Restaurants in Cape Town
Cape Town cuisine can certainly stand shoulder to shoulder with any of the world's best culinary centres. Its multicultural foundations make for a food scene that's as eclectic as it is aromatic, and its proximity to prime cattle lands and seafood rich ocean ensure there's always something fresh and enticing on local menus.
Comfortable cafés abound, fine-dining establishments beckon the well-heeled and good value restaurants in Cape Town are never in short supply.
Traditional Cape Malay cuisine combines pungent Eastern flavours with regional produce, and can be considered the closest thing to a uniquely Capetonian dish. Alternatively, Africans in the area rely on a diet that many westerners find far less delectable, but expats who choose to experience mealie pap (maize porridge), smilies (sheep heads) or samp (mixture of maize and beans) will most likely be enlivened by the atmosphere served up with the simple food.
Best areas for dining out are Camps Bay, De Waterkant, Greenpoint and the Waterfront which are packed with restaurants, but some of the very best venues are outside the city centre in wine centres Franschhoek, self-titled as the gourmet capital of South Africa, and Constantia.
Expect to tip 10 to 15 percent on meals and R10 for the parking guard. By law all restaurants are non-smoking.
Eat Out magazine publishes an annual South African restaurant guide, otherwise check out Diningout.co.za for a detailed and regularly updated guide to Cape Town eateries.
La Colombe
Tucked away on the Constantia Uitsig winery, this restaurant has repeatedly won accolades for its experimental cuisine and innovative flavours.
lacolombe@uitsig.co.za
Tel: 021 794 2390
Mzoli's
A local butchery where the meat is slow-cooked and the music fast-paced. This no-frills township hotspot offers expats a scrumptious taste of African culture alongside a memorable meal.
Tel: 021 637 8449
Millers Thumb
Relaxed seafood joint with loyal local following.
thethumb@mweb.co.za
Tel: 021 424 3838
Five Flies
Fine dining in the historic 18th-century heart of Cape Town’s legal district.
info@fiveflies.co.za
Tel: 021 424 4442
Willoughby & Co
Excellent sushi and hand-picked fish in the heart of the Waterfront. Though not known for its décor, the quality of the food is enough to keep locals and tourists coming back for more.
Tel: 021 418 6115
The Bombay Bicycle Club
An eclectic mix of Bohemian bric-a-brac and gypsy glam make the atmosphere as enjoyable as the food. South African favourites and continental cuisine make-up the larger part of the menu.
Tel: 021 423 6805
Bukhara
Cape Town’s best Indian cuisine in lofty modern surrounds in the heart of the city.
Tel: 021 424 0000
The Food Barn
A short drive outside of the Cape Town city centre brings expats to a place where they can enjoy top-notch food in a casual relaxed setting.
info@thefoodbarn.co.za
Tel: 021 789 1390
Comfortable cafés abound, fine-dining establishments beckon the well-heeled and good value restaurants in Cape Town are never in short supply.Traditional Cape Malay cuisine combines pungent Eastern flavours with regional produce, and can be considered the closest thing to a uniquely Capetonian dish. Alternatively, Africans in the area rely on a diet that many westerners find far less delectable, but expats who choose to experience mealie pap (maize porridge), smilies (sheep heads) or samp (mixture of maize and beans) will most likely be enlivened by the atmosphere served up with the simple food.
Best areas for dining out are Camps Bay, De Waterkant, Greenpoint and the Waterfront which are packed with restaurants, but some of the very best venues are outside the city centre in wine centres Franschhoek, self-titled as the gourmet capital of South Africa, and Constantia.
Expect to tip 10 to 15 percent on meals and R10 for the parking guard. By law all restaurants are non-smoking.
Eat Out magazine publishes an annual South African restaurant guide, otherwise check out Diningout.co.za for a detailed and regularly updated guide to Cape Town eateries.
Recommended restaurants in Cape Town
La Colombe
Tucked away on the Constantia Uitsig winery, this restaurant has repeatedly won accolades for its experimental cuisine and innovative flavours.
lacolombe@uitsig.co.za
Tel: 021 794 2390
Mzoli's
A local butchery where the meat is slow-cooked and the music fast-paced. This no-frills township hotspot offers expats a scrumptious taste of African culture alongside a memorable meal.
Tel: 021 637 8449
Millers Thumb
Relaxed seafood joint with loyal local following.
thethumb@mweb.co.za
Tel: 021 424 3838
Five Flies
Fine dining in the historic 18th-century heart of Cape Town’s legal district.
info@fiveflies.co.za
Tel: 021 424 4442
Willoughby & Co
Excellent sushi and hand-picked fish in the heart of the Waterfront. Though not known for its décor, the quality of the food is enough to keep locals and tourists coming back for more.
Tel: 021 418 6115
The Bombay Bicycle Club
An eclectic mix of Bohemian bric-a-brac and gypsy glam make the atmosphere as enjoyable as the food. South African favourites and continental cuisine make-up the larger part of the menu.
Tel: 021 423 6805
Bukhara
Cape Town’s best Indian cuisine in lofty modern surrounds in the heart of the city.
Tel: 021 424 0000
The Food Barn
A short drive outside of the Cape Town city centre brings expats to a place where they can enjoy top-notch food in a casual relaxed setting.
info@thefoodbarn.co.za
Tel: 021 789 1390
