The best restaurants Cape Town

Mzoli's: an institution in Cape Town. Mzoli's Ngcawuzele has helped develop tourism in the township of Gugulethu. Originally a butcher's shop, Mzoli's opened a restaurant in the garage, which soon became "the place to be". It is one of the few places where families and young people of all ethnic and social backgrounds mingle. People come here for the meat grilled on traditional braai and for the sound: kwaito, house, township music, real music, mixed by local DJs. You can buy your consos right next door. At night, we go to the nightclub!

A Latin ambiance in a popular Cape Town tapas bar. Sophisticated tapas with Moroccan influences for unusual combinations. Relax ambiance, eclectic garden and apparent brick. Interior patio. A, map.

This lively cafe offers quality salads at a reasonable price, as well as burgers, grilled meats and tapas. Facing the sea, on the sunny terrace, you can sip a cocktail while watching the golden youth of Camps Bay pass by. At weekends, the terrace, under the pretty colonnades of the pale pink facade, is always full. Inside, there are large cosy white sofas and a colourful floral decoration. For fans: the Caprice café broadcasts sporting events such as football and rugby matches.

An assiette composée and a glass of wine... what more could you ask for in such a beautiful setting? This high-altitude stopover outside town, in the midst of pinot noir, is the fruit of a tasty complicity between winemaker Achim von Arnim. Take the opportunity to taste the pierre jourdan, a well-aged gris rosé. The chef offers gourmet tasting menus inspired by seasonal produce, including an all-vegetarian option and top-notch tapas.

A large terrace on the brick paving stones and under the porch, but above all, inside, besides the beautiful parquet floor and the fireplace that warms the atmosphere: an almost open kitchen where you can see the cooks at work! We love to see the artists working on our plates! Pierre, of Dutch origin, is a lover of good food, the bon vivant, that's him. He will even let you taste his specialities in the garden of the establishment if you wish. The dishes are as beautiful and fresh as they are delicate and delicious.

Located on the waterfront, this restaurant is an epic in the Cuban universe, you'd think! Thanks to the music of Buena Vista Social Club, Che's posters, Cuban cigars and Spanish colonial furniture... Not to mention the many green plants and richly carved woodwork from floor to ceiling. On one side a kitschy and colourful decoration, delirious and splendid, one is plunged into another world for the restaurant, and on the other side sand between the toes and mojitos. On the plates, original and succulent combinations like chicken mojitos.

Between delicatessen, gastronomic bistro and chic picnic, the best French chef's den in the southern Karoo is called the Foodbarn. Franck left the kitchens of the prestigious but stuffy restaurant La Colombe, in Constantia, to open his more convivial and experimental restaurant. This passionate man gives free rein to all his fantasies, and it's all the better for us. The Bistro menu, which changes according to the season, remains affordable. After your meal, you can visit the Foodbarn's delicatessen. Homemade breads, pastries.

We love this very popular establishment, with its wooded and rustic setting, which bears the name of its address, 96. On the plates, a colourful rural cuisine where the meat is presented to you before you cut your entrecote. Here, you drink your glass of wine by the fire while waiting for the potjies and other kabeljou to simmer. The wine list is excellent by the way, but would we be in one of the most beautiful wine regions in South Africa? Of course we are. In fact, there is even a small cellar for shopping.

With a few wooden tables, a light menu, healthy and organic ingredients, Café Roux stands out for the originality of its menu and the sophisticated presentation of its salads and sandwiches for an unpretentious restaurant. The butternut & goat cheese salad is undoubtedly the best salad in Cape Town. Above all, the small family business has become an essential scene in the region. The venue is open for livemusic and comedy concerts on certain nights of the week and has hosted some of the best bands and one-man shows in the area.

A really cheap address with a great choice between Indian and Chinese food, kebabs, falafels and vegetarian dishes. Inside this big cellar, the smells entice the nostrils. We go to one of the islands, each one is dedicated to a type of food. You pay first and then you come to collect your order with the ticket in your hands. On the Indian side, the bowl of manchurian with rice or noodles is more than generous, it is just necessary to pay attention to the level of spices, the "mild" (moderate) is already more than spicy!

A Bedouin-chic restaurant, traditional and senior clientele, and dark alcoves opening on the ocean show. It serves fish specialities prepared according to Angolan and Mozambican recipes. 

An Asian food chain is present in several areas of Cape Town. An expensive option to restore without passing through the hamburger box. The dishes are tasty and the quantities are very satisfactory. In the menu of duck, noodles and Thai specialities. Also to take or get delivered.

A must in Kalk Bay. At high tide, the waves lick the foundations of this restaurant and pub, sometimes even drenching the first tables. At the entrance to the town, The Brass Bell is a popular spot for counter-top sailors and Cape Towners at weekends. On the terrace, you can look out at the sea and re-watch the world go by. But above all, you can savor the sea. Our plates are full of iodine: fish from the day's catch, prawns, squid, delicious lobster and fresh oysters.

This restaurant racks up awards in the food world. The highlight in 2016 when it was voted "Best Restaurant in Africa" by The World's 50 Best Restaurants and Restaurant of the Year by Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards. There is no shortage of superlatives to describe young British chef Luke Dale-Roberts. The cuisine is inventive and creative, an explosion of flavours that will remain on your palate. An unforgettable culinary experience if you are lucky enough to find a table... Reservations are required several months in advance.

Charming little trendy café on the ground floor of the imposing Woodstock Exchange, a former factory converted into an art centre. The owners of the neighbouring Neighbourgoods Market recently opened this place. With its yellow chairs and white tile flooring, the decor is more reminiscent of school canteens than mini-markets, serving good sandwiches, bagels, brunch plates and salads, as well as some daily specials and excellent fruit juices, all prepared with care and using fresh, organic ingredients!

La Cuccina is the ideal place to have breakfast in the morning or to take a break for lunch. A cosy and pleasant place where fresh, organic and seasonal food is served. The concept is simple and attractive, as there is a huge buffet with fresh products, homemade quiches and a wide choice of meat dishes or appetizing mixed salads. Just like a large canteen opened by our grandmother, everything is delicious and we appreciate the attention to service.

Want to vary the pleasures? This restaurant is renowned throughout the neighborhood for its authentic and generous Thai cuisine. Installed on the floor on cushions, in the light of candles, or on the terrace, the service is very attentive during the whole meal. The menu is limited and you will soon make your choice between curries, poultry or fish dishes. The spice content is indicated, which avoids bad surprises. Arrive early or make a reservation, the restaurant is often crowded with locals.

In Kloof, the aptly named bar-restaurant The Moveable Feast translates as "Paris is a party". The Parisian bistro-style establishment invites France into the decor and into the plate! On the menu: escargots, onion soup and beef tartare. The atmosphere is pleasant, both hushed and bright. As for the service, it is very attentive. Start with dinner in the restaurant and continue your evening with a good cocktail in the bar. Every week, DJs are invited to the party.

At Sea Point, the hip and arty spot, with good groovy music, a few tables and an open counter on the street, offers a Japanese-inspired menu, some classic sushi and rāmen, those famous Japanese noodles, as well as kushiyaki "on the grill." We come mostly for the rāmen. A choice of two with beef and one with mushrooms. The vegetarian then: the shitake dashi & miso broth is good, the sushi correct without more. It is not the Japanese authenticity but more the Capetonian trendiness that we come here to look for.

A trendy Mexican-inspired decor, the taqueria offers delicious gourmet tapas. We order several dishes and we share, to taste everything. Some tacos beef, chicken or pork, but if we opt for the goat: goat meat, cloves, almond, cumin, cinnamon, chili salsa. Quesadillas vegetarian salads... You can accompany your tapas with interesting Mexican tequila cocktails like the Mexican Mule (tequila, ginger ale, squeezed lime juice), a Mexican beer or even a little mezcal for the amateurs.

The Goatshed is the restaurant at Fairview Estate. As with the winery, the philosophy is "it's better when it's fresh and homemade", a phrase that reigns supreme here too. A bright and colourful room, bordered by high arched windows. On each small wooden table is a bouquet of flowers. On the slate, the products change according to the arrivals from Fairview Farm, which specializes in award-winning, artisanal cheeses, which are also washed down with artisanal wines. This is a comforting meal!

Open since 2012, this restaurant is among the best in Paarl, and it is frankly affordable. A good address to try, for example, a slowly roasted lamb mouse with its sweet potato confit, simmered in red wine, garlic, rosemary juice and small vegetables, or for the seafood-loving palate, the delicious pan-roasted fish covered with its lemon and caper white butter and accompanied by its seasonal greens and homemade fries. A treat on excellent plates.

At the Basic Bistro, you have to feel at home. Here we serve very creative formulas with names that are a nod to France at breakfast: Napoleon or Marie-Antoinette croissants, French toast and omelettes to customize. For lunch and dinner, "gourmet" burgers, "Italian" wraps, or hearty Malaysian curry dishes. A young, greedy and affordable address where you can come with friends to eat a burger and drink homemade beers, or as a lover to sip a white wine cocktail.

In the heart of the Groot Constantia domain, the restaurant enjoys a privileged setting, between the vineyards and the mountains. On the terrace during the summer months or inside by the fireplace on winter evenings, you will enjoy refined dishes prepared with quality products. Let yourself be tempted by the grilled meats served with fresh vegetables, the pan-fried Norwegian salmon and its wasabi sauce, or by the gourmet hamburgers. All of this to be washed down with a delicate wine produced in Groot Constantia. The perfect combination!

From the terrace of Ohana Cafe in Kalk Bay, you have a beautiful view of the ocean. Simple but well cooked dishes. But to tell the truth, it is above all the ideal place to have a coffee, a good breakfast, to nibble for lunch or to stop for a snack break, and to opt for the magic formula "Cake and Coffee". From the comfortable bench, you can listen to the sound of the ocean, watch the surfers ride the waves over the kelp forest and, depending on your luck and the season, spot an orca, a whale or a dolphin on the horizon.

On a farm in Hout Bay, the restaurant Quentin at Oakhurst and its cellar follow in the footsteps of several generations of family farming and culinary traditions. The barn showcases its heritage and associates its gastronomic knowledge with it. The gurgling of the water, the flight of guinea fowl and the crackling of acorns underfoot, embraced by the freshness of the majestic and powerful oak canopy, create magnificent arrangements that serve as inspiration for the Chef. A refined setting, large tables, oak chairs, and on the plate: a pure delight.

On the main street of Hout Bay, Cheyne's restaurant is a chic Asian brasserie! Wood, black-painted walls, a subdued atmosphere and candles on every table... Make yourself comfortable on the sofas with their large cushions or on the high table that looks like a bar on the terrace, or on the coffee tables around the central fountain, and treat yourself to perfectly cooked Asian flavours. The plates are divine, often topped with a small edible flower to brightly colour your dish.

If there's one thing you eat all the time and everywhere in the region, it's fish & chips. Any roadside stall or pub will serve you some. Then there are the real, fresh, very good fish & chips served by Lucky Fish and Chips for example. Extra-fresh fish and French fries that are both crispy and soft. We choose our favorite classic, the combo hake, a kind of local cod, and the calamari, or the snoek, the ultra-local fish. Treat yourself in a nice setting and for a good price.

In a hangar, many small stands with delicious food. There is something for every taste, of every flavour and from every country. Sweet treats, savoury treats and tangy drinks. Take your pick from the various stalls and sit down on the pleasant outdoor terrace to enjoy your booty. At weekends, the food market regularly hosts artists, so you can enjoy live music on the waterfront.

The area is moderately well frequented at night but come by taxi and everything will be fine! This table is really worth it. The concept is simple, original and unique in Cape Town: you share a table with the other customers. The challenge is to "socialize", to discuss and exchange around a meal. There are tourists and locals, it's cosmopolitan and conducive to encounters. Surprise menu, the young chef Julia explains in detail the contents of each plate and the glass of wine that accompanies it. A delicate, intoxicating and succulent cuisine.

Like most of the restaurants in Camps Bay, the Bilboa has a beautiful terrace overlooking the beach. The decoration is both chic and sober: comfortable beige leather seats, wood, especially on the shaded terrace... At the Bilboa, the service is attentive and the cuisine delicate. The menu is in the colours of the view with its beautiful and wide selection of seafood and other fish specialities. But also grilled meats, just as appetizing. As for the cocktails, they will make you envious under the sun!

A very frenchy creperie run by Jessica. Swan Café is a little piece of France, from Brittany more precisely, in Cape Town. You will hear French spoken from all sides, in a few months it has already become the expatriates' den, and for good reason, it is the only real pancake shop in the city. Traditional pancakes and crepes, but made with local products. There is cider and French variety in the background, the waiters are dressed in red and white marinières and you will hear "bonjour" and "au revoir" singing.

It's Ephraim who greets you and settles you into the sober, elegant room in shades of gray and white. The fire crackles in the fireplace in the middle of the room. Soft lighting, French variety... A voluptuous moment. The kitchen, open to the dining room, is a feast for the taste buds. A glass of local champagne is offered. And when the plates are placed on the table, it's a feast for the eyes. The senses are awakened. A mix of colors, flavors and textures. An explosion in the mouth from starter to dessert. Discreet service and an upscale atmosphere.

Another excellent restaurant in the beautiful and gourmet town of Stellenbosch. At the Jardine Restaurant, the decoration is simple and refined and the dishes are meticulously prepared and delicious. The room is set in a paved courtyard with a fire crackling in the fireplace in winter, well that is when it is 20°C sometimes. For the winemaker's lunch, as it is called here, the Sunday brunch or even for a special event if you wish, enjoy a subtle and delicate cuisine at affordable prices.

One of the city's finest restaurants, La Petite Colombe has nothing to envy the starred establishments. High-flying cuisine, beautiful to look at and exquisite to taste. Seated in the pleasant dining room, with its large picture windows offering a backdrop of mountains and greenery, you'll succumb to the culinary delights of the chefs working in the kitchen to offer you refined dishes and extraordinary flavors, always on the cutting edge. Don't forget to book in advance, as the restaurant is almost always full.

Wonderful address that welcomes you in its historic building in winter around its wood stove and on its freshly mowed lawn in summer! Each table is placed under a tree and gives you a feeling of intimacy. A feeling of freedom, that of having lunch in the shade of a beautiful garden. Ideal for a romantic lunch. The cooked products come from the vegetable garden and are combined with other local ingredients. The menu, renewed according to seasonal products, is composed of 3 courses. A family cuisine, generous and sophisticated.

This is the new spot for afternoon parties in Cape Town: a rooftop with plant walls and refreshing wine buckets, DJ programme for sound and festive afternoons from Thursday to Saturday. A trendy atmosphere, a dancefloor andlots of cold beers. In the mornings and the rest of the week, the bar on the ground floor is more classic, offering salads, burgers, wraps and other snacks filled with vegetables. A good breakfast plan, as this bar is part of the Once Youth Hostel and offers affordable and delicious food.

The 41 is an excellent establishment opened by two Frenchmen, two brothers. An industrial and contemporary architecture at the same time that offers a large window on the ocean. At the foot of the block, the terrace on the street is convivial. In the kitchen, the chef has proven himself in the art of gastronomy all over the world and has worked in several starred restaurants. From breakfast on the bay to cocktails at nightfall, he now puts his knowledge and creativity at your service in the heart of Camps Bay. A delight.

You enter Madame Taitou's with the same feeling as when you enter a dreamy flea market: a thousand and one objects from Ethiopia and all over Africa, everywhere. Here, we are invited to settle down in a sort of cocooning lounge. We sit on comfortable benches and eat on a beautiful coffee table. The food arrives on a large pancake, on a tray to share, with the fingers. It is delicious. Even better, mezzanines were created as a tree house, in the heart of the restaurant: dinner in a lush jungle!

Fancy a romantic dinner by the water? Go to The Bungalow, a chic straw hut, a bit like in Saint-Tropez! The restaurant offers a varied menu from starter to dessert, with seasonal menus, fresh and well-prepared meat and fish. A sure value to spend a delicious trendy moment by the sea in a sumptuous setting: on one side the mountain, on the other the sea. At sunset time, the view turns to beautiful colours, it's high time to order a cocktail for the aperitif!

The terrace of The Barn On 62 is surrounded by a pretty little circular fountain in the shade of the trees. Inside, the decoration is impeccable, with a room running the length of the house. Raw concrete floor, beautiful period wooden doors and beautiful chandeliers. From the peaceful garden side, you can see the mountains. Here, the coffee is delicious and the salads are fresh and tasty. A good place to come and have a good salty breakfast or to taste a homemade beer a little later. Excellent value for money.

It's the restaurant of the hotel of the same name. Everything inside is cute, cosy and chic. Outside there is a very nice terrace. At the Small Restaurant, you can come for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The cuisine is refined, the menu rather classic and based on local seasonal products. The cards are in the form of mail, brought in an envelope that is opened quickly. The staff is adorable and will be able to advise you on good traditional and local wine varieties to accompany your dishes.

It's obviously the story of four cousins! Just outside Robertson, you can't miss this huge establishment with a shop, a large room dedicated to wine tasting, an open kitchen, two dining rooms and a huge terrace. The building is modern, made of steel with bay windows and high ceilings. On the menu, we find the classics: wraps, pizzas, salads, meat, fish... A wide choice for children and a playground outside. A great address in Robertson.

Restaurant, cafe, bar, disco... At lunch or for an aperitif, it is a mythical place not to be missed. Sit with your feet in the sand and enjoy the magnificent view of the Atlantic Ocean, the yachts and Robben Island. You enter via a small wooden walkway, then choose between the gin bar, the large loft-style room with chandeliers, the swings hanging from containers, or the sunbathing on the private beach with the VIP area.

Located on the Waterfront, this elegant restaurant overlooks South Africa's oldest port, with Table Mountain as a backdrop. From local specialties to game meat, vegetarian and fish dishes, the menu offers a variety of hearty, well-crafted dishes. One also comes here for its delicious traditional braais made with high quality meats, all washed down with one of South Africa's best wines. The waiters are attentive and ensure that your dining experience goes smoothly.

Provided by the local fishermen, this restaurant with a panoramic terrace serves excellent fish, seafood and even sushi. It is quickly taken over by tourists at noon, the best is to arrive early to benefit from the best locations. The room transports us inside a boat where it is good to sit in the evening. The waiters in sailor's clothes are at the disposal of the customer and are of good council. Fast and careful service.

Good food and good company! That's what The Black Sheep has been claiming for more than twenty years. In the plate, a traditional and tasty, but also sustainable and ethical cuisine that makes us discover the specialties of the region, whether plants, fish or local game, all in a family and friendly atmosphere at Jonny, Jorge and all their families. When evening comes, the light dims down for a more intimate and delicious dinner. A very good quality/price ratio.

The Cabo Beach Club is the perfect place to combine sunbathing, swimming, cocktails and dining with friends or family. An impressive and elegant restaurant with over 200 seats facing the ocean. To enjoy a meal, there is a sushi bar on one side and wood-fired pizzas on the other. To entertain the little ones, a game room is available inside. After a certain hour, the place comes alive. The outdoor stage, by the pool, regularly hosts concerts and gives way to wild parties!

La Dolce Vita in Camps Bay! With its warm and elegant style and the traces of fresh rosemary tickling your taste buds, this charming restaurant showcases Italian cuisine. While enjoying the beautiful terrace overlooking the sea and the summer sun setting on the horizon, treat yourself to a calamari, shrimp and asparagus risotto or one with grilled Norwegian salmon. And in winter, let the warmth of the fire accompany your hearty veal leek loin and grilled lamb chops.

On the ground floor, on the boardwalk and just across the beach from Camps Bay, Paranga is a good option for lunch or dinner. The view of the Atlantic Ocean is breathtaking behind the large bay windows as well as on the pretty terrace on the street side where you will be in the heart of the lively resort, or by taking some height on the balcony. Seafood, homemade sushi platters, fresh and grilled fish... A nice menu to find in your plate a fresh and delicate cuisine.