Restaurants

Cape Town: Your Culinary Capital

Cape Town is a culinary capital for a reason. From world-famous fine dining restaurants to trendy cafés and local hotspots: the selection is almost overwhelming. To be honest, we haven't been able to eat everywhere yet (although we try!). To help you on your way, we have listed our favorite places, conveniently divided by district. Also great options for vegans at the bottom! :-)

Is food in Cape Town expensive?

In our opinion, it is very reasonable. Of course, you can always make this as crazy as you want, but in general you get much more value for your money, especially compared to European prices. For example, you can get a main course for around €10 - €15, which is almost unthinkable in most European countries nowadays. Supermarket prices, on the other hand, are fairly similar to the European market.

Restaurants & Cafes

Multiple locations

Chef’s Warehouse: A highlight for foodies, with multiple locations (Beau Constantia, Tintswalo Atlantic, Maison and Winebar & Pinchos). Each location offers a unique culinary experience with tasting menus. We went to Tintswalo Atlantic, but the other locations are definitely still on our 'want to go list'. Absolute must-visit!
La Parada: nice, extensive menu with locations in Constantia, Camps Bay, V&A Waterfront, and more. Perfect for a drink or a casual meal.
Kauai: well-known South African chain for healthy bowls, wraps and (protein) smoothies. Can be found all over the city, ideal for a quick and nutritious bite.

Sea Point

Jarryds: For a delicious breakfast or brunch – the smoothie bowls are a must!
Maggy Lou’s: Small, cozy and the perfect place for coffee and breakfast or lunch. You can’t make a reservation here. Small downside: they don’t come to your table to take your order, you have to order this yourself at the bar.
Posticino Italian Restaurant: we never ate in the restaurant itself, but we often get delicious pizzas here (or have them delivered on a lazy Sunday). Ideal to take to a sunset spot and enjoy your pizza here while the sun goes down.
Kanéla Café: ideal place for breakfast or lunch with a really nice courtyard.

Camps Bay

The Lawns at the Roundhouse: Our personal favorite! The food isn't that special in our opinion, but we come back here regularly because of the cozy setting and the amazing view (very Instagrammable). Definitely go here!
The Bungalow: Fancy cocktails and seafood with an amazing view of the ocean.

Gardens

Kloof Street House: Always a good idea! An atmospheric garden, perfect for a romantic dinner or a cozy dinner with friends.
Maria’s Greek Café: Cozy and authentic, with delicious Greek dishes. Nice, casual atmosphere on a square. And affordable!
Kloof Club: Nice hip Italian restaurant with small dishes to share.
Our Local @ 117 Kloof: Nice setting for breakfast, lunch or a nice coffee. Nice interior with lots of plants.
Asoka: A cocktail bar and restaurant with delicious Asian-inspired dishes and live music - perfect for a cozy night out. We have to admit that we found the restaurant very dark during dinner. We could hardly see our food because of it. Either way recommended - also nice for drinks alone!

V&A Waterfront

The Pier: Fine dining at star level, perfect for a special occasion. On the pricier side, but when you compare it to what you would pay in Europe for the same quality, it is not too bad.
Grand Africa Café & Beach: This restaurant offers a relaxed atmosphere with a beautiful view of the ocean because they have a private beach where you can dine.

CBD

FYN: we haven't eaten here yet (unfortunately), but it should be the "best restaurant in Cape Town". Fine-dining restaurant, so a bit on the expensive side.
Yatari Ramenbar: Asian menu with delicious Ramen. Very good service and we got two complimentary dishes from the house. Too bad they don't have any outdoor seating, because the atmosphere inside is a bit less. On Mondays the Ramen dishes are discounted!

Noordhoek

Cape Point Vineyards: this vineyard has several restaurants to choose from, but either way, the view is fantastic. Every Thursday evening there is a food market with various food stalls. It is quite busy then (a bit too busy in our opinion). You can also order a picnic basket here and have a nice picnic in the grass (on Thursdays this is only possible until 13:30 because of the food market).

Stellenbosch

Tokara: Luxury dining in Stellenbosch with spectacular views over the vineyards. We only did a wine tasting here though.
The Fat Butcher: A must-visit for meat lovers! This is a stylish steakhouse that serves fantastic quality meat in a relaxed atmosphere.

Tip: For groups of six or more, a standard 10% tip is often added to the bill. So check your bill carefully if you are going with a larger group. If this is not the case, a 10-15% tip is customary.

Is eten in Kaapstad duur?

Dit valt naar onze mening heel erg mee. Je kunt dit natuurlijk altijd zo gek maken als je zelf wil, maar over het algemeen krijg je veel meer waar voor je geld, vooral in vergelijking met Europese prijzen. Afhankelijk van welk restaurant je kiest kun je bijvoorbeeld tussen de €10 en €15 een hoofdgerecht krijgen. Dat is in Nederland inmiddels al bijna niet meer denkbaar. Supermarktprijzen zijn daarentegen wel redelijk gelijk aan de Europese markt.

Lokale specialiteiten

Als je in een ander land bent is het natuurlijk altijd leuk om lokale specialiteiten te proeven. Probeer bijvoorbeeld een Gatsby, een gigantisch gevuld broodje met frietjes. Andere opties zijn bobotie, een kruidige ovenschotel, en biltong of droeworst, gedroogd en gekruid vlees als snack (dit verkopen ze op heel veel plekken). Voor iets zoets zijn koeksisters en melktert het proberen waard. Ook is rooibosthee een lokale specialiteit omdat deze thee alleen in Zuid-Afrika groeit. Verder is Amarula lekker om te proeven, dit is een romige likeur gemaakt van de vrucht van de marulaboom.

Heel eerlijk gezegd zijn wij niet súperfan van de lokale keuken, maar test dit zeker zelf uit en vorm je eigen mening!

For the vegans

Cape Town has a great selection for meat and fish lovers, although many restaurants always offer at least some vegetarian options. For vegans, it can be a bit more difficult. Here are some vegan-friendly spots to explore:

Plant Café (Camps Bay): One of the first fully vegan restaurants in Cape Town. They serve everything from comfort food like vegan burgers and wraps to healthy bowls and raw cheesecakes.
The Sunshine Food Co (Camps Bay): Fully vegan restaurant for burgers, wraps and smoothies.
Scheckter's Raw (Sea Point): Healthy and trendy, with dishes like smoothie bowls, vegan mac 'n cheese and raw desserts.
Kanéla Café (Sea Point): Already mentioned as a tip above, but they also offer plenty of vegan options on their menu.
The Concscious Kitchen (Gardens): A fully vegan restaurant that serves a variety of international dishes, including raw food options and fresh juices.
Capepoint Vineyard (Noordhoek): Already mentioned as a tip above, but they also offer vegan picnic baskets. Ideal for a fun vegan picnic.
The Lebenase Bakery (CBD): Ideal for takeaway with lots of vegan options. Every Tuesday 2 falafel sandwiches for the price of 1!