The Story
The Story
How Three Friends Redefined Cape Town’s Dining Scene
How Three Friends Redefined Cape Town’s Dining Scene
Founding Vision
Paolo Carrara, Anthony Protoulis and Nikolas Tiftikidis agreed on a shared ambition—to build a collection of curated dining venues in Cape Town where each restaurant offers a unique culinary concept, yet all benefit from exceptional design, service and operational quality.
Brand Launch & Concept Development
The name “PAN” draws from the first initials of Paolo (P), Anthony (A), and Nikolas (N), signifying their equal partnership and unified vision.
First Venues
The group launched standout restaurants including Burger & Lobster and Iron Steak & Bar, establishing PAN’s reputation for accessible yet elevated dining experiences.
Expansion of Concepts
PAN introduced fresh formats—Hacienda Coastal Mexican brought coastal-Mexican flair; Scala Pasta / Bar celebrated handmade pasta; Yatai Ramen Bar delivered Japanese street-food elevated; and Nikkei Japanese Peruvian showcased rich fusion of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine.
Latest Growth (2024-2025)
With the opening of Maru Korean Steakhouse and other venues in premium locations, PAN reinforced its status as a leading multi-brand hospitality group in Cape Town, committed to innovation, quality and guest-first experiences.
Today & Future
Under the leadership of the three directors, PAN continues to explore new cuisines, elevate design and hospitality standards, and engage talented teams—always with the aim of delivering distinctive dining experiences across its portfolio.
Paolo Carrara
Paolo Carrara
Managing Partner
With a background in business science and a formative connection to family-owned hospitality in Italy, Paolo Carrara brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative spirit to PAN Collection Hospitality. Early in his career he shifted from finance into restaurant operations, driven by a passion for environment and experience over spreadsheets.
He has led concept creation, brand vision and launch execution for a number of PAN’s signature venues, bringing design-forward dining, locally-sourced quality ingredients and memorable guest experiences to Cape Town.
Paolo’s strength lies in spotting culinary opportunities, forging partnerships with leading chefs, and ensuring each venue retains its distinct identity while delivering on the group’s overarching standards.
Anthony Protoulis
Anthony Protoulis
Managing Partner
Anthony Protoulis is a seasoned hospitality executive whose operational expertise underpins the success of PAN Collection Hospitality’s multi-venue portfolio. With deep roots in Cape Town’s restaurant industry, Anthony has established rigorous service frameworks, operational protocols and team-cultures that allow each venue to run smoothly and deliver consistent excellence.
His focus on guest journey, staff training, quality assurance and cost-control ensures that PAN’s ambitious concepts are executed reliably.
Anthony bridges big-vision concepts with dependable day-to-day delivery.
Nikolas Tiftikidis
Nikolas Tiftikidis
Managing Partner
Nikolas Tiftikidis brings strategic brand-development, investment acumen and growth leadership to PAN Collection Hospitality. With a track-record in scaling hospitality ventures and forming strategic alliances, Nikolas helps take concepts from launch to sustainable growth.
He focuses on market positioning, expansion planning, venue branding, and long-term business sustainability—ensuring that PAN’s restaurants not only open with impact, but also evolve, innovate and thrive in competitive hospitality markets.
Join Us For The Adventure
