Must-see restaurants in Cape Town

  • Salt

    Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

    Offering a gastronomic take on False Bay cool, Salt serves mains such as wild kudu goulash, but your best bet is to focus on the small plates (R45), which…

  • Shortmarket Club

    Cape Town

    Star chef Luke Dale-Roberts' latest venture hides in plain sight on the street it is named after. It's a gorgeous attic space with a wall of paper…

  • Foodbarn

    Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

    Expect rustic, delicious bistro dishes with suggested wine pairings at master chef Franck Dangereux's restaurant in the relaxed surrounds of Noordhoek…

  • Greenhouse

    Cape Town

    Chef Peter Tempelhoff's culinary imagination runs riot in this elegant restaurant that's one of the Cape's top dining destinations. The finest local…

  • Chefs

    Cape Town

    So called because you can see all the chefs at work in the open kitchen, this is a fab new addition to Cape Town's dining scene with an original concept…

  • Chef's Warehouse & Canteen

    Cape Town

    Hurry here for a delicious and very generous spread of small plates from chef Liam Tomlin and his talented crew. Flavours zip around the world, from a…

  • Pot Luck Club

    Cape Town

    The sister restaurant to Test Kitchen is a more affordable Luke Dale-Roberts option. Sitting at the top of an old silo, it offers panoramic views of the…

  • Hog House Brewing Co.

    Cape Town

    It couldn't be in a more obscure spot – within a business park in an industrial part of town – but this barbecue restaurant is perpetually busy. The…

  • Carlucci's Deli

    Cape Town

    This relaxed, family-friendly restaurant at Meerendal wine estate has outside tables overlooking a jungle gym and sweeping lawn – perfect for enjoying…

  • Gardener’s Cottage

    Cape Town

    After exploring the Montebello craft studios, relax at this lovely cafe, which occupies the estate's original gatekeeper's cottage. Beyond the leafy…

  • Starlings Cafe

    Cape Town

    One of the Southern Suburbs' most charming dining spots. With its relaxed, arty cottage and shady garden environment, it's great for a lazy breakfast or…

  • Aubergine

    Cape Town

    German-born Harald Bresselschmidt is one of Cape Town’s most consistent chefs, producing creative, hearty dishes served with some of the Cape's best wines…

  • Kitchen

    Cape Town

    Of all the swanky restaurants in town, it was this little charmer that Michelle Obama chose for lunch, proving the ex-First Lady has excellent taste. Tuck…

  • Bistro Sixteen82

    Cape Town

    Perfectly complementing the slick and contemporary wine-tasting lounge at Steenberg Farm, this appealing bistro serves everything from oysters for…

  • Test Kitchen

    Cape Town

    Luke Dale-Roberts creates inspired dishes with top-quality local ingredients at his flagship restaurant – generally agreed to be the best in Africa…

  • Blue Water Cafe

    Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

    A lovely place to enjoy breakfast, simple-but-good lunch dishes including pizza, pasta, seafood and gourmet salads, or a craft beer with a sweeping view…

  • The Stack

    Cape Town

    Given a stylish makeover to become a brasserie and bar downstairs and a private members club upstairs, old Leinster Hall is a delightful place for a meal…

  • Jarryds Espresso Bar & Eatery

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    When Jarryd and brother Ariel moved home from Sydney, they brought with them the concept of the come-as-you-are daytime eateries beloved of the Aussies…

  • La Colombe

    Cape Town

    A veteran of Gordon Ramsay's kitchen, chef Scot Kirton rustles up skilful dishes combining French and Asian techniques and flavours, such as quail breast…

  • La Mouette

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    New takes on the classics (such as herb gnocchi and smoked pork belly) and fresh inventions (including kudu loin with fermented cabbage, BBQ carrot puree…

  • Four & Twenty Cafe & Pantry

    Cape Town

    A favourite among the Little Chelsea (Wynberg Village) crowd, this rustic but chic spot serves a small menu of delicious creations, from gourmet salads…

  • La Boheme Wine Bar & Bistro

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    Although you can fuel up on delicious tapas and espresso here during the day, La Boheme is best visited in the evening, when candles twinkle on the tables…

  • Rare Grill

    Cape Town

    In the unlikely setting of a scruffy car park next to Kenilworth train station, this small steakhouse is one of the best in town, serving the finest wet…

  • Bombay Brasserie

    Cape Town

    Far from your average curry house, the Taj Hotel’s main restaurant, hung with glittering chandeliers and mirrors, is darkly luxurious. Chef Harpreet…

  • Chef's Table

    Cape Town

    There are several dining options at the Mount Nelson Hotel, but for a real treat book one of the four tables with a front-row view onto the drama and…

  • Olympia Cafe & Deli

    Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

    Setting a high standard for relaxed rustic cafes by the sea, Olympia bakes its own breads and pastries. It’s great for breakfast, and its Mediterranean…

  • Hemelhuijs

    Cape Town

    A quirky yet elegantly decorated space – think deer heads with broken crockery and contemporary art – showcases the art and culinary creations of Jacques…

  • Kyoto Garden Sushi

    Cape Town

    Beechwood furnishings and subtle lighting lend a calm, Zen-like air to this superior Japanese restaurant with an expert chef turning out sushi and sashimi…

  • 4Roomed eKasi Culture

    Cape Town

    As gourmet as it gets in Khayelitsha with the lovely Abigail Mbalo, a self-taught cook and former contestant on SA's MasterChef TV show, in charge. Expect…

  • Reverie Social Table

    Cape Town

    With just one long wooden table seating up to 18, and the charming chef and host Julia Hattingh in charge, it's easy to see why this place is called…

  • Live Bait

    Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula

    This breezy, Aegean-style fish restaurant, set within arm’s reach of the crashing waves and the bustle of Kalk Bay Harbour, is one of the best options…

  • Andalousse

    Cape Town

    Hiding in plain sight along a sketchy stretch of Victoria Rd is this little gem of a place. Started in 2016 by a group of friends from Morocco, this is…

  • The Yard

    Green Point & ­Waterfront

    Although the menu covers quite a bit of crowd-pleasing culinary ground, it's the Indian dishes that form the bulk and should not be missed – from crispy…

  • Massimo’s

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    There's pasta and spuntini (tapas-style small plates) on offer, but the wood-fired thin-crust pizzas are Massimo’s speciality – and very good they are,…

  • Ocean Jewels

    Cape Town

    Fish straight from Kalk Bay Harbour is served at this seafood cafe and fishmonger that supports the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI)…

  • Tables at Nitida

    Cape Town

    The barn-like contemporary restaurant at Nitida winery is a pleasant spot to enjoy delightful dishes ranging from burgers to pasta, as well as cheese and…

  • Café Neo

    Green Point & ­Waterfront

    This popular seaview cafe has a pleasingly contemporary design and atmosphere that sways from buzzy (at meal times) to laid-back – it's great for a late…

  • Mzansi

    Cape Town

    As much a cultural experience as a gastronomic one, Mzansi rates highly among travellers. Food is served buffet-style and features some traditional dishes…

  • Kleinsky's Delicatessen

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    A hip homage to classic New York Jewish delis, Kleinsky's is a great casual daytime option, offering dishes such as toasted bagels with smoked salmon or…

  • Harbour House

    Green Point & ­Waterfront

    The Kalk Bay institution has set up shop at the Waterfront with a good white-tablecloth restaurant on the ground floor (ask for a table on the deck…