About Us

Fusion of Food, Folks, and Fun

Malelani is a Greek and European style café with South African roots. The Drakopoulos family emigrated from Johannesburg to the United States in 1997 and worked in the restaurant business in New Jersey. In 2004 Dimitri decided to open his first café, Wraptures Beach Bistro, a breakfast and lunch spot in Ventnor.

After a trip back to South Africa in 2008, his son George returned. Inspired by the beauty of Kruger National Park and Malelane “The Place of the Palms”, George wanted to collaborate on a venue that reflected the vibrant colors and flavors of his Greek heritage with the Euro feel of Johannesburg’s cafés. They opened their second location, Malelani Café, in Atlantic City in 2010, which was relocated to Longport in 2019 as a seasonal venue.

With that success, George sought a year-round locale. He looked for a growing neighborhood with strong ties to cultural, social, and artistic communities. He established his Philadelphia location in the beautiful and diverse neighborhood of Mt. Airy in 2014. The café is now a gathering place not only for delicious food, but for the exciting ideas and creative expression that are hallmarks of our unique neighborhood. As he likes to say, “I didn’t choose Mt. Airy; Mt. Airy chose me.”

Then, through the café’s open mic and events, George met his new partner, Dexter Myers. A recent graduate from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree, Dexter moved to the Mt. Airy/Philadelphia area in 2016 and developed a passion for food and music, thanks in large part to George and Malelani Café. George recognized that Dexter brought passion and excellence to everything he did, so he decided to bring him on as a partner. Together, they strive to bring the absolute best to everyone who walks through their doors.

A Message from the Owner
"I'd like to offer a warm and heartfelt thank you to our customers and neighbors. Our South African Mediterranean-style café has found a loving home right here in Philadelphia. Your support has allowed us to serve you for over 9 years. We are so happy you appreciate our fresh Greek food and international feel. We couldn't have done it without you. In addition to our commitment to providing healthy, reliable dietary options, we have achieved greater goals. We look forward to including you in our growth. Keep an eye out for new developments over the next year as we announce updates, related promotions, and exciting new events. We are so very grateful for your continued support."
With love, George

Connect to the Community
Malelani is expanding. We have a variety of opportunities for outreach in the nonprofit sector and additional restaurant locations. You will notice some exciting and positive changes. We will be undergoing some light remodeling, minor menu upgrades, web design improvements, enhanced delivery hours, and welcoming new programming and events. Our commitment to quality will stay the same, and our employees are happy to continue serving you the delicious food we are known for. Stop in and get to know us! We are musicians, artists, activists, and friends whose mission is to improve the health of our community.