Our favourite restaurants in Cape Town

Cape Town is regularly ranked as one of the top culinary capitals of the world – and our Travel Researchers often get asked to recommend great restaurants and foodie hotspots to experience cutting-edge cuisine, local favourites and award-winning dining.

Here are a few the best restaurants in Cape Town and neighbouring Constantia that cannot be missed during a luxury South African holiday. Don’t forget that it is always worth booking well in advance (sometimes before even travel) as many of these culinary jewels have waiting lists a couple of months in advance, so please speak to your Travel Researcher if you’d like to reserve a table.

Atlantic view bites

This beach cafe enjoys a prime position on the seafront shoreline with views of the Atlantic and Robben Island. Chef Dominic Faict has introduced a fresh summer menu in addition to the usual favourites like pizza seafood, sushi, steak, pasta and salads. A team of marvelous mixologists has devised an extensive cocktail menu, featuring signature cocktails and well-loved classics. The perfect spot for lunch, sundowners, dinner and after-dark beats.

grandafrica.com | 1 Haul Road, V&A Waterfront | +27 21 425 0551

International tapas

Located on the sixth floor of an old biscuit mill, this is one of Cape Town’s coolest eating spots with 180-degree views of the city, harbour and Table Mountain. British-born Luke Dale-Roberts favours sharing plates that evoke an American-50’s-style dinner. The menu takes inspiration from South America to Southeast Asia and celebrates basic tastes – salty, sour, sweet, umami and bitter. New chef Jason Kosmas has also introduced classic Mediterranean flavours reflecting his Greek and Italian heritage.

thepotluckclub.co.za | 375 Albert Road, Woodstock | +27 21 447 0804

Contemporary Indian

Working with Chef Nate Coe, Liam Tomlin has created a contemporary Indian restaurant around the concept of ‘thali’ which is traditionally a selection of regional Indian dishes. Served over three courses, the meals begin with milder flavours and work towards hotter curry stylings. There are always vegetarian tapas as well as vegan and gluten-free options on request. Due to the relaxed style and spacious dining room, they do not take bookings. Closed on Sundays.

chefswarehouse.co.za/thali | 3 Park Road, Gardens | +27 21 286 2110

A journey of culinary innovation

World-renowned chef, Luke Dale Roberts, has opened SALON in the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, a sophisticated restaurant that offers multi-course dining journeys inspired by his global travels and culinary adventures. The aesthetic is elegant and classic with a keen attention to detail. Open for lunch and dinner, the Prix Fixe Explorer menu is the highlight with each dish inspired by a different part of the world, from South Africa to Mexico, Korea and France, every bite telling a story of discovery and craftsmanship.

Salonct.co.za | The Old Biscuit Mill, 367 Albert Road, Woodstock | +27 87 093 5890

Contemporary braai and wine

A personal dining experience with only 24 seats and an exposed kitchen. They serve a tasting menu for both lunch and dinner, trusting Chef's Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart to satisfy with their seasonal fair and a focus on meat with their contemporary take on South African braai and paired wines. They source from local sustainable producers and use every part of the animal. Closed Sundays.

bellyofthebeast.co.za | 110 Harrington Street | +27 76 220 5458

Sustainable seafood

Alex and Ruth Grahame’s cosy restaurant is a firm favourite among locals - especially during happy hour at the oyster and wine bar. It has a small but well thought-through menu featuring exciting seafood options like angelfish tacos, tuna burgers and a moreish Cape Malay seafood curry. Non-seafood eaters can tuck into a hearty ribeye steak or their vegetarian version of the Cape Malay Curry. The wine list is small but features top-notch local wines at reasonable prices and rum lovers will spoilt for choice too.

seabreezecapetown.co.za | 213 Bree Street | +27 74 79 39 349

Up and comers

This new restaurant set up by Luke Dale Roberts and Sandalene Roberts is a space for up-and-coming local chefs who are being trained in the art of cooking and hospitality. While the menu is constantly changing the crowd-pleasers are usually at hand. From Thai-style mussels to gourmet burgers, Test Kitchen serves up classics in a fun, family-friendly setup. The tasting menu is excellently priced, and the cocktails will keep the fun flowing. Closed Mondays and Sundays.

ttkfledgelings.co.za | Biscuit Mill, Woodstock | 021 447 2337

Contemporary African cuisine with Asian influences

Choose a table with brilliant views of Lion's Head and Table Mountain or by the counter if you want to feel watch tremendous chefs Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Jennifer Hugé at work. The menu is African inspired with Japanese influences throughout, served in five-course, kaiseki-style menus. There are also pescetarian, vegetarian, and vegan menus. It’s a well-thought-through and simply delicious eating experience peppered with elements of food theatre and surprise.

fynrestaurant.com | 5th Floor, 37 Parliament Street | +27 21 286 2736

Expect the unexpected

Chef Ryan Cole and his team have been dominating the food scene in Cape Town for some years now. The multi-course menu, driven by the seasons and grounded in technique, pushes boundaries in terms of delicate yet intense flavours, interesting textures, and an unrelenting pursuit of excellence. Sustainable cooking at its unshowy best. The iconic views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range and Camps Bay beach are reason enough to visit. Closed Mondays.

salsify.co.za | Roundhouse Road, Camps Bay | +27 21 010 6444

Tapas and casual fine dining

This modern restaurant with its sleek open-plan kitchen is seemingly suspended, overlooking the lush Constantia wine valley. Housed in a modern glass cube with an alfresco terrace, the dining room is the scene for a set menu of nine tapas plates for two. Chef Ivor Jones’ puts his unique perspective tapas-style set menu celebrates quality seasonal ingredients and Southeast Asian flavours. Much of the produce is grown locally and the wines are exemplary.

beauconstantia.com | 1043 Constantia Main Road | +27 21 794 8632

French Asian fusion

Set high above the Constantia wine valley in more of a treehouse than a restaurant, this stylish, light and airy space enjoys stunning views of the vineyards. Chef James Gaag offers an eight-course tasting menu that gives interpretations of local flavours presented in a refined, sometimes quirky, manner or a reduced menu depending on your preference. La Colombe enjoys iconic status so bookings are essential well in advance of arrival in Cape Town, especially in summer.

lacolombe.restaurant | Silvermist Wine Estate, Constantia Nek | +27 21 794 2390

Vineyard views

An elegant but unpretentious experience overlooking vineyards with special attention paid to sourcing a diverse range of special raw produce from smaller growers, farmers and local producers who form part of a sustainable ecosystem. From rare-breed meats, and seasonal heirloom vegetables to artisanal cheeses, this diversity serves to showcase and celebrate the ‘weird and wonderful’, and the beauty of unique strains and flavours beyond mass production.

beyondrestaurant.co.za | Buitenverwachting, 37 Klein Constantia Road | +27 21 794 0306

Fine dining inspired by the sea

The latest venture by The La Colombe Group, right on the Pierhead at the V&A Waterfront. Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the shopping district, PIER offers diners tranquil, waterside dining. Headed by John Norris Rogers serving a multi-course tasting menu inspired by the sea and using the finest ingredients sourced locally. Highlight dishes include confit mussels slowly cooked in chorizo oil and oysters poached tableside.

pier.restaurant | Pierhead Building, V&A Waterfront | +27 21 879 6328

Seafood by the ocean

Situated right on the water's edge in the picturesque harbour of Kalk Bay, this iconic restaurant boasts exquisite views of the working harbour, False Bay and the Hottentots Mountain Range, and is a great spot to watch seals at play whilst tucking into delectable sushi and other fresh, sustainably-sourced fish and seafood.

harbourhouse.co.za | Kalk Bay Harbour | +27 21 788 4136

Tapas and casual fine dining

This modern restaurant with its sleek open-plan kitchen is seemingly suspended, overlooking the lush Constantia wine valley. Housed in a modern glass cube with an alfresco terrace, the dining room is the scene for a set menu of nine tapas plates for two. Chef Ivor Jones’ puts his unique perspective tapas-style set menu celebrates quality seasonal ingredients and Southeast Asian flavours. Much of the produce is grown locally and the wines are exemplary.

beauconstantia.com | 1043 Constantia Main Road | +27 21 794 8632

Family-run eatery

Founded in 2017 by the Judd family, this restaurant and wine bar first began as a small bakery in the Cape Winelands before they decided to take the leap and open on bustling Kloof Street. Here, the focus all about honest food, great wine and laughter. Share a selection of small plates over a couple of glasses of local Chardonnay or Merlot, or share a thick-cut Florentine-style steak cooked on the bone, served up with an abundance of veggies and home-baked focaccia, ending with a nostalgic desert like ice-cream smothered in hot chocolate sauce.

juddslocal.co.za | 141 Kloof Street, Gardens | +27 64 527 1272

Casual pizzeria and deli

This long-standing local favourite offers an unpretentious setting along trendy Kloof Street, with a welcoming family feel. Along with the pizza’s Bacini’s is most famous for – always prepared in their traditional oven – the menu features freshly made pasta dishes and a huge selection of antipasti including local West Coast oysters. Be sure to leave some space for a helping of tiramisu or a pistachio panna cotta for dessert.

bacinisonkloof.co.za | 177 Kloof Street, Gardens | +27 21 423 6668

Freshly caught seafood

First opening in 1998, this is one of the most consistently popular restaurants in Camp’s Bay and offers an unfussy atmosphere where the focus is placed on serving up exceptionally fresh seafood: Prawns, oysters, langoustines, crayfish, calamari and an impressive variety of linefish. The concept draws inspiration from fish markets with no printed menu, but instead a large display counter where you will be guided through your options by the knowledgeable team.

codfather.co.za | 37 The Drive, Camps Bay | +27 21 438 0782

Cape Malay Flair

This traditional Cape Malay Restaurant is owned by born-and-raised ‘Bo Kaapers’, Yusuf and Nazli. The couple are completely dedicated to serving up food that reflects the history and heritage of the Bo-Kaap neighbourhood. Everything is prepared from scratch daily, including curries, breyani, samoosas, and their famous dessert, koesisters.

bokaapkombuis.co.za | 7 August Street, Schotsche Kloof | +27 21 422 5446

Indian with attitude

Vadivelu’s motto is “we are not just another Indian restaurant”, boldly stating that they will never have 14-page menus or offer ‘Asian fusion’ cuisine. Instead, what they offer is an “authentically South Africanly Indian” experience. Recipes have been passed on from ancestors who arrived in South Africa as indentured labourers 150 years ago, adapted from Tamil heritage with creativity applied to the locally available spices. A highlight is Chef Jai’s Showcase for Two – a tasting menu featuring some of the very best of the restaurant’s signature dishes.

vadivelu.co.za | 151 Kloof Street, Gardens | +27 21 300 5777

Sustainable café and juice bar

This little café has made a big impact, with a conscious approach to every aspect of their business from their supply chain to packaging and the team they have hired. For the most part this means opting for vegan fare, although they have included free-range eggs and dairy options as well. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, choices include smoothie and buddah bowls, kimchi pancakes, burgers and a huge selection of organic cold-pressed juices, health shots, teas and coffees.

theconsciouskitchen.co.za | 34 Kloof Street, Gardens | +27 81 521 0967

Indian fine dining

Located inside the Taj, Bombay Brasserie offers elegant décor, complete with chandeliers, peacock feathers and velvet chairs and a fine dining menu. Harmoniously blending the flavours of Indian and Cape Malay cuisine, dishes offer a local twist on beloved classics like chicken tikka masala and adraki lamb chops. For something special, opt for the gourmet set menu experience for both vegetarians and meat-eaters.

Website | 1 Wale Street | +27 21 819 2000