WHERE TO EAT IN CAPE TOWN | MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS + THE WINELANDS
Jan Ras Photography
Cape Town is an incredible food city. You can have a world-class tasting menu one night, a pot of mussels on the harbor the next and a wine tasting in the vineyards in between, often for much less than you'd pay at home. Here are the places we ate on our trip, plus the spots I'd book next time.
WHERE WE ATE IN CAPE TOWN
LA COLOMBE
Best for: a once-in-a-lifetime tasting menu
If you book one special meal in Cape Town, make it La Colombe. It sits in the forest above the Constantia vineyards at Silvermist Estate and is regularly named one of the best restaurants in the world. The tasting menu is playful and full of surprises, including the famous Tuna "La Colombe," served in a sealed tin. It deserves its own post, so read my full La Colombe review.
Tip: Book a few months ahead, and plan for about a 30-minute drive from the Waterfront.
HARBOUR HOUSE V&A WATERFRONT
Best for: seafood with harbor views
Harbour House sits right on the water at Quay Four in the V&A Waterfront, and it's all about seafood: freshly shucked oysters, sushi, prawns and seafood platters, with tables at the water's edge. Ask for a seat by the window or outside on a nice day.
What to order: Start with a dozen freshly shucked oysters, then go for the prawns in Mozambique sauce or share the seafood platter. They have great sushi too, so you really can't go wrong.
DEN ANKER
Best for: mussels, frites and Belgian beer
This Belgian restaurant on the quayside at the Pierhead has been a Waterfront favorite for about 30 years. Order a pot of mussels with frites and try one of the Belgian beers on tap, while you look out at the harbor with Table Mountain behind it.
What to order: A steaming pot of mussels with a cone of crispy Belgian frites, plus a glass of Anker, the restaurant's own Belgian beer.
SUNSET DRINKS: TOBAGO'S AT THE RADISSON COLLECTION
Best for: sunset drinks by the ocean
Our hotel's restaurant and terrace looks straight out over the Atlantic at Granger Bay. It's the perfect place for a drink as the sun goes down.
Read more about where we stayed in Cape Town.
WHERE I'D BOOK NEXT TIME
These are the Cape Town restaurants at the top of my list for my next trip.
FINE DINING
FYN, City Centre: Japanese techniques with South African ingredients, and one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Africa.
Salsify at the Roundhouse, Camps Bay: seasonal, creative tasting menus in a historic building with Atlantic views.
PIER, V&A Waterfront: seafood-focused fine dining right on the harbor.
DATE NIGHT
The Pot Luck Club, Woodstock: Asian-inspired sharing plates and great cocktails at the top of the Old Biscuit Mill.
The Red Room at Mount Nelson, Gardens: moody, glamorous and known for its Peking duck.
Nikkei, Bree Street: Japanese-Peruvian sushi, ceviche and robata.
CASUAL FAVORITES
Seven Colours Eatery, V&A Waterfront: contemporary African cooking at Battery Park.
Una Más, Sea Point: Mexican food and a huge mezcal and tequila list.
Clarke's Bar & Dining Room, Bree Street: burgers and a cozy, local vibe.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN THE WINELANDS
We spent a day tasting our way through Franschhoek on the Franschhoek Wine Tram. Boschendal, Plaisir, Vrede en Lust, Allée Bleue and Bartinney were all stops on our route (read about each one in my wine tram post). If you're planning a Winelands day, these are worth booking too:
Babel at Babylonstoren: farm-to-table cooking in a converted cattle shed, using produce from the estate's incredible gardens.
La Petite Colombe, Franschhoek: La Colombe's sister restaurant, with a tasting menu on the Leeu estate.
Boschendal: if you have time, their farm-to-table picnics on the lawn look dreamy.
MY TIPS FOR EATING OUT IN CAPE TOWN
Book ahead for the big names. La Colombe, FYN and Salsify can book up months in advance.
Expect a service charge at some fine-dining restaurants. Some add one to the bill, so check before you tip on top.
Tip about 10 to 15 percent at restaurants where a service charge isn't included.
Use Uber to get to dinner. It's easy and inexpensive, especially to places like Constantia and Camps Bay.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the best restaurant in Cape Town?
La Colombe is regularly ranked one of the best restaurants in the world, and it's the one I'd book for a special occasion. FYN and Salsify at the Roundhouse are also among the most acclaimed restaurants in the city.
Where should you eat at the V&A Waterfront?
Harbour House for seafood with harbor views and Den Anker for Belgian mussels and beer. For fine dining at the Waterfront, try PIER.
Do you need reservations at Cape Town restaurants?
For the top fine-dining restaurants, yes, often months ahead. For most casual spots, booking a day or two ahead is enough, especially on weekends.
Where should I stay in Cape Town?
See where to stay in Cape Town for where we stayed and my picks for every neighborhood.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I'm Alexandra
I'm a travel-obsessed planner, foodie and firm believer that a well-planned trip makes life better. Want a trip like this one planned around you? Tell me where you're dreaming of going, and I'll take care of the details.
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