14 Best Restaurants in Namibia

Arguably Windhoek's only true fine-dining establishment—with a price tag to match—Leo's is literally in a castle on a hill. The small chandelier-dazzled dining room has fabulous views of the city and the haute cuisine is both gorgeously prepared and presented. Inside, it's all Champagne and taupe elegance, and sepia prints of early-20th-century photographs of the castle. The seasonal menu is not large but focuses on meat, with a couple of fresh fish and vegetarian options. The wine list is an impressive tome with at least 9,000 bottles available to choose from at any given time.

The in-house restaurant at the Flamingo Villa Boutique Hotel, with a stunning view of the lagoon, is the best fine-dining establishment in Walvis Bay. With exceptional attention to detail and service, the menu combines flavors of Europe and the Mediterranean with Namibian ingredients. The ‘Flamingo Style’ kapana and seafood platter will have you coming back every night, so will the glorious cocktails out on the bar terrace at sunset. The attentive management of the hotel spills into the restaurant and the chef often comes out to chat with the guests.

Full of old-world charm, the restaurant in this perfectly restored 1905 German colonial building looks out onto the manicured garden. This is the perfect place for that special-occasion dinner because the service is impeccable, the wine list excellent, and the menu is a broad selection of good, rich food such as venison steak and Namibian seafood delicacies. Whatever you do, make sure you start with the Kalahari cappuccino (a creamy soup made from Kalahari truffles) and end with the theatrical boozy coffee in the adjoining bar. It is on the pricey side, but certainly worth it.

A favorite restaurant among locals, this bistro-style steak house champions perfectly prepared Namibian meat and first-rate South African wine. The menu features burgers, salads and a couple of pasta dishes, but it's the steaks that keep this expansive place bustling every night. Try the beef carpaccio for starters and the slow-cooked pork belly for mains or keep it traditional and have a good old-fashioned steak excellently prepared. Grab one of the tables set in the captivating courtyard warmed by outdoor heaters (on cooler nights).

Always book in advance as this place is extremely popular.

This popular quintessential seaside restaurant has a distinct Portuguese flavor to its menu, with dishes like bacalhau con natas (cod and potato bake), chorizo, and various grilled proteins served espetada-style (dangling from a long metal skewer). This is the place to satisfy your appetite for seafood, with a decent selection of meat options, as well as a superb view. Sitting right on the water's edge, Anchors is the perfect spot to sip a glass of sparkling wine and eat the freshest West Coast oysters, as you watch boats go to and fro.  It's the perfect sundowner spot as it faces the setting sun as it slides down into the horizon over the sea.

A Swakopmund institution, the Brauhaus is a typical German restaurant where the beer flows and the big wooden tables invite long sit-downs over hearty lunches and dinners. The German fare—schnitzel, bratwurst, and rosti (similar to a potato pancake)—is excellent, but if goulash and sauerkraut don't do it for you, there is a selection of steaks and game meat, as well as seafood and even a few pasta and vegetarian options. A lively gathering place on Saturday afternoons, this is the place to mingle with the (mostly Germanic) locals. The service can sometimes be unpredictable.

One of the in-house restaurants at the Strand Hotel, this genuine steak house has an inviting and lively atmosphere that will set you at ease at once. The steaks are A+ and the craft beers from the in-house microbrewery pair well with a succulent piece of grilled game loin or a grilled Namibian Kapana experience, where the meat is grilled on an open fire, sliced, and sprinkled with traditional kapana spice. There are only a few vegetarian options. The outside fire pits are a great place to gather with friends for the beer tasting tray and a side of barbecue wings before dinner; you'll never tire of the view over the misty beaches of Swakopmund.

The palm-shaded terrace at this classic little café is a good place to watch the world go by while you savor scrumptious home-baked cakes and pastries, or enjoy a late-afternoon tea with hazelnut triangles, custard-filled danish, or croissants. Breakfast (buffet or à la carte style) is served until 11 am, and a small selection of light lunch options, like toasted sandwiches and soups, are served from noon until 2 pm.

If you’re looking for something with a little local flavor, try the Zambezi bream fillet or the mielie pap and stew at this café on the main road through Katima Mulilo. Wash it down with a smoothie, shake, or gourmet coffee, as you watch indigenous birds frolicking in the luscious garden. While there are no airs or graces here, expect hearty, homemade food and friendly service. They also operate a small kiosk at the Katima Mulilo Airport that serves beverages and snacks to grab on the go.

This restaurant, situated right at the end of Swakopmund's famous 275-meter-long jetty, is a cocoon of warmth where patrons can sip wine and eat oysters while watching the Atlantic Ocean heave around them. Seafood is the recommended food choice, but there are other delectable dishes, like the crumbed Camembert starter or the flame-grilled beef fillet with beetroot confit. The vertiginous walk along the jetty to reach the restaurant is quite bracing, with the Atlantic waves crashing beneath you—or at high tide, possibly all over you.  Be on the safe side and make a reservation for dinner.

If you only have a single night to spend in the capital city, make sure you swing by Joe’s Beerhouse, whether it’s to sample a large selection of local and imported beers, fill up on their generous portions of meat-forward food, or to marvel at the thousands of pieces of eclectic memorabilia and knickknacks on display, from stuffed animals and road signs to antiques and wire art. This quirky Windhoek institution will make for very memorable photos no matter whether you choose to sit indoors or out. Despite the vast amount of people who usually frequent this popular jaunt, the service is fairly prompt. The restaurant also offers a shuttle service for its patrons, which is added to the restaurant bill.

The Raft enjoys a spectacular view from its perch out over beautiful Walvis Bay Lagoon. Divided into two parts—bar to the right, restaurant to the left—this friendly establishment is a great spot to enjoy the best of Walvis—including sightings of the flamingos. The menu is extensive, with the usual array of seafood, sushi, red meat, good pizzas and the requisite pasta and vegetarian options. It's also a great spot for a local beer served in an icy cold mug.

This homegrown café chain has four locations in Windhoek as well as branches in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. It's a friendly spot for good coffee, a slice of cake, or a quick sandwich between sights.

It's all about location at the Tug, which, as its name suggests, is actually an old tugboat that has been raised up and moored next to the jetty. The restaurant is known for its fresh, locally sourced seafood—especially the local Walvis Bay oysters—which are some of the best in the world, but there are creative seafood alternatives like venison (oryx, springbok, kudu, and zebra), though not many vegetarian meals. The outside deck is a coveted location for a summer sundowner and it's always bustling with visitors and locals; alternatively enjoy an after-dinner drink in the bar which feels like you're in the boat's bridge. Be aware of the menu pricing, as they charge extra for sides and sauces that should be included with the meal.

Try to reserve (at least a week in advance) a sea-view table so you can watch the ocean crashing just beneath you.