Casa Labia, one of the Deep South’s most iconic buildings and often referred to as the ‘grande dame’ of the Southern Peninsula, is set to have new life breathed into the venue.

Antonia Labia and Count Natale Labia, along with Schuyler Vorster of Ideas Cartel, have announced an exciting new partnership to reinvigorate Casa Labia.

Situated at 192 Main Road, St James, the venue has a longstanding Italian and South African heritage which dates back to the 1920s.

The majestic old lady will undergo an extensive refurb in order to reopen within the Ideas Cartel ecosystem as a members’ club and restaurant as soon as the ending of lockdown allows it.

Ideas Cartel, as a premium operator of members’ clubs, restaurants, and hotels in the City of Cape Town, is excited about this growth opportunity into a part of the city where they haven’t yet established a presence, but always wanted to reach.

Having already had immense success in and around the Cape Town CBD, with three separate locations (71 Waterkant, 113 Loop Street, and The Old Foundry), Casa Labia is an extension of their business that continues to promote an underlying desire to connect people and their purpose.

What’s crucial about the Ideas Cartel model is that one membership grants you access to all of the locations, meaning you’ll be able to choose whether to work from the city, or next to the beach, as you please.

I’m sure you wouldn’t hold it against me if I chose this as my office for the day now and again…

Here’s Antonia Labia:

“Casa Labia was originally built by our grandfather, Prince Natale Labia, as the Italian Ambassador’s residence and private family home for his wife, Ida Robinson and their two sons, Luccio and Joseph.

After the death of his parents, our father, Count Luccio Labia, had a vision for the building to exist as a vibrant and dynamic cultural centre for the Cape Town community, drawing on all the best of Italy and South Africa.

In 2010 we realised this dream by setting up the privately run Casa Labia Cultural Centre which ran successfully as a unique and popular venue in Cape town in which to enjoy musical concerts, lectures, poetry readings and art classes.

As a family we have decided the time has come for a reinvention and we are extremely excited to inject a new sense of life and vitality into the building. Ideas Cartel is the perfect commercial management partner with which to do this,” says Antonia.

For Ideas Cartel, this partnership allows them to continue connecting influential people and powerful ideas, as they currently do through their lockdown-approved online community events.

These events allow the sharing of knowledge and value with high profile socialites, business leaders, and other influential speakers across an array of topics such as leadership, investment, and health and wellness.    

Schuyler Vorster, the founder of Ideas Cartel, had the following to say:

“Under lockdown restrictions, we’ve been limited in our ability to connect in physical spaces with community members, although our digital interactions have continued to flourish with our Cartel Connect Online membership.

This partnership with Casa Labia brings us so much excitement for the future, when we can once again bring people together to share perspectives, ideas and casual conversation in an inspiring, historic setting.”

Part of the reopening will be a comprehensive refurbishment to ensure that the members’ club is able to deliver a world-class culinary and entertainment experience. The project will be phased with the first phase seeing a restaurant and members’ club complete with a gym.

Further renovations will then be initiated in order to recreate the original residential layout of the house with ten en suite bedrooms and swimming pool for an upmarket boutique hotel offering. The venue will continue to be available to hire for events, film and photo shoots.

Before the official opening, slated for late 2020, there will be a number of dinners hosted by celebrity chefs, with the meals delivered to patrons in the area.

You’ll find all of the details on the Ideas Cartel membership here, and a line-up of the Cartel Connect events here.