Restaurants in Cape Town
One of the many attractions of Cape Town is the quality and
variety of restaurants in and around the city, which by
international standards remain fantastic value. As well as a wide
variety of international fare, there are numerous restaurants
offering local Cape Malay dishes and traditional African cuisine,
and seafood is also extremely popular. Fine diners and families
with young children will find they are equally well catered
for.
Camps Bay and the Waterfront have a wide choice of restaurants,
but many of the better ones are outside these tourist hotspots. The
town of Franschhoek, 40 minutes outside Cape Town, is known as the
gourmet capital of South Africa with plenty of first-rate
restaurants, while many of the wine farms in Constantia and around
Stellenbosch have fantastic restaurants for long lunching
accompanied by a bottle of the superb local wine.
Restaurants in Cape Town usually add a 10-15 percent service
charge to tables of six or more; otherwise waiters expect a tip of
10-15 percent for good service. Restaurants are non-smoking, but
most have separate smoking areas.
For a comprehensive list of restaurants in Cape Town check out
www.diningout.co.za
The sister restaurant of Wasabe in Constantia, Wakame has a
great position overlooking the ocean and is always packed with food
and fashion connoisseurs. The focus is on sushi, but Wakame also
serves excellent Modern European fare. There is a good bar and a
outdoor terrace, ideal for sundowners. In peak season there are two
sittings and booking is essential.
Address: Beach Road, Mouille Point
E-mail: info@wakame.co.za
Telephone: 021 433 2377
| Constantia Uitsig |
$$$$$ | French |
A huge success story from day one, Constantia Uitsig is an
Italian-French restaurant with Asian fusions set in picturesque
wine country, backed by the Constantiaberg. Chef Frank Swainston
continues to create food with broader influences now than this
original Provencale-Tuscan mix, he claims Australian and Asian
influences too these days. Next door is Uitsig's sister restaurant,
La Colombe, serving richer food which some prefer, but the views
are not as good. Booking essential.
Address: Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia
E-mail: frank@uitsig.co.za
Telephone: Uitsig: 021 794 4480; La Colombe: 021 794 2390
| Blues |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
For over 15 years Blues has been synonymous with the spectacular
views of Camps Bay. Be it a stormy winter's day or perfect sunlit
afternoon, you will always find Blues as buzzy, busy and as
fashionable as ever. The restaurant that introduced modern
California cuisine to the Cape today boasts a menu incorporating
Mediterranean and fusion influences with a focus on seafood. Book
well in advance during peak season and expect slightly chaotic
waitering. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
E-mail: info@blues.co.za
Telephone: 021 438 2040
| Millers Thumb |
$$$$$ | Seafood |
Solly and Jane Solomon's refreshingly-casual seafood restaurant
in uptown Cape Town, Miller's Thumb's ever-changing chalkboard
menu means that the customer, though reasonably assured of always
finding something familiar, will just as surely find a couple of
unlikely options. Cajun and Creole dishes have their influence in
this kitchen, as does a winning Japanese dish which must be tried
at least once: 'Yaki Soba', a noodle dish with prawns, chicken
and cashews, which has become a staple. There's generally a pasta
dish or two on the menu with interesting sauces, complemented by a
good choice of wines.
Address: 10b Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof
E-mail: thethumb@mweb.co.za
Telephone: 021 424 3838
| Five Flies |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Five Flies is a sassy upmarket dining venue situated in the hub
of Cape Town's legal and financial district. Great care has been
taken with the interior renovations of this historic 18th-century
building in order to create one of the most unique dining
experiences in the Cape. Executive Chef, Gerard van Staden has
become renowned for his artistic and delicious creations, which are
presented together with some of the Cape's finest wines. Secure
street parking available.
Address: 14-16 Keerom Street, Cape Town
E-mail: info@fiveflies.co.za
Telephone: 021 424 4442
| The Codfather |
$$$$$ | Seafood |
Situated just behind Camps Bay's main strip, the Codfather
offers a unique presentation of fine fish. There is no menu at this
low-key restaurant - you make your choice after a personal
discourse with your waiter on the daily specials. It is then
weighed, prepared to the highest standard and served at your table.
Staff are all first class and provide a fine act. There is also a
sushi bar. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Address: 37 The Drive, Camps Bay
E-mail: codfathr@mweb.co.za
Telephone: 021 438 0782
| Beluga |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Beluga is a stylish eatery located in the Foundry, a wonderful
100-year-old red-brick building that once housed one of the city's
oldest metal works, now converted into a modern interior design and
office centre in the heart of what is rapidly becoming Cape Town's
film and modelling district. The restaurant offers the best of New
World cuisine - plenty of robust flavours, interesting ingredients
and generous portions - while the cocktail bar serves great drinks
and retro-cocktails, and a welcoming café spills out onto
an enclosed courtyard, serving light meals and coffees from early
till late.
Address: The Foundry, Prestwich Street, Green Point
E-mail: info@beluga.co.za
Telephone: 021 418 2948/9
| Café Royale |
$$$$$ | American |
Royale is
the gourmet burger joint in Cape Town and it is
not uncommon to see scruffy jeaned skater types rubbing shoulders
with trendy executives. Royale offers a spectacular range of
burgers (and an entire list of different veggie burgers too) and
one can chop and change toppings, choose between ostrich, chicken,
veggie burgers, regular burgers or even seared tuna burgers and
feast on a mix of potato wedges, sweet potato fries, regular fries
and delicious salad. The burgers sport amusing names such as the
'Miss Piggy' (with bacon and guacamole) and the 'Fat Bastard'
(double everything) and the restaurant also offers a range of
pizzas and mouth-watering milkshakes. Royale now boasts an upstairs
bar and lounge known as the Waiting Room that features live music,
as well as a third floor that caters for private functions and has
a sundowner deck.
Address: 273 Long Street
Telephone: 021 422 4536
| Ginga |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
The trendy Ginga restaurant, situated in the Bo-Kaap district is
a fine dining experience. The lofty, industrial restaurant
amalgamates a French brasserie ambiance with a modern capetonian
design creating an intimate and stylish environment. Chef Michael
Bassett serves up contemporary fusion cuisine with a wine list to
compliment and upstairs is the laid back Shogo bistro/bar, the
perfect place for a pre or post-dinner drink.
Address: 121 Castle Street
Telephone: 021 426 2368
| Pigalle |
$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic |
Famed as Cape Town's most stylish dinner-dance venue, Pigalle is
a vast, split-level restaurant divided into intimate dining areas,
each boasting a view of the dance floor and band. The lavish
furnishings, elegant tables and background music create the perfect
atmosphere to indulge in the sumptuous offerings from either one of
the set menus or from the à la carte menu. Start with black
mussels; choose between the ostrich fillet with mushroom and
peppercorn sauce, the fillet medallions, or the Pigalle Platter
(prawns and langoustines in lemon butter), and share the
crème brûlée or baked cheesecake with someone
special. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.
Address: 57 Somerset Rd, Greenpoint
E-mail: pigalle@mweb.co.za
Telephone: 021 421 4848
Offering Cape Town's finest Indian cuisine in an elegant
setting, Bukhara is situated in the CBD of Cape Town, and attracts
business people, politicians, food critics and lovers of fine food.
The glass-walled kitchen allows diners to watch the Indian chefs at
work, while enjoying a savoury taste experience that explores the
spices and flavours of authentic India. The fare includes meat,
poultry, seafood and vegetarian favourites, as well as a variety of
breads and rice. Open for dinner nightly and lunch from Monday to
Saturday.
Address: 33 Church Street
Telephone: 021 424 0000
Something of a Cape Town institution, Café Mozart has
been attracting locals and foreigners for over thirty years.
Reputed to serve the best coffee in town, Café Mozart is a
great breakfast stop with tables spilling out onto a shaded
pedestrianised walkway where buskers amuse passers-by with jovial
tunes. With superb fruit juices, a mouth-watering selection of
sandwiches made on freshly baked bread and an attractive daily menu
created at the whim of chef and proprietor Tom Kelley, there is
something for everyone. For teatime lovers head to Café
Mozart and sample their variety of looseleaf teas that are served
in elegant silver teapots and quirky crockery. Open Monday to
Saturday for breakfast and lunch.
Address: 37 Church Street
Telephone: 021 424 3774
| Kyoto Garden Sushi |
$$$$$ | Japanese |
Adored by locals and run by a passionate American restaurateur,
Kyoto Garden Sushi is one of Cape Town's most popular sushi and
seafood restaurants. Oozing in minimalist Japanese style, the
Zen-like decor is tasteful and the food to-die-for! Specialising in
quality seafood, only the finest ingredients are used, including
Canadian Sockeye Salmon, Alaskan King Crab and fresh wasabi
couriered straight from Japan. Try the Squid sautéed with
tofu, greens and sea urchins to start, immerse yourself in a
platter of indulgent sushi and end off with ginger and green tea
ice cream for dessert. Open for dinner from Monday to Saturday.
Closed Sundays. Bookings recommended.
Address: 11 Lower Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof
Telephone: 021 422 2001
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