|
|
 Best Restaurants in Cape TownOne 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,
while seafood (especially sushi) 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 variety 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. Visitors to Cape Town during the winter months should take
advantage of "winter menus" offered by most restaurants - these are
astoundingly good value deals, often packaged as a tasting menu of
five courses or more. 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. Recent legislation has banned
smoking on all restaurant premises. For a comprehensive list of restaurants in Cape Town check out
|
Rafikis
Courting the young and hip market, Rafiki's in a lively
restaurant overlooking Kloof Nek Road in Tamboerskloof. Offering
pool tables, televisions, and a good selection of beers on tap,
this place is just as popular for its vibe as for its delicious
pizzas and burgers. It gets crowded on weekends when you may find
live bands or deejays making music on the balcony, so go early or
book ahead.
CUISINE: Pizzeria
STYLE: Trendy
Address: 13 Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof
Website: www.rafikis.co.za |
Myoga
Myoga is a trendy and stylish Cape Town restaurant that has
diners enjoying the finest in contemporary fusion cuisine in a
friendly, laid-back atmosphere. Speciality dishes include the
caramelised pear and walnut gorgonzola and the seared ostrich with
mango and fynbos honey. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and
dinner; reservations essential.
CUISINE: Fusion
Address: Colinton Road, Newlands
Website: www.myoga.co.za |
Tobago's
With its prime location near the Greenpoint Stadium, Tobago's
restaurant in the Radisson Blu Hotel is a wonderful venue for
visitors to enjoy a long luxurious lunch or dinner. Diners are
offered a wonderful selection of meals from the restaurant's
world-class menu, or a vast buffet to choose from, and can enjoy
their meal in the stylish dining area or outside on the beautiful
waterfront terrace.
CUISINE: International
Address: Beach Road, Granger Bay
Website:
www.radissonblu.com/hotel-capetown/dining/restaurant |
Kyoto Garden Sushi
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 saut?©ed 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.
CUISINE: Japanese
STYLE: Trendy
Address: 11 Lower Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof |
Caf?© Mozart
Something of a Cape Town institution, Caf?© Mozart has been
attracting locals and foreigners for over thirty years. Reputed to
serve the best coffee in town, Caf?© 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 Caf?© 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.
CUISINE: Caf?©
Address: 37 Church Street |
Bukhara
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.
CUISINE: Indian
Address: 33 Church Street
Website: www.bukhara.com |
Pigalle
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 ? 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 cr?¨me
br?»l?©e or baked cheesecake with someone special. Open Monday to
Saturday for lunch and dinner.
CUISINE: Modern Eclectic
Address: 57A Somerset Rd, Greenpoint
Website: www.pigallerestaurants.co.za |
Ginja
The trendy Ginja restaurant offers a fine dining experience in
an ambient setting. 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. Reservations essential.
CUISINE: Modern Eclectic
Address: 70 New Church Street
Website: http://www.myoga.co.za/web/ |
Caf?© Royale
Royale is
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.
CUISINE: American
Address: 273 Long Street |
Beluga
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 caf?© spills out onto an
enclosed courtyard, serving light meals and coffees from early till
late.
CUISINE: Modern Eclectic
Address: The Foundry, Prestwich Street, Green Point
Website: www.beluga.co.za |
The Codfather
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.
CUISINE: Seafood
Address: 37 The Drive, Camps Bay
Website: www.codfather.co.za |
Five Flies
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.
CUISINE: Modern Eclectic
Address: 14-16 Keerom Street, Cape Town
Website: www.fiveflies.co.za |
Millers Thumb
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.
CUISINE: Seafood
Address: 10b Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof |
Blues
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.
CUISINE: Modern Eclectic
Address: The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Website: www.blues.co.za |
Constantia Uitsig
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 Clayton Bell
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.
CUISINE: French
Address: Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road,
Constantia
Website: www.constantiauitsig.co.za |
Wakame
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.
CUISINE: Japanese
STYLE: Trendy
Address: Beach Road, Mouille Point
Website: www.wakame.co.za |
|
| Travel guide by (c) Globe Media Ltd. By its very nature much of the information in this travel guide is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they're relying with the relevant authorities. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above. |
|
