Must-see restaurants in South Africa

  • Fermier

    Pretoria

    Some of South Africa's best contemporary cooking is being served in a large mud-walled and tin-roofed shed in the east of Pretoria. Chef Adriaan Maree…

  • Calexico Vinyl Lounge and Restaurant

    Johannesburg

    A California-inspired Tex-Mex restaurant with a hint of craft beer and vinyl mixed in. The mix is delightful. The simple menu (nachos, ribs, sandwiches),…

  • Yeoville Dinner Club

    Johannesburg

    Jo'burg's most memorable meal out is in this artily decorated cramped room with a balcony overlooking Rockey St, heart of the much-bad-mouthed, inner-city…

  • Breezeblock

    Johannesburg

    The designers have a done a grand job transforming this old Chinese restaurant into a pastel-shaded haven of mid-century cool amid the gritty 'burb of…

  • Urbanologi

    Johannesburg

    Even if Mad Giant's very quaffable beers are not your thing, do not pass over on the microbrewery's fabulous restaurant. Serving an inventive range of…

  • 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…

  • Wild Fig Tree

    Drakensberg Escarpment

    There’s a meat-driven menu and a warm atmosphere here, amid candles, wildlife photos and artworks. It's a great place to sample traditional South African…

  • Marble

    Johannesburg

    Currently one of Jo'burg's hottest restaurants, this is braai (barbecue) given a luxe makeover. Chef David Higgs and his cloth-capped team in the open…

  • 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…

  • Potluck Boskombuis

    Blyde River Canyon

    Look out for the South African flag and follow the red-dirt track to this 'bush kitchen', a makeshift shelter beneath gnarly boulders and trees decorated…

  • 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…

  • Grounded At Echo

    Pretoria

    It's easy to love this design-savvy cafe run by the nonprofit Echo Youth Development. It's a great spot for breakfast, with a variety of granolas…

  • Cafe Chocolate

    Free State

    Part restaurant, part chocolate factory and part theatre, this is Ficksburg's top eatery and de facto cultural centre. Popular items include homemade…

  • Remo's

    Port Elizabeth

    You really need to know this place is here, but luckily now you do. What was once a warehouse in a derelict area is now a snazzy cafe with an industrial…

  • Saskia Restaurant

    Limpopo

    Decorated with Rembrandt replicas and stories from the master painter at every turn, you might expect this place at Fusion Boutique Hotel to be a bit…

  • 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…

  • Kuka Café

    Mpumalanga

    Its blue-grey walls hung with artwork and cage lampshades, Kuka's glass doors open onto a terrace decorated with fairy lights. It's a contemporary setting…

  • Die Strandloper

    West Coast & Swartland

    The West Coast life exemplified – a 10-course fish and seafood braai right on the beach. There’s also freshly made bread, bottomless moerkoffie (freshly…

  • Tshokwane

    Kruger National Park

    About halfway between the rest camps at Satara and Skukuza, or between Lower Sabie and Satara, Tshokwane has been transformed from an attractive picnic…

  • 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…

  • Patisserie de Paris

    Johannesburg

    Patisserie de Paris owner Paul Zwick spent 30 years in the television business before moving to France to train as a chef. He eventually returned to South…

  • Nguni

    Plettenberg Bay

    Tucked away in a quiet courtyard, this is one of Plett's most upscale eateries. The speciality is dry-aged beef, though you'll also find some South…

More destinations you need to see