Eastern Cape
The charming garden restaurant at the Edge serves French toast with local berries and Hogsback's best coffee for breakfast, recommended wood-fired pizzas…
Must-see restaurants in Southern Africa
Malawi
This Italian restaurant offers treats such as homemade pasta made daily, Parmesan flown from Italy and monthly live music on the stoep. Dishes include…
Malawi
Close to the harbour, with a big upstairs balcony overlooking the main street, Kaya Papaya has an appealing Afro-Asian-fusion chic that's matched by a…
Lesotho
Africa's highest restaurant (3010m) overlooks the slopes at Afriski Mountain Resort and reflects the resort's international sheen with its stylish wood…
eSwatini (Swaziland)
If you need to re-energise after a bout of shopping in the adjoining handicrafts outlets, there's no better place than this delightful cafe. It has a fine…
Nelspruit (Mbombela)
Nelspruit's youth come here to drink draught craft beers in the industrial interiors and on the large open terrace. Music pumps out and there's football…
Sunshine Coast
Most locals recommend vibey Nina's, with its quirky decor of surfboards and coastal scenes around a paper-disc chandelier. Seafood abounds on the wide…
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…
Winelands
The only downside to this fabulous tea garden is that it's only open for half the year. Based on an organic fruit farm, it's a wonderful place to sit…
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,…
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)…
Winelands
The coffee machine here is manned by Joseph Matheatau, South Africa's first blind barista. The cafe is owned by Kaleidoscope, previously known as the…
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…
Lilongwe
Follow your nose to this delightful Parisian-style garden-centre cafe with wrought-iron chairs, a bubbling fountain and leafy surrounds. The menu has…
Pretoria
As part of the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Blue Crane is famous to ornithologists worldwide (and anyone else who enjoys a cold Castle lager at sunset),…
Northern Cape
Meat-lovers rejoice: Tauren serves steaks weighing up to a kilogram, with a host of delectable sauces. The menu also features burgers, a few vegetarian…
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…
West Coast & Swartland
It doesn't look much from the road, but this farm stall at the top of Piekenierskloof Pass serves some delightful cuisine. The imaginative dishes include…
Malawi
At this lodge's stunning restaurant, grab a wicker chair on the terrace perched above the water. The kitchen is well known for its pizzas (from MK5300),…
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…
West Coast & Swartland
This open-air restaurant offers a multicourse seafood buffet featuring traditional stews, salads and a range of smoked, baked and braaied fish. Allow…
Northern Cape
Locals swear that Zest serves the best coffee in town. It also has one of the most appealing menus, featuring salads, seafood, a decadent chicken dish…
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…
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…
Drakensberg & uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park
Baguettes, croissants and a range of sticky treats are baked on the premises (the owners even grow and grind their wheat). A quaint wrought-iron veranda…
Eastern Cape
Across a bridge from the main part of the village is this charmingly rustic farmhouse on a working dairy farm, where you can sit under the trees sampling…
Port Elizabeth
One of the most attractive restaurants in Richmond Hill, Two Olives serves a range of Spanish-, Portuguese- and Greek-inspired dishes in its busy dining…
Cape Town
Bookings are required for this charming 'pizza parla' that's found its natural home in Obs. Diego is the pizza maestro and Kikki the bubbly host and…
Western Cape
You can sample true local cooking at this restaurant overlooking the ocean in Kassiesbaai. It's a cheap and very cheerful place serving South African…
Cape Town
This all-day dining operation has a grand beachside position with swoon-worthy views of Table Mountain. The broad menu includes plenty of seafood, steaks,…
West Coast & Swartland
Locals are loving this excellent addition to Clanwilliam's otherwise uninspiring culinary scene. There's plenty of choice on the menu, from pizzas to…
Eastern Cape
Hallelujah! Storms River finally gets the cafe it so deserves. This atmospheric place offers tasty meals, including delicious pancakes and pizzas, as well…
Route 62
Grab a spot under the trees and enjoy a lunch of home-baked pie and salad or a slice of cake with Montagu's best cup of coffee. There's a kids' play area…
Garden Route
Boasting one of Mossel Bay’s best locations, this low-key restaurant has picnic tables on the sand overlooking the ocean. Most of the dishes – including…
Sunshine Coast
Just off the river front, Ocean Basket is a hot favourite among fish lovers. Nautically themed and run by a dynamic team, its seafood is a cut above most…
Durban
In a city that boasts a huge Indian population, this place is about as good as Indian food gets in Durban's restaurant scene. The outside looks like it…
Eastern Cape
This atmospheric hotel dining room has dark-wood panelling and richly upholstered furnishings in 19th-century English style. Service is attentive, and the…
Limpopo
If you’ve emerged from Kruger feeling like a hungry lion, stop here for some pub grub. It's a very meat-driven menu – for a lean steak alternative try the…
Route 62
With a small menu specialising in traditional South African fare, this long-running restaurant is set in an attractive old house and garden. After your…
Port Elizabeth
This snazzy cafe-cum-bakery makes splendid breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps, salads and addictive goodies as well as serving excellent coffee at affordable…
