CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT CAPE CUISINE
The magnificence of Cape Town lies in its scenic pleasures, its fascinating history and its fine food and wine. Cape Town and its surrounds offer an overwhelming amount of consistently excellent restaurants ranging from fine dining, French and oriental, to fusion, seafood and African gastronomic delights to titillate even the most discerning palates. Covering a wide variety of options from the opulently elegant to the conveniently casual, the multitude of culinary traditions make for a memorable meal to suit the business fraternity, tourists and locals alike.
The complete Cape Town Restaurant Guide: FoodBlog - Cape Town Restaurants.
The traditional Cape cuisine is greatly influenced by the Malay kitchen. This stems from the first colonists providing fresh produce for the Dutch East India Company ships plying their spice trade. From there European and British traditional dishes were transformed into a unique 'Cape Malay' style. Such dishes include bobotie, curries, breedies and the sweet, sticky koeksisters.
There are various districts within the Cape offering superb gastronomic gems, but the most popular and well-visited region is likely Cape Town's Kloof Street. Here you will be served some of the city's finest cuisines and experience the vibrant nightlife that the many bars and restaurants have to offer. There are many such delightful districts in the Cape and with the abundance of eateries from fine dining to fast foods, it's a comforting thought that there will always be new menus and venues to experience!
| Africa Café (Traditional African Cuisine) | |
This convivial restaurant offers traditional African communal feasts in styles ranging from Zulu, Moroccan and Ndebele. 108 Shortmarket Street, Heritage Square |
| Amigo's (Mexican and Mediterranean Cuisine) |
Amigo's combine unpretentious, consistently delicious Mexican and Mediterranean fare, hospitality and loads of fun under one roof. The service is efficient and the atmosphere charmingly intimate yet suffused with a festive energy. 158 Kloof Street, Cape Town |
| Au Jardin |
The inventive menu offers delectable creations with a distinctly French influence on classic-inspired dishes. Superbly knowledgeable waiters serve the cuisine, the setting is relaxing and very elegant and large windows overlook sweeping lawns and Table Mountain's flanks. Vineyard Hotel, Colinton Road, Newlands |
| Aubergine (Fine Dining) | |
An award-winning sophisticated restaurant offering classic creations with a distinctly African flavour. Dishes with only the finest local seasonal produce are served in this historic venue. The secluded outside courtyard breaks away from the somewhat formal interior of the restaurant. 39 Barnet Street, Gardens, Cape Town |
| Azure (Traditional South African Cuisine) | |
This elegant restaurant has a sophisticated marine ambience and offers traditional South African dishes. The view is superb making the Azure an ideal sunset destination. The service is attentive, knowledgeable and professional. Priviledged pockets are in for a memorable epicurean experience. For accommodation at The Twelve Apostles Hotel, please click here to e-mail us your enquiry The Twelve Apostles Hotel, Victoria Road, Camps Bay |
| Bijoux (International Cuisine) |
This country colonial-style restaurant is quaintly situated in a picturesque garden courtyard. The bistro offers global cuisine with sophisticated twists added to fresh ingredients. 58 Main Road, Franschhoek |
| Blue Danube (Cosmopolitan fine dining) | |
Located in a Victorian townhouse, the restaurant exemplifies fine dining - from immaculate table-settings and undeniably picture-perfect servings to sensational, utterly delectable dishes. 102 New Church Street, Tamboerskloof |
| Blue Peter (Seafood and casual dining) |
Both the restaurant and the beach bistro offer spectacular views of the ocean, tidal pools, Table Mountain and Robben Island. Upper Deck Restaurant: Cuisine is predominantly seafood, but options for meat-lovers are ample. Lower Deck Bistro: A favourite sundowner beach hangout for locals. The vibe is ultra-casual (shorts and sandy feet) and perfect for lazy afternoons. Most patrons choose to sprawl out on the lawn with an ice-cold beer and a pizza. Blue Peter Hotel, 7 Popham Road, Bloubergstrand |
| Blues Restaurant (Seafood) | |
The incredible view of the ocean, palms and sunset alone makes this restaurant wholly worthwhile. Service is attentive and the menu extensive featuring mostly Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay |
| Boschendal Restaurant (Wine Farm) | |
Situated in the original cellar of the Manor House, the restaurant serves legendary buffet luncheons daily. The generous Cape cuisine is perfectly complemented by Boschendal's own fine wines. Le Pique Nique is available on the shady lawns and is ideal for lazy afternoons. Booking is essential for both. Pniel Road, Groot Drakenstein |
| Buitenverwachting (Wine Estate) |
Buitenverwachting is cosily tucked away in the historical Constantia Valley. The dishes are epicurean delights - fundamentally global with local touches and always fresh, light and in tune with modern tastes. This, together with attentive service and a sublimely serene environment, makes Buitenverwachting one of SA's top restaurants. Klein Constantia Road, Constantia |
| Bukhara (North Indian Cuisine) |
Bukhara is perfect for those lingering evenings and communal dining is definitely the way to go - order as many spicy and aromatic dishes as you think you can and share! 33 Church Street, Cape Town |
| Cargills | |
A small, intimate and very chic restaurant serving classic cuisine with a continental twist. The ambience encourages lingering over your meal making Cargills a perennial favourite. 20 Station Road, Rondebosch |
| Chai Yo's (Thai Cuisine) |
Authentic Thai cuisine and cosy street café styled decor make this a favourite amongst food-fundies. Chai Yo offers a cornucopia of spicy delights - both adventurous and superb. 65 Durban Road (cnr of Raapenberg), Mowbray |
| Clifton Beach House | |
The contemporary Mediterranean menu allows for alfresco lunches or dinners on the outside terrace, while inside dining lends itself to a more elegant and stylish ambience with sea fresh fare, soft candlelight, cool uncluttered décor and a gleaming open-plan kitchen. 72 The Ridge, 4th Beach, Clifton |
| Codfather (Seafood) |
This upmarket restaurant offers excellent seafood and sushi in a fresh airy environment. Choose your own portions, have it weighed and prepared to your specifications. Pick your own sushi off the conveyor belt. 37 The Drive, Cnr of Geneva Drive and The Drive, Camps Bay |
| Constantia Uitsig (Wine Estate) | |
Bookings are essential in this stylish and undeniably elegant restaurant. Housed in an original Cape Dutch Homestead, the dishes are best sellers and the view of the mountain and vineyards spectacular. Uitsig Farm, Constantia |
| Dale's Place |
A consistently popular restaurant situated in a cosy house with subdued atmospheric lighting, a comfortable sophisticated feel and personal, attentive service by both the waiters and Dale himself. The menu is creative with inventive combinations - game features prominently. 47 Blaauwberg Road, Table View |
| De Oude Welgemoed (International Cuisine) | |
The restaurant is situated in a beautifully restored 300-year-old farmhouse. Dinner is served in an intimate country dining room with a giant fire when the weather turns chilly. The cuisine is superior, the service excellent and an exceptional evening always guaranteed. Pandoer Street, Welgemoed |
| Delheim (Wine Estate) | |
One of the Cape's most picturesque wine estates nestled high up on the southwestern slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain. Wine tastings are presented in the cellar and terrace lunches are served overlooking the attractive gardens and Table Mountain. Definitely worth a visit! Delheim Estate, end of Knorhoek Road, Koelenhof |
| Docks Restaurant | |
Situated on the landing site of the ferry to Robben Island, Docks Restaurant is the perfect setting to enjoy an alfresco lunch or dinner. Docks has retained the essential ingredients of its former recipe of success with an extensive menu offering breakfast, light meals, seafood, steaks, pasta and vegetarian meals. Nelson Mandela Gateway, Clocktower Pier, V&A Waterfront |
| Giovanni's Deliworld (Gourmet Deli) |
A trendy Italian-styled deli where the locals come to read the paper and enjoy the excellent coffee. The deli offers a broad range of the usual deli staples - with a contemporary global slant. The products (either local or imported) are extremely enticing. 103 Main Road, Green Point |
| Harbour House (Seafood) | |
Built on the breakwater, the restaurant has exquisite view of False Bay and huge waves crashing on the rocks below the restaurant. The interior is elegant and simple, a quality reflected in the cuisine. Kalk Bay Harbour, Kalk Bay, False Bay |
| Harrie's Pancakes (Casual dining) |
Situated in the lively Clock Tower Precinct Piazza, Harrie's Pancakes offers a delightful platform for people-watching whilst devouring meal size pancakes with delectable savoury and waist-expanding sweet fillings. Piazza Level, Clock Tower Precinct, V&A Waterfront |
| Harvey's at the Mansions (Cosmopolitan Dining) | |
Harvey's offers discerning diners an appetising taste of Cape traditional fare. On balmy nights the beautiful colonnaded Courtyard, reminiscent of an Italian piazza, is a tranquil oasis from the pace of city life. Encircled by palm trees and fountains, it makes the perfect setting for a romantic dinner under the stars. For accommodation at the Winchester Mansions, please click here to e-mail us your enquiry Winchester Mansions Hotel, 221 Beach Road, Sea Point |
| Hazendal (Wine Estate) | |
As one of the oldest and most picturesque wine farms in the Stellenbosch region, Hazendal has become a favourite lunch and wedding venue. The restaurant is elegantly furnished with seating by the wine cellar or in the quaint courtyard. The cuisine is built on innovative flavours and served by superbly trained staff. Hazendal Wine Estate, Bottelary Road, Kuils River |
| La Colombe (French Provencial) | |
Highly acclaimed for the sublime winelands atmosphere with its rustic charm and the superb French inspired cuisine, La Colombe offers true fine dining. The menu changes daily, but is always French, stylish and utterly luscious. La Colombe has been voted Top Restaurant in South Africa for the second consecutive year by Business Day. Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia |
| La Med (Casual sundowner venue) |
La Med enjoys a perfect setting with both ocean and mountain views. Famous for sundowners, they offer cocktails and casual fare for the hungry. What may seem like a mellow start to the evening can quickly change into a full swing party as La Med's in-house DJ turns up the music. There is music and dancing every night until late. Glen Country Club, Victoria Road, Clifton |
| La Romantica (Italian Cuisine) |
All three restaurants (located in Bellville, Paarl and Stellenbosch) resemble an Italian deli enhanced by colourful displays of tinned tomatoes and bottles of olives and chillies. Polished leather, dark wood and wine collections in bottles ranging from the standard 750ml to the 15litre Nebuchadnezzar all add to the restaurants' appealing atmospheres. The menus offer a huge variety of appetizing dishes from Italian specialties and seafood to excellent steaks and tantalizing desserts. Bellville: Rosenpark, High Street, Bellville |
| Lady Phillips (Vergelegen Wine Farm) | |
Rich in history and surrounded with exceptionally beautiful gardens, the Lady Phillips Restaurant is an idyllic day destination. Take a stroll to the nearby brook or to the magnificent historic library. The restaurant serves upmarket country cuisine. Lunches in summer on a shady terrace or indoors beside a fire in winter. Vergelegen Wine Farm, Lourensford Road, Somerset West |
| Le Quartier Francais (Fine Dining) |
Fine dining at its best! Le Quartier Francais is situated in the picturesque Franschhoek Valley and offers superior cuisine for discerning diners. The perfect setting and captivating country charm makes for a memorable experience. Summer offers a magnificent garden setting; winter a cosy fireplace. Live piano accompaniment in the evenings. Accolades include being named one of the world's 50 best restaurants by the UK's Restaurants Magazine, an annual award as one of the top 10 restaurants in SA by Lannice Snyman's Eat Out Guide and Wine Magazine's Top 100 restaurants in SA. 16 Huguenot Road, Franschhoek |
| Le Vendome - Rive Gauche and Le Cygne (Fine Dining) | |
Two of Cape Town's finest award winning restaurants, Rive Gauche and Le Cygne serve classically French cuisine in an intimate surrounding. 20 London Road, Sea Point |
| Madame Zingara (Contemporary Dining) | |
This Bohemian restaurant offers patrons tons of fun! Rose petals, gold-painted stars and candle light add to the restaurant's charm and vibey atmosphere. The menu is inventive with specials available daily. 192 Loop Street, Cape Town |
| Maestro's (Italian Cuisine) |
A buzz of happy vibey patrons welcomes you upon arrival. The menu is extensive with something for even the fussiest of diners. The view at the Milnerton Maestro's is spectacular, but both restaurants are renowned for their flexible fun dining and robust cuisine. Milnerton: Bridge Road, Milnerton |
| Magica Roma (Italian Fare, casual dining) |
This deeply tempting restaurant is a firm favourite amongst locals where you are greeted with a genuine welcome and the Italian fare is hearty, heavenly and prepared with true passion. The menu is a guide only and dishes can be customized according to preference. 8 Central Square, Pinelands |
| Melissa's (Gourmet Deli and restaurant) |
This wildly popular deli was an immediate hit when it opened and is still packed with regulars. The shelves are laden with deeply tempting, utterly delectable products including baked goods, house products, savoury dishes and a heavenly assortment for those with a sweet tooth. Kloof Street: 94 Kloof Street, Tamboerskloof |
| Morton's on the Wharf (Cajun and Creole Cuisine) |
The New Orleans energy within the restaurant is unquestionable! The menu reflects unusual and varied dishes distinctively Cajun and Creole, and this has stylishly been carried through in the décor, music and ambience. Shop 221, Upper Level, Victoria Wharf, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront |
| Panama Jacks (Seafood) |
Disguised as a wharf-side shack, this rustic restaurant oozes nautical charm. Pick your own lobster, abelone, mussels and oysters from the seawater tanks. Cnr Quay 500 and Eastern Mole Rd, Table Bay Harbour, Cape Town |
| Quay 4 (Seafood Brasserie) |
Quay Four boasts an elevated view over the working harbour and at night the city lights reflect on the water. The restaurant is elegant and the emphasis is on fresh seafood. Quay Four, Pierhead, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront |
| Rhebokskloof (Wine Estate) | |
The Victorian Restaurant is named after the distinctive period architecture. The setting is beautiful and overlooks the scenic gardens, vineyards, lake and mountains. Continental a la carte cuisine is served by friendly, attentive waiters. Rhebokskloof Estate, Agter Paarl |
| Saigon (Vietnamese Cuisine) |
The restaurant boasts large glass-fronted views of Table Mountain and the bustling Kloof Street below. The cuisine is fresh and light with each individual ingredient maintaining its identity yet blending exquisitely into the overall flavour. Cape Swiss Hotel, Cnr of Kloof and Camp Streets |
| The Atlantic (Cosmopolitan Fine Dining) | |
The view of both the mountain and harbour, the immaculate table settings and the global cuisine infused with superlative ingredients makes this restaurant a top dining spot. The service is professional and attentive. For accommodation at The Table Bay Hotel, please click here to e-mail us your enquiry Table Bay Hotel, V&A Waterfront |
| Theo's Grill & Butcher (Steakhouse) |
Steaks dominate at this trendy eatery and rightly so since being named best Cape Town steakhouse in the 2000 Steakhouse of the Year awards. Mouille Point: 163 Beach Road, Mouille Point |
| Tides (Fine Dining) | |
A sophisticated, elegant and intimate setting with an impressive view of the beachfront. The dishes are gastronomic delights through their texture, presentation and innovative flavours. Options are a la carte or a fixed-price menu that allows you to select two or three courses from a variety of dishes. Accolades include being selected as the best restaurant in Cape Town by Wine Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants and one of the top ten restaurants in South Africa by Eat Out Magazine. For accommodation at the Bay Hotel, please click here to e-mail us your enquiry The Bay Hotel, 69 Victoria Road, Camps Bay |
| Tobago's (International Cuisine) | |
Situated in the luxurious Radisson Hotel, Tobago's is right on the water's edge. The restaurant serves excellent international cuisine in a cosmopolitan environment. Their buffet lunches are a perennial favourite amongst locals. For accommodation at The Radisson Hotel The Radisson Hotel, Beach Road, Granger Bay, Cape Town |
| Venezia (Italian dining) |
Venezia is strongly recommended by regulars and rightly so. Dishes are excellent and portion sizes incredibly generous. Delightful extras such as melba toasts and palate-cleansing sorbets drenched with vodka are served. Service is meticulous without being obtrusive - the recommendations are well worth your attention. 92 Main Road, Sea Point |
| Wagon Wheels (Steakhouse) |
Reportedly the best steaks the Cape has to offer! The welcome is genuine and the emphasis is on quality at all times. They use only the finest cut grainfed steaks grilled to absolute perfection. Seafood and non-carnivorous alternatives are available. Accolades include the 2002 Regional Steakhouse of the Year award. 57 Lady Grey Street, Paarl |
| Wangthai (Thai Cuisine) | |
Easily the best Thai restaurants the Cape has to offer. All three serve exquisite authentic fare, hot or not at all, with plenty of care and attention lavished on the dishes. Loads of vegetarian options. The restaurants are run with efficiency and professionalism and the service is attentive and accommodating. Green Point: 105 Paramount Place, Main Road, Green Point |
| Wharfside Grill / Mariner's Wharf (Seafood) |
The perfect venue for fish-freaks! This casual restaurant, with a rustic nautical interior, is situated above the famous Mariner's Wharf. The views over the beach and working harbour are magnificent and the sea-fresh dishes are well worth the drive to Hout Bay. Hout Bay Harbour, Hout Bay |
| Wilderer's Distillery | |
Wilderer's Distillery offers a small menu of popular favourites, including their famous Flammkuchen, a French pizza speciality. Light lunches are available daily until 17:00 and are served between the vineyards where you can watch the master distiller at work or simply just enjoying the charm of the winelands. Situated on the R45 between Paarl and Franschhoek |
