Best Restaurants in Cape Town

Cape Town has a vibrate food scene, there are so many restaurants to choose from! There is everything from food street markets to award-winning, fine dining establishments. Many of the places on our list are in stunning locations; overlooking the sea, on the slopes of Table Mountain or in a Vineyard. Food in South Africa tends to focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients prepared in a variety of ways. South Africa is a nation of carnivores, ‘having a braai’ or bbq is the national pastime, but vegan and vegetarian cooking is becoming more popular and can be easily catered for. Many restaurants offer traditional South African dishes, for example, a Cape Malay Curry or Bobotie which is a minced beef bake. Other restaurants are looking for modern ways to create dishes and fuse new flavours. For guests coming to Cape Town the strength of your currency makes eating out very affordable and most of the wine is homegrown and very reasonably priced.

Your consultant will be able to discuss adding restaurant bookings to your itinerary to create the ultimate foodie experience.

The Potluck Club – Woodstock, Cape Town

This is Luke Dale Robert’s more casual tapas-style dining restaurant, located on the 6th floor of The Silo in The Old Biscuit Mill. The fun starts when you get into the glass lift and head up to this ultra-cool modern restaurant with great views! The kitchen is open so you can watch Luke’s talented chefs at work. The menu consists of tapas-style dishes for sharing. The menu is split into 5 tastes – salty, sour, sweet, umami and bitter. The ever-changing menu features things like fish sliders, shredded confit duck leg and crispy calamari.

Gold Restaurant – Green Point, Cape Town

Gold Restaurant is a vibrant, Pan-African experience in the heart of Cape Town. The focus is on Cape Malay and African heritage and the food over the 14 courses will take you from Cape Town to Timbuktu. The restaurant offers a night of opulent feasting with a range of live entertainment in an African setting. You will enjoy three performances during your dinner celebrating the wide range of music, dancing and heritage of Africa.

The Grand on the Beach – Granger Bay, Cape Town

This former warehouse is now a designer restaurant located at Granger Bay, adjacent to the V&A Waterfront. Reclaimed sea sand has been used to create a gorgeous private beach that overlooks Table Bay and the view is simply phenomenal! The best place to sit (weather permitting) is outside on the deck or a table right on the beach. Enjoy a bistro-style menu or one of their legendary thin-crust pizzas.

Café Paradiso- Gardens, Cape Town

Located on the popular Kloof Street, this delightful child-friendly restaurant with its whimsical interiors offers fresh Mediterranean style food. Enjoy lunch under the dappled shade of the oak trees with fabulous views of Table Mountain. They take their produce seriously, eggs are free-range, beef is organic and bread and pasta are made daily on the premises.

Bistro 1682 – Tokai, Cape Town

Situated on Steenberg Estate, the large, beautiful restaurant has foldaway glass walls that reveal a vista of green lawns rolling down to pools of water. This is a modern and relaxed daytime restaurant. Intrepid chef Kerry Kilpin offers breakfast, lunch and an early evening tapas menu (until 8 pm). The Bistro is famous for its beef tataki, pork belly and calamari. The building also houses the Steenberg Wines Tasting room which is open from 10 am –6 pm for tastings.

Harbour House – Kalk Bay & Waterfront, Cape Town

Situated in the picturesque Kalk Bay harbour, the Harbour House Restaurant has exquisite views overlooking False Bay. From late July, the Humpback and Southern Right whales come into the bay to give birth and are regularly visible to diners. There is a second Harbour House restaurant located in a prime position on Quay 5 at the V&A Waterfront. The two restaurants share the same menu which has an emphasis on genuinely fresh fish.

Chefs Warehouse – Constantia & City Centre, Cape Town

Started by award-winning Chef Liam Tomlin, Chefs Warehouse offers a “tapas for two” set menu that changes daily with a tempting dessert menu and extensive wine list. The tapas are served over three courses and is a relaxed dining experience that can take several hours. There are two locations, one in the city centre and one in Constantia. Both locations are small and intimate, offering fine dining in new and innovate ways.

Food Barn – Noordhoek, Cape Town

Chef Franck Dangereaux of La Colombe fame wanted to create a place for his family and friends to enjoy great food in a relaxed and beautiful setting. A place where children, pets and sandy bare feet are welcome for what really matters… getting together and connecting. There is a tasting menu with wine pairing as well as an a la carte option. Just across the lawn from the restaurant, you will find the Foodbarn deli, bakery and tapas bar.

La Colombe – Constantia, Cape Town

The iconic La Colombe is world-renowned for excellence and has been part of the Cape Town fine dining scene for many years. Dining here is a very special experience with food so beautifully presented you will not want to eat it. Still regularly winning awards for its food this is an unforgettable experience.

Black Sheep – Gardens, Cape Town

Started by Jonathan Japha and Jorge Silve, two chefs who have worked around the world, the Black Sheep is a great addition to Kloof Street. Jonathan wanted to open a restaurant that offered the great food and relaxed atmosphere of a Gastro Pub. He wanted to serve honest, uncompleted food that tasted great. The food is displayed on a blackboard as it changes often.