Must-see restaurants in South Africa

  • Tomo

    Cape Town

    With exquisite decor and a menu offering more than just sushi and sashimi, Tomo has quickly become one of Cape Town's top spots for Japanese cuisine. The…

  • Chez Fong

    Johannesburg

    Pan-Asian chef Su-Yen Thornhill cooks up delightful ten-course dinners – complete with hilarious, Oscar-worthy running commentary – most Wednesday…

  • Saigon Suzy

    Johannesburg

    Saigon Suzy can be summed up in three letters: F, U and N. The food, inspired by pan-Asian street cuisine, is delicious, and the restaurant's interior is…

  • City Perk Café

    Johannesburg

    Good luck with securing a seat at this deservedly popular cafe, which makes splendid breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps, grills and salads, as well as serving…

  • Lexi's Healthy Eatery

    Johannesburg

    In a city with limited meat-free dining choices, Lexi's is a vegetarian/vegan Nirvana. The menu, filled with salads, smoothies and tasty breakfast bowls,…

  • Foliage

    Franschhoek

    Chef and owner Chris Erasmus has brought the foraging culture to the Cape at this hugely popular restaurant. Forest-floor ingredients such as river cress,…

  • Neo Cafe

    Durban

    Portuguese food isn't a rarity in KwaZulu-Natal, but when it's done as well as it is at Neo Cafe it's worth getting excited about. The menu is simple:…

  • Jordan

    Stellenbosch

    It's a little off the beaten Stellenbosch path, but it's worth the drive to get to this well-respected restaurant in a winery. The delectable menu is…

  • Izakaya Matsuri

    Cape Town

    Genial Arata-san serves some of the best sushi and rolls to be found in Cape Town, along with other Japanese izakaya pub-grub including noodles and…

  • Pierneef à la Motte

    Franschhoek

    Named for South African artist Jacob Hendrik Pierneef, whose work is on show at the on-site museum, this elegant restaurant serves modern takes on…

  • Habesha Cafe

    Durban

    Durbanites rave about this casual Ethiopian spot that serves up traditional platters of food with plenty of injera. Everything on the menu is incredible,…

  • New York

    Bloemfontein

    Locals love this upmarket steakhouse, with its decor invoking 1920s New York, for special occasions. The menu features seafood, chicken and burgers, but…

  • Jardine

    Stellenbosch

    Celebrated chef George Jardine of the long-established Jordan restaurant opened this small and very special spot in 2016. The emphasis is on local produce…

  • Tandoor

    KwaZulu-Natal

    Durban enjoys most of the glory when it comes to Indian food, but Tandoor helps Pietermaritzburg give it a run for its money. Takeaway is best as the…

  • 95 at Parks

    Cape Town

    Portions are petite but the flavours are big at this restaurant offering some of the most authentic Italian cuisine in the city. The lamb shoulder ravioli…

  • Bosman’s Restaurant

    Winelands

    This elegant spot within the Grande Roche Hotel is one of Paarl’s top restaurants, serving multicourse gourmet dinners and more casual bistro-style…

  • Overture Restaurant

    Stellenbosch

    A very modern wine estate and restaurant where celebrated TV chef Bertus Basson focuses on local, seasonal produce prepared to perfection and paired with…

  • Marigold

    Franschhoek

    If you fancy a change from all the French-inspired fine dining, Marigold serves elegant North Indian cuisine in its contemporary dining room.

  • Troyeville Hotel

    Johannesburg

    This character-filled hotel is a memorable place for a long meal. It has been frequented by the Portuguese community since well before the paint began to…

  • Sumting Fresh

    Johannesburg

    Ironically named considering the focus of this eatery is fried chicken, Sumting Fresh started out as a food truck on the Jo’burg market and festival scene…

  • Roving Bantu Kitchen

    Johannesburg

    Sifiso Ntuli is the genial patron of this great little spot keeping it real in Brixton. Bookings are essential and there's no written menu – instead the…

  • PRON

    Johannesburg

    When the craving for Asian street-food hits, PRON delivers both on food and experience. The menu, designed by chef and owner Emma Chen, mentions the word …

  • Perron

    Johannesburg

    Tex-Mex cuisine is wildly popular in Jo'burg, and Perron is one of the best examples. Located on a prominent Melville corner, Perron is decorated with a…

  • El Burro

    Green Point & ­Waterfront

    With a balcony providing views of Cape Town Stadium, the decor at this stylish restaurant is a bit more chic than your average Mexican joint and the food…

  • Seabreeze Fish & Shell

    Cape Town

    With a street-side patio and breezy decor that invokes a day at the beach, Seabreeze is a hip spot for a plate of seafood. The menu changes depending on…

  • Bounty of healthy treats on offer at Fresh Earth

    Fresh Earth

    Johannesburg

    Vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Jo'burg are few and far between, making Fresh Earth a breath of fresh air on the city's dining scene. From tofu…

  • Blanko

    Cape Town

    Smart and stylish, Blanko offers Italian dishes that go far beyond the standard pizza and pasta offerings. The lamb dishes are very good and there's…

  • 6 Spin St Restaurant

    Cape Town

    Robert Mulders brings his personable restaurant skills and famous double-baked cheese soufflé to the elegant surrounds of this Sir Herbert Baker–designed…

  • Solly's Corner

    Johannesburg

    Solly's Corner, a legendary cafe in Fordsburg serving Indian-style comfort food, is most famous for its masala-seasoned fish and chips. But the menu…

  • Leopard

    Johannesburg

    Chef Andrea Burgener is known for her excellent take-out deli food, which includes a changing rainbow of eclectic dishes such as taro-leaf masala, and…

  • Afro's Chicken

    Cape Town

    This Durban institution has brought its simple concept to Cape Town: a bright, minimalist fast food joint serving tasty chicken strips, burgers, wraps and…

  • Picadas

    Cape Town

    Argentinian owner Juan brings some family recipes to the table at this laid-back bar-restaurant above House of Machines. Try a portion of Juan's mom's…

  • Service Station

    Johannesburg

    In a far corner of Melville, Service Station is that easy-to-miss 'secret spot' that locals like to recommend. Come here for bountiful breakfasts…

  • Tropical paradise at Brian Lara Rum Eatery

    Brian Lara Rum Eatery

    Johannesburg

    Now you're on holiday – you've entered tropical paradise. When you're sipping a pina colada out of a real pineapple and enjoying old fashioneds made the…

  • Il Giardino Degli Ulivi

    Johannesburg

    Inside the hip 44 Stanley precinct, Il Giardino feels like a charming old-world trattoria, its leafy courtyard the backdrop to nourishing dishes at…

  • Baha Taco

    Johannesburg

    Using the freshest ingredients and traditional cooking methods, Baha started as a food market stall. But it has grown into the Grant Ave institution that…

  • Ragamuffin

    Cape Town

    Ragamuffin began life as a stall at a Cape Town market. It's now a quirky hole-in-the-wall serving excellent Durban-style curries. Try the fried chicken…

  • Lucy Ethiopian Restaurant

    Cape Town

    Perch at one of the dozen traditional woven mesob tables in this bright dining room overlooking Long Street. Sample the authentic cuisine with a combo…

  • Hokey Poke

    Cape Town

    Cape Town's first poke spot is a pleasing hole-in-the-wall with splashes of Asian-inspired kitsch livening up the white tiled walls. There are seven poke…

  • Hesheng

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    Sea Point is stacked with Chinese restaurants, but this inauspicious-looking hole-in-the-wall, classically located next to a pawnbroker, is the real deal…

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