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From faded church to Melville’s pink playground
By day, Yanni Briel works as a national visual merchandiser for a sports company, designing interiors for cycling and golf stores. Captivated by the diversity, art, and historic charm of Melville, the Carletonville-born and Free State-raised Briel moved to the neighbourhood. Each day for five years, he’d drive past the old church, his creative mind buzzing with ideas for its transformation. Eventually, he decided to take the leap and acquire the building. Though it was rundown – bare, with red-painted walls and two mismatched chandeliers – Briel saw its potential.
While the interior saw plenty of changes, one of the more painstaking renovations was the church’s exterior walls. From accidental all-white coats to terracotta mishaps and even a short-lived "ice-cream pink" phase, getting the signature pink just right was no small feat. Briel went through three rounds of painting before landing on the perfect hue. With community input and plenty of persistence, the iconic pink of the building finally came to life, as part of two months of careful work that made every wall, trim, and detail shine, marking the first big turnaround in the building’s full renovation.
Photo: Die Pienk Kerk.
With renovations nearly complete, it was time to choose a name. "I wanted to call it maybe Chapel Brew, and then the Cornerstone, and then the Chapel. There were so many names, but the kind of reference in the church was important in the name," Briel recalls. But then a neighbour casually said, “Ag, Die Pink Kerk (The Pink Church)," and just like that, it clicked. Briel loved the literal simplicity, the nod to the building's past, and the fact that it had a nice ring to it. And so, Die Pienk Kerk was born: a name as playful and unmistakable as the building itself.
Launched in October 2025, Die Pienk Kerk made its Melville debut to a crowd of 80 enthusiastic guests, undeterred by the rainy weather. Now a restaurant and coffee shop, it’s the colourful, whimsical space Melville never knew it needed – brought to life by someone who saw beyond the faded paint and bare walls to the magic underneath.
Die Pienk Kerk: A whimsical Melville wonderland
You know you’ve arrived somewhere special when you’re greeted by a bright pink church trimmed in white, complete with a fountain that adds a touch of glamour. Walking into Die Pienk Kerk feels a bit like tumbling down Alice’s rabbit hole if Wonderland had brunch. The space blends old-school charm with modern whimsy: sculptural geese hang from the ceiling, a bunny or rooster makes an appearance on a bookshelf or table, and everything feels perfectly out of the ordinary. Soft piano music drifts through the space, mingling with the gentle trickle of the fountain to create an atmosphere of calm escapism. As Briel put it, "I want people to sit here, have a drink, just unwind.”
For the love of food: What's on the menu
Briel’s unadultered love of food is the beating heart of Die Pienk Kerk. "I’m not a trained chef," he tells us, "I just really, really love food." Despite his lack of formal training in the space, Briel is no stranger to the restaurant world, having previously run the Italian eatery, Glass, in the Free State. His travels inspire the internationally flavoured menu, filled with dishes he’s tasted from New York, Mexico, and Asia, and recreated back home. What also sets Briel apart is his insistence on authenticity; every sauce, glaze, and drizzle is made from scratch in the kitchen. “You won’t buy anything, you’ll make it from scratch. That’s why maybe our food takes a bit longer than 25 minutes, because it’s made,” he explains. “So they have to make the cheese sauce, they have to make the pepper sauce. Everything gets made; it’s not like we’re opening and heating. That’s not what I like, so everything is authentic here.” The menu is small but thoughtful, featuring breakfasts like Eggs Benedict and shakshuka, a few pastas and sandwiches, and hearty mains such as the beloved Die Pienk Kerk steak and honey-lime chicken with sticky jasmine rice. The menu will change every few months, just enough to keep regulars (and their taste buds) on their toes.
as seen with the Smoky Joe Burger. Photo: Die Pienk Kerk.
We couldn’t resist the popular Smoky Joe Burger, built on Briel’s great-grandmother’s red beef patty recipe. A sweet, sticky balsamic glaze adds depth, while homemade spicy mayo and caramelised onions bring the perfect balance. Served with thick-cut, wedge-like chips dusted in flavour-packed seasoning, it’s the kind of burger that lingers in your memory long after you leave Die Kerk.
There’s no fixed dessert menu here, just ask the friendly wait staff what’s baking that day. During our visit, the choices were cheesecake or carrot cake. We went for the carrot cake, and it didn’t disappoint: moist, lightly spiced with cinnamon and ginger, and sweet enough to tempt you into a second slice.
We'll be hard-pressed not to repeat our original order on our return, but we're looking forward to trying out more of what this characterful spot has to offer.
Stay a while: A creative space
The open and mismatched seating and relaxed setup make it easy to linger. Out back, the aptly named pink courtyard awaits – its walls and blooms all blushing in the same rosy hue. Once you leave the pink courtyard, browse the mini gift shop on your right for fragrant soaps, candles, diffusers, and stylish knick-knacks, a charming satellite store of Newlands vintage merchants, Trouvé.
Tumbling further down the rabbit hole, you’ll also find a mini art gallery at Die Pienk Kerk. Small but cleverly curated, it showcases stunning work by local artists and hosts exhibitions like Karoo Gothic. All pieces are for sale and rotate regularly, so there’s always something new to discover with each visit.
Beyond its pink façade and quirky charm, Die Pienk Kerk has created jobs for local staff (15 at the time of writing, and growing) and stirred curiosity across the neighbourhood. Through art exhibitions and live performances, Briel intends to make the restaurant a central gathering place for the community. Where once locals worried the building might fall into disrepair or be abandoned, they now marvel at its revival. For many, it’s more than a restaurant; it’s a symbol of creativity, community pride, and the enduring spirit of Melville. A century after its first congregation gathered beneath these beams, Die Pienk Kerk is once again a house of communion.
Plan your visit: Die Pienk Kerk opening hours and location
Open Tue – Wed from 07:00 – 18:00, Thu – Sat from 07:00 – 22:00, Sun from 08:00 – 16:00. Closed on Mon.Find Die Pienk Kerk at 24 Chatou Road, Melville.
Contact the restaurant on +27 63 693 6415 for bookings.
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