Must-see restaurants in Africa

  • Café Moçambicano

    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.

  • Story Lounge

    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.

  • Big Blu

    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.

  • Atac el Khair

    Nouakchott

    Located northeast of the centre, not exactly convenient for the short term traveller, Atac is the largest, most comprehensive grocery store in Nouakchott.

  • Sorbetiere

    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.

  • Relais du Rais

    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.

  • Koshary El Sheikh

    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.

  • King Chicken

    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.

  • Cafeteria 2000

    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.

  • Meeting Place

    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.

  • Kaycees

    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.

  • Restaurant Erriadh

    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.

  • Gran Muralla

    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.

  • Leader Price

    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.

  • Racine

    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.

  • Mimmo’s

    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.

  • Restaurante-Bar Jumbo

    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.

  • Restaurante Rema

    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.

  • Abu Ashraf

    Luxor

    This large, popular restaurant and takeaway is just down from the train station. It serves roast chicken, pizzas, kebabs and good kushari.

  • Ali's

    Dar es Salaam

    Huge beef, chicken and fish mishikaki (marinated, grilled kebabs), barbecue chicken and freshly baked garlic naan in a streetside setting.

  • Ponto de Encontro

    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.

  • Restaurant Boukhrissa

    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.

  • Auberge Ti Bonheur

    Réunion

    The modern dining room lacks character but the menu is fairly varied, featuring traditional curries served with lentils and a few daily specials.

  • Bakers

    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.

  • Restaurant Agadir

    Mauritania

    Near the rond-point, this cheap and cheerful eatery rustles up some good couscous and tajines as well as sandwiches and lighter bites.

  • Moulin à Paris

    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.

  • Café O Bilas

    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.

  • Mirapot

    Arusha

    Mirapot serves local fish dishes, traditional beef stew, and chicken in coconut sauce, as well as burgers, sandwiches and decent local coffee.

  • Restaurant Samaritana

    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.

  • Lemon Tree

    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.

  • Taverna

    Maputo

    Tasty Portuguese cuisine with fado music in the background and a large wine selection; it’s just up from Avenida Eduardo Mondlane.

  • Cafe Barista

    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.

  • Tuskys Supermarket

    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.

  • La Marmite

    Sousse

    Across from Hôtel Residence Monia, this old-fashioned restaurant named after a Tunisian cooking pot serves seafood and other Tunisian fare.

  • Atlantic Bakery

    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.

  • Braza

    Bloemfontein

    The Portuguese-inspired cuisine here will appeal to both meat lovers and seafood aficionados. Outside tables are right on the water's edge.

  • Ali Baba Snack Bar

    Banjul

    Banjul's main snack bar has a deserved reputation for tasty shwarma (sliced, grilled meat and salad in pita bread) and felafel sandwiches.

  • Café Zambeziana

    Southern Mozambique

    Immediately to your right when exiting the old market, this local place has tasty but inexpensive grilled chicken and barbecue sandwiches.

  • Amore Mio

    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.

  • Supermarche Le Bon Choix

    Mauritania

    Largest and nicest supermarket in Nouâdhibou with an upstairs cafe where regulars go for coffee, pastries and catch football games on TV.