Southern Mozambique
A good budget bet, with tasty pastries, bread, yoghurt, juice and a small, tidy indoor eating area plus a bakery next door. It’s opposite Barclays Bank.
Must-see restaurants in Africa
Free State
If your thirst needs quenching or if steak is on your wishlist, try Windmill Pub & Grill in town, which offers bench seating in a lush, shady setting.
Moshi
This smooth place does good coffee and everything from burgers to biryani; Tuesday is biryani day. In the evening it morphs into a very cool lounge space.
Garden Route
This ramshackle place right on the rocks at the Point serves burgers, seafood and steaks. The deck overhanging the ocean is a perfect spot for sundowners.
Cape Town
Cool down with luscious locally made ice creams and sorbets at this tiny cafe inside the street-art decorated Side Street Studios. It also serves coffee.
Senegal
A simple sit-down eatery with a limited menu of good home-cooking, usually along the lines of poulet yassa and grilled fish of the day.
Sharm El Sheikh
Egypt’s favourite carbohydrate-fuelled feast, kushari (mix of noodles, rice, black lentils, fried onions and tomato sauce), is dished up here.
Dahab
Always crowded with locals, here for the quarter chicken and chips, this cheap and cheerful little place hits the spot for budget chicken-dinner heaven.
Togo
If you're not eating at your hotel, try this basic snack bar, where the menu spells out every possible combination of meat and side dish. It's BYO beer.
Ceuta
If you’ve had enough local food, change it up with some hearty portions of Chinese standards. Window tables have views over the plaza and out to sea.
Franschhoek
One of the restaurants of celebrity chef Reuben Riffel, Racine has a small menu of fairly rich food to be enjoyed on a pretty deck overhanging a river.
Southern Tunisia
One of several like-minded restaurants next to the bus station, serving quick, unpretentious servings of grilled chicken, Tunisian salads and the like.
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
Grab a toasted sandwich for lunch, or a more substantial homemade quiche or burger, at this deli-cafe and decor store on the main drag in Simon's Town.
Lesotho
Kaycees, off Roma’s main drag, is a popular hangout serving fast food (namely chicken, sausage and fries) and cans of Maluti lager to happy students.
Antananarivo
This supermarket chain churns out excellent (and great-value) sandwiches, quiches, tarts and cakes; take away for a picnic or eat in the cafe upstairs.
Maputo
This bustling street-side pizzeria also has pastas, and seafood and meat grills. Service is usually prompt. Check your bill and your change carefully.
Pemba
This scruffy little Wimbi Beach joint is on the non-beach side of the road. It's a good spot if you want to escape the expats and go for a local vibe.
Mozambique
The basic but reliable Jumbo has grilled chicken and continental dishes. Seating is downstairs in a dark bar or in a cosy wood-panelled room upstairs.
Dar es Salaam
Huge beef, chicken and fish mishikaki (marinated, grilled kebabs), barbecue chicken and freshly baked garlic naan in a streetside setting.
Luxor
This large, popular restaurant and takeaway is just down from the train station. It serves roast chicken, pizzas, kebabs and good kushari.
Moulay Idriss Zerhoun
The kefta here are some of the best in town. They come with tomatoes and onions, bread, chips, Moroccan salad and olives at Dh40 for two.
Guinea-Bissau
Moved from its previous location, this place is run by a friendly Portuguese family. Head there for hearty fare and a glimpse into Bafatá's past.
Harare
Basic no-frills joint in central Harare known for its delicious peri peri charcoal chicken. It also does steaks and burgers etc. It's 100% halal.
Réunion
The modern dining room lacks character but the menu is fairly varied, featuring traditional curries served with lentils and a few daily specials.
Mauritania
Near the rond-point, this cheap and cheerful eatery rustles up some good couscous and tajines as well as sandwiches and lighter bites.
Middle Atlas
Just the place for breakfast – grab some yoghurt along with a pastry or some biscuits and head to one of the cafes on either side for coffee.
Southern Mozambique
This tidy, long-standing place next to the petrol station is good for pizzas, hamburgers and other light meals. There's also a rooftop terrace.
Arusha
Mirapot serves local fish dishes, traditional beef stew, and chicken in coconut sauce, as well as burgers, sandwiches and decent local coffee.
Bissau
It's made from a cut-out container and buzzes with Guineans of all ranks and incomes, all eager to sample Mamadou's reliably delicious meals.
Northern Cape
A long-established cafe offering light – and some not-so-light – lunches. There's a build-your-own breakfast option and a range of cakes.
Maputo
Tasty Portuguese cuisine with fado music in the background and a large wine selection; it’s just up from Avenida Eduardo Mondlane.
Sousse
Across from Hôtel Residence Monia, this old-fashioned restaurant named after a Tunisian cooking pot serves seafood and other Tunisian fare.
Southwestern Uganda
This friendly cafe on Kabale's main drag serves up pizzas, burgers and curries to hungry travellers. It also has decent coffee and pastries.
Masai Mara
A large, well-stocked supermarket in Oltalet Mall on the way through town. Good for supplies or for takeaway meals from the deli and bakery.
Bloemfontein
The Portuguese-inspired cuisine here will appeal to both meat lovers and seafood aficionados. Outside tables are right on the water's edge.
Cameroon
Limbe's best spot for breakfast if your hotel doesn't serve it. Here you'll find life's essentials such as fresh-baked pastries and coffee.
Mauritius
London Way looks a bit worn out, but it has the widest selection of items in Black River – ideal if you're in a self-catering apartment.
Mauritania
Largest and nicest supermarket in Nouâdhibou with an upstairs cafe where regulars go for coffee, pastries and catch football games on TV.
Conakry
Two dozen different flavours of homemade ice creams fill the freezers of this bubbly pink cafe that attracts well-to-do locals and expats.
Banjul
Banjul's main snack bar has a deserved reputation for tasty shwarma (sliced, grilled meat and salad in pita bread) and felafel sandwiches.
