positioning Urchin as both an exceptional dining experience and a celebration of the Western Cape’s rich culinary heritage. 

The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6pm to 10:00pm. Reservations can be made via their website.