Green Point & Waterfront
This branch of the upmarket global Japanese chain is a smooth-running operation. The chefs turn out expert renditions of Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature…
Must-see restaurants in South Africa
Cape Town
Brothers Giles and James Edwards' nose-to-tail approach to cooking has found an enthusiastic audience with gourmet Capetonians, who are flocking here to…
Cape Town
The 'number one baconporium in the Cape' serves superb sandwiches and decadent salads named for movies and TV shows, though the stars of this performance…
Eastern Cape
Polka's food will linger long on the palate. Karoo lamb, matured steaks and bobotie (curry topped with beaten egg baked to a crust) are on the dinner menu…
Cape Town
The menu here is pleasingly small – just four noodle dishes and a selection of bao (steamed buns filled with spiced pork, chicken or veggies). Ask for the…
Johannesburg
Famous for the imposing bronze bull statue on the pavement outside, the Bull Run Restaurant is across the street from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in…
Cape Town
Not everything is vegan here but quite a lot is, including most of the salads and main dishes served in the daily buffet that sits, temptingly, on the…
Cape Town
A focus of the Bree St hipster scene is this convivial spot with counter seating that pays homage to the US diner tradition. All-day breakfast dishes…
Drakensberg Escarpment
Overlooking the cobbled piazza in the Italianate Cherry Grove, this creative little cafe in black, white and red has puntastic menus stuck into old books…
Cape Town
Kirstenbosch’s long-running tearoom serves a jolly English tea for two (R310), including sandwiches, mini-quiches and homemade scones with strawberry jam…
Nelspruit (Mbombela)
With stylish decor and seating in a little courtyard, this urban kitchen offers something for most tastes, from eggs Benedict, Spanish omelette and…
Eastern Cape
Cafes cluster around the corner of JA Calata and Albert Sts, mostly combined with nurseries or decor shops. In the latter category, this courtyard cafe…
Pretoria
Salt specialises in artisanal cheeses, cured meats and bread, which they bake themselves. You can assemble your own tasting plate from the very tempting…
Pretoria
Papa's serves various South African faves, including steaming potjies (meat and vegetables cooked in a cast-iron pot over an open fire) as well as…
Cape Town
Brass-topped tables, marble and contemporary art give this cosy restaurant and cocktail bar a sophisticated ambiance matched by the inventive food…
Winelands
Recommended by locals all over the Winelands, this restaurant and wine bar has a comprehensive menu of upmarket dishes like slow-roasted lamb neck, roast…
Sunshine Coast
Seafood lovers rave about Christy's, which has superb calamari burgers, fish steaks, prawns and oysters. It's also renowned for its grilled meat,…
Nelspruit (Mbombela)
Despite the cars rushing past on Rte 40, the Aegean-blue decor and taverna tunes create a suitable atmosphere for Greek classics such as stuffed peppers,…
Johannesburg
If you think Jozi is a dud at creative Asian food, prepare to eat your words – and everything in sight – at this well-priced, obscenely delicious eatery…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Cheyne Morrisby has gathered quite a following for his inventive Asian and Pacific Rim–inspired small plates, which combine adventurous flavours and…
Cape Town
The old Company's Garden cafe has been transformed into a chic contemporary space with charming outdoor features such as a giant chess set and wickerwork…
Simon's Town & Southern Peninsula
Bob's is the place for your bagel fix. They're all freshly baked here and you can have them au naturel, or as sandwiches, along with good coffee and other…
Mpumalanga
Denee Fick is a well-known South African chef and brings her considerable talents to this modern restaurant. She specialises in fine cuts of beef cooked…
Pretoria
Subtle is not a word in Kream's vocabulary. From its dramatic interior design (giant works of art, two water features!) to its sometimes over-the-top…
Limpopo
The new ‘lifestyle’ centre may be lacking in atmosphere (yes, you overlook a car park), but the Market Cafe – a small operation that’s part of a larger…
North West Province
The dark interior and blue neon lighting of the Waterfall Mall’s most stylish restaurant are probably meant to hint at oceanic depths, but what they…
KwaZulu-Natal
This delightful oasis, in a lovely Victorian house behind a rather chintzy gift shop, is a quintessential English garden in the middle of ‘Maritzburg –…
Johannesburg
Ben's Pizza is notable for its location in the centre of Jo'burg's central business district, where the sight of a New-York-style pizzeria with red…
Green Point & Waterfront
The dining room is elegantly decorated in shades of grey and silver, and the outdoor patio looks straight onto Granger Bay. Enthusiastic students train…
Mpumalanga
Its wooden deck overlooking rows of succulents in a plant nursery below, 'the farm kitchen' serves breakfasts and light lunches in one of Barberton's…
Sunshine Coast
A finer location you couldn't hope to find. Die Walskipper clings to quiet Clapton Beach within the Marina Martinique, a 5km drive south of town. The…
Free State
This former brothel turned pub is the perfect spot for a beer after exploring the Vredefort Dome, and on Sunday afternoons it hosts a famous, three-course…
Durban
It looks like a typical cafe along this very popular strip, but Spiga serves up hearty helpings of Italian food, including delicious pasta dishes. It also…
Cape Town
Enjoy homemade cakes, breakfasts and lunch treats such as chicken pie at the resident coffee shop of Chart Farm, with its panoramic view across the farm…
Johannesburg
Opened by one of South Africa's leading fashion designers, Congolese-born Papy Nakuw, Kafe Noir serves a simple Pan-African menu in a cool but…
Bloemfontein
Inexplicably tucked into the Mimosa Mall, this delicious restaurant offers an enormous (and ambitious) menu and some of the friendliest service in…
Cape Town
Dean Street is home to a cluster of popular restaurants and bars, with Patina being the fanciest place to dine. The lightly charred steaks are excellent…
Limpopo
How a slice of Italiana found its way to Hoedspruit we’re not sure, but this place serves up authentic and quality dishes from the motherland. Try the…
Cape Town
Muffins that could feed a small family and other delectable baked goods and desserts are the forte of this luxe-design cafe offering ‘beautiful food,…
Johannesburg
During the 1980s and '90s, Ba Pita was a popular late-night dining spot in then-artsy Yeoville. Twenty years later it's come back to life in Melville, a…
