Chatterbox: New café in Seychelles soon to offer meals on order from South Africa

Chatterbox is the newest cafe to open its doors in Seychelles and is venturing into ordering food from South Africa for clients. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency)

(Seychelles News Agency) - If you enjoy meals from South Africa, then a newly opened café in Seychelles is the place for you.

Chatterbox, a café that recently opened on Eden Island along the eastern coast of the main island, Mahe, will soon offer pre-ordered meals from South Africa for the first time in Seychelles.

The café is owned by Kirschlee and Marsha Naidoo.

“Your meal will be cooked early in the morning and flown out to Seychelles during the day. Customers will be able to collect their order the following day,” Kirschlee told SNA.

Kirschlee who originates from South Africa said they have already tried it and it worked well. The service will start with the launching of their website, where customers can make their order.

“This is something very exciting for us because our customers will get to choose their menu and just collect it from us.”

The café sells coffee with sandwiches, salads, desserts, cakes, waffles, ice-creams, pizzas, Italian food and Sushi as well. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Chatterbox also offers freshly-made coffee from the Illy brand, the Italian coffee roasting company specialising in the production of Espresso. The café sells between 100 and 200 coffees daily together with sandwiches, salads, desserts, cakes, waffles, ice-creams, pizzas and Italian food ranging from $5 to $15. Sushi is also available from $12 to $35.00.   

The name of the café originates from Durban in South Africa and refers to a cross-fit training gym, called a ‘box’. The Naidoo’s business partner owned one. People would come for a meal and meet up for a chat before or after gym, hence the name chatterbox.

Some of the Chatterbox team: Kirschlee Naidoo (centre) owns the business together with his wife Marsha. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

The vibrant and colourful café, with its yellow décor, is a cosy place where endless chatter is encouraged. There is no television in the establishment and use of phones is not encouraged.

“We want our clients to use their hands and mouth to talk and interact when they come in here,” said Kirschlee.

The Chatterbox concept has picked up in Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean, among gym enthusiasts who can order from a wide range of healthy meals and beverages.

The café also has dedicated an area for children, with books, snacks and beverages that would appeal to younger customers.

Wits its yellow décor, Chatterbox is a place where endless chatter is encouraged hence no television at the café. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Kirschlee, who is also a fitness trainer and nutritionist, says, “Chatterbox caters for everyone’s taste, so whether you’re eating healthy or not, we provide you with the options.” 

The Chatterbox’s approach has been welcomed by patrons like Wills Prosper, who was recently having afternoon coffee at Chatterbox for the first time.

“The staff is so friendly and always has a smile,” Prosper told SNA.

Wills Prosper having afternoon coffee at Chatterbox for the first time last week. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Lilette Chionni, who exercises in the nearby gym at Eden Plaza, finds Chatterbox the ideal place for her to get the right drink and meal as part of her fitness plan.

“I can get my protein shake and salads here, all in the right portions,” she said.

Etelle and her 12-year old daughter Fyre are also regular customers. Etelle’s only complaint was on the prices.

“I wish they would have a set price and would also have cheaper products,” she told SNA, adding there should be more cafés like Chatterbox in Seychelles.

The café also has dedicated an area for children, with books, snacks and beverages that would appeal to younger customers. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY

Kirschlee said from the responses they’ve had so far most customers find their prices reasonable. 

“We do not use cheap products, and when you look at the quality of the products and the quality of the display, I would say we are the cheapest on Eden Island.”

The café is open seven days a week.

Chatterbox caters for everyone’s taste: whether one is eating healthy or not, they are provided with the options. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency) Photo License: CC-BY