28 Best Restaurants in Cape Town, South Africa

Enjoy soaring views of the Constantia winelands from this coolly elegant space of carved wood and huge glass windows, where a fantastic and well-priced "tapas for two" menu reminds you why long lunches were invented. Eight dishes—all marked by freshness of ingredients and a globe-trotting host of inspiration—served in three courses are available for lunch and dinner, and change with the seasons or chef's inspiration. Expect items like a perfectly spiced carrot risotto with beurre noisette and horseradish cream, or exquisitely fragrant pan-fried fish with a coconut dressing and kale. A great, small wine list that includes very reasonable by-the-glass options from the host estate, smooth service, and some charming private outdoor seating options available in good weather complete the picture.

Serving a range of exquisitely prepared international fusion cuisine in a casually elegant-industrial setting, this restaurant and bakery in the heart of leafy Constantia is a true gem. The extremely seasonal menu changes often, but includes about a dozen mind-blowing tapas options—incorporating flavors from harissa to ponzu to smoked garlic—as well as a half dozen more traditional mains, such as chalmar beef with duck fat fries and café au lait sauce, or pan-seared line fish with mussel chowder. The gorgeous presentation would have you expect a much costlier bill, but is probably inevitable given that the chef-owners both hail from La Colombe, one of Cape Town's most lauded fine-dining establishments. An amazing wine list and in-house bakery where you can pick up fresh croissants, macaroons, and exceptional pastries complete the picture.

Elegant and tranquil, this small oasis near the Kloof Street drag serves pricey but beautifully executed Japanese fare. Sourcing as much as possible from Japan, the owner verges on obsessive in his effort to maintain a high standard of both ingredients and technique, evidenced in the lightness of the tempura and the freshness and variety of seafood. The Zen ambience of blond wood and emerald light creates a supremely relaxing setting in which to enjoy dishes like seaweed-and-shiitake salad or sake steamed clams. An unusually diverse range of sushi (by Cape Town standards) can include choice items like sea urchin, big-eye tuna, scallop, and angel prawns. Great cocktails, an impressive selection of sake and Japanese whiskey, and excellent service complete the picture.

Rightfully known as one of South Africa's most lauded fine-dining establishments and listed in the world's top 100 restaurants, La Colombe’s sublime French-Asian inspired tasting menus are served in a delightful minimalist setting overlooking the bucolic green of the Constantia wine valley. The menu changes regularly, but the best option is to order the full eight-course gourmand menu, as there is not a false note to be found. With plating so artful that you almost feel reluctant to break into some dishes, Chef Scott Kirsten’s genius does not come at the expense of taste, as evidenced in the life-changing springbok tartare with pickled chestnut, chipotle, and foie gras. The intimate cool space of white-painted timber offset by charcoal finishes and black beams is light-flooded by day, becoming elegantly refined in the evening. An excellent wine list and incredibly knowledgeable service also ensure that La Colombe will remain a favorite Cape Town splurge.

A meal at this playful and inventive tapas-style venture from Cape Town star-chef Luke Dale Roberts always promises fabulous fun. With great harbor and mountain views from its position on the sixth floor of a renovated silo, this hip eatery serves an eclectic but clearly Asian-influenced array of fine-dining nibbles. Although the menu changes regularly, a few regulars like the smoked beef fillet with truffle café au lait and ceviche avocado tacos remain favorites. You'll want to order about three plates per person, so if you can, come with a crew to maximize how many you can taste. The cocktails are delicious, service friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere, with its open kitchen and gorgeous lighting, super relaxed. The all-you-can-drink sparkling-wine brunches (Sunday only) are also a fantastic treat.

Away from the Camps Bay "strip" and higher up on the mountains in the historical Roundhouse building, an opulent culinary experience awaits you at Salsify. Be prepared for fine-dining excellence with French-inspired takes on local ingredients served as a 6 or 7 course-course tasting menu where you may choose a dish for some courses and wine pairings are optional. Expect a gastronomic experience with dishes like cold-smoked beef tartare with miso egg yolk, smoked chestnut and porcini mousse, or cardamom and rose sago pudding souffle with kumquat marmalade and roasted pistachio.

Consistently rated South Africa’s top restaurant and on the top 50 restaurants in the world list, this industrial-elegant boutique eatery in Cape Town’s trendy Woodstock neighborhood is a struggle to get a table at, but the fantastical sensory and culinary journey that awaits you is a worthy and potentially life-changing reward. Since opening in 2009, TTK, as it’s known, has led fine-dining trends in foodie-mecca Cape Town. Keeping one step ahead of the game, chef-owner Luke Dale Roberts has curated a food-theater experience that, in a manner at once playful and artful, employs all five senses to transport you through a mind-blowing array of courses, with an end result that feels simply magical. Come with your best appetite, as the richness of the meal—starting with canapés like a shortbread-foie-gras with gold-leaf, moving on to dishes like lamb sweetbread with liquorice liver jus, and finishing with the likes of duck breast with duck liver stuffing and sour cherry—is also superlative.

Booking system has become month-to-month, so instead of planning months in advance, log in very early on the morning of the 1st.

At the top of the Helshoogte Pass with absolutely amazing views of the valley and mountains, Tokara is a Winelands must-visit. Chef Carolize Coetzee grew up in small-town South Africa and honors local ingredients and cooking methods in her wide range of dishes. Lunch is à la carte, while dinner guests choose between four- or six-course set menus, each with a wine-pairing option.

In this warm space of yellowwood tables, sash windows, and reed ceilings, chef-owner Harald Bresselschmidt has served classic European-with-a-twist cuisine since 1996 at one of the city’s oldest fine-dining establishments. Using the freshest South African produce prepared with classical European methods, the chef cooks with wine in mind, and Aubergine's cellar and pairings are unsurprisingly superb. Seafood options are usually excellent, and meat dishes like an ostrich fillet with sweetbread and marrow dumplings richly sublime. Lunch and winter specials are more affordable ways of enjoying this fine restaurant, and in summer, the terrace seating in this historic 1830s home is recommended.

This relaxed but glam eatery in the posh Vineyard Hotel & Spa outside Cape Town attracts well-heeled regulars, who come for chef Mike Basset's consistently excellent fusion flair, evidenced in dishes like squid ink spaghetti with yuzu pearls and the divine truffle-teriyaki beef fillet topped with perfectly crisped tempura vegetables. Evenings are all about the amazingly good-value seven-course tasting menu. Lunches are more casual but also offer a five-course tasting menu option. Black chandeliers and tones of gray and silver make for an ambience of cool evening elegance, while daytime diners will appreciate the gorgeous garden and mountain views. Don't neglect the fabulous wine list, which features many of the country's best.

Don't miss Mount Nelson's legendary high tea, which has been offered since the hotel was erected in 1899 to welcome the Prince of Wales on his visit to the Cape. Served from 2:30 to 5:30, afternoon tea offers a pastry selection that can tempt even the most jaded palate, with savory treats that make for a scrumptious meal, and more than 40 tea varieties, which an expertly-trained tea sommelier can guide you through.

Although Azure's blue-and-white nautical-theme decor may feel a bit outdated to some, the restaurant's jaw-dropping sea and mountain views are reason enough to experience the mostly inspired menu. Signature dishes like the crayfish-and-prawn cocktail, beef Stroganoff, and rice pudding have a classic old-school bent and are divinely comforting, while more contemporary dishes like the prawn dhal in a coriander yogurt with pineapple salsa, or nouvelle mushrooms on watercress panna cotta are also true winners. While the à la carte menu is full of crowd-pleasers, the tasting menus—though sometimes excellent—do not always hit the mark. However, with this level of exquisite service, fairly reasonable pricing for fine dining, and such breathtaking views, diners are in for a treat overall. Come when you can enjoy the view, and inquire about specials like the "wine journey" or family Sunday lunches.  Ask for a window table.

Boasting one of the largest selections of wines by the glass (more than 250) in the world, Belthazar is also recommended for its consistently good if pricey steak and seafood. Enjoy gorgeous Table Mountain and harbor views from the all-weather outdoor seating at lunch, or at dinner, the moodier interior, where a team of sommeliers can recommend the best wine match for your meal. Venison options like the springbok fillet served with a chocolate-chili sauce are delicious, and the Chicago-cut beef is more than a pound of on-the-bone heaven. Mozambican seafood options like prawns and langoustines are also very popular.

A relatively new offering on this historic wine estate in Constantia, this fine-dining restaurant serves excellent fare from an original Cape Dutch building with charming views of the vineyards. The elegant but unpretentious tasting menu is available for lunch or dinner, and the service is attentive and gracious.  Request a table on the balcony in warm weather to enjoy the wonderful vineyard views.

Turning the old Reserve Bank Building into a scene of fantastical opulence with ornate, handblown glass chandeliers, lots of dark wood, and luxurious fabrics, the Taj Hotel's Indian fine-dining restaurant does not disappoint when it comes to either ambience or flavor. Choose between the five-course chef's menu, or order à la carte from a menu that is filled with new takes on authentic Indian classics. Dishes like roasted corn soup with turmeric popcorn will get you started, and sublime interpretations of classics like black lentils and kidney beans or spiced coconut and green mango line fish are sure to delight. 

A trendy Clifton restaurant with a prime location for views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles Mountains, Bungalow has plenty of outdoor seating that makes this the place to go on a warm sunny day. The menu is large, offering many classic meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes, as well as salads and sushi. 

The Codfather serves an excellent array of fresh seafood in a casual yet buzzing environment by way of a slightly unorthodox system. Rather than ordering from a menu, you instead head to a display of fresh seafood on ice, where, with the help of your waiter, you select everything from fish to shellfish in the quantities and style of your choice (you're charged by weight, as in Greece). Possible selections include calamari grilled Cajun-style; kabeljou, yellowtail, or bluenose grilled and served with a choice of sauces; or Mozambican langoustines. All orders come with side dishes of stir-fried vegetables, rice, or fries. A conveyer belt of tasty sushi is also on offer. Although it is set back from Camps Bay's typical sea views, diners can enjoy mountain views from an outdoor terrace. The food here is pricey but perfectly cooked, always fresh, and served with a smile.

Discover the wonders of South African haute cuisine in this modern, glassed-in conservatory overlooking the beautiful gardens of the historic Cellars-Hohenort Hotel. The cuisine is playful but high-end, with a medley of multicultural techniques and flavors being used to great effect on local ingredients, resulting in dishes like a springbok (local venison) loin served with tempura shiitake mushrooms, karoo lamb with pumpkin mousse and fynbos honey, or Atlantic tuna with kimchee and apple. A stylish room in tones of silver, gray, and dark chocolate with bare dark-wood tables allows the garden views outside to shine, while at night, warm lighting highlights well-chosen artwork. Solicitous service and an amazing wine list go without saying. 

Take a break from your Waterfront wanderings at this Belgian-style eatery, where you can enjoy great views while also savoring an impressive range of Belgian beers and as good a pot of mussels with frites as you're likely to find anywhere in Cape Town. With its focus on meat and seafood, expect other dishes like fillet béarnaise, rabbit simmered in Belgian beer, or Norwegian salmon in a beurre blanc. Sitting on the pier head between the Albert Mall and the clock tower (the departure point for trips to Robben Island), this glassed-in space with a fireplace in winter enjoys lovely harbor and mountain views whether you sit inside or out, and makes for great people- (or seal-) watching.

In a huge brick warehouse space decorated with African artifacts and artworks, like giant Malian puppets, beautiful beadwork, and wooden carvings, Gold instantly prepares you for the touristy but thoroughly enjoyable meal and show to come. Your 14-course pan-African "taste safari" may include dishes from Cape Malay curry to Moroccan tagine; the food is fine but not the sole reason you are here. Throughout the meal, performers emerge to sing, drum, and dance, and their skill makes the trip well worthwhile if you are looking for both food and entertainment. Service is friendly and competent, and a full vegetarian menu is also available. Although intentionally well suited for big groups, smaller tables will not feel overwhelmed or out of place.  Start your evening with the interactive Djembe drumming session, a surprisingly fun way to whet your appetite.

In a restored warehouse, this trendy operation has made good use of what was once a derelict piece of land between the V&A Waterfront and the harbor. It's now a place for locals to be seen, with a private beach, several bars, and comfortable covered seating scattered about—everything is overpriced, but the view and toes-in-the-sand vibe may merit a drink or two.

This centrally located and very popular pan-Asian restaurant's complex menu of dim sum, sushi, grilled, and wok-fried items has something for everyone, but picky connoisseurs of Asian cuisine might find the lack of specialization problematic. Popular with business and leisure diners alike, the darkly elegant lacquered box dining room affords partial views of chefs in the four kitchens preparing your food. The dim sum is probably the best option (the crispy prawn cheung fan is excellent), and the Peking duck with paper-thin pancakes are a favorite. Grills include mint lamb chops served with dry red chilies and garlic. Four kitchens mean that dishes arrive when ready, which translates into efficiency, but also the possibility of fellow diners watching while you eat, or vice versa. The owners of Haiku also own Bukhara, the very good Indian restaurant next door.

Sister restaurant to the original Harbour House in Kalk Bay, the V&A location serves the same reliably fresh and tasty seafood menu from an enviable spot overlooking the harbor. As with the Kalk Bay location, the fresh fish of the day is always a good bet, and desserts are excellent. Sushi and cocktails are served upstairs, from which vantage you can also enjoy stellar views of the mountain and sunset.

La Mouette serves an extremely reasonably priced tasting menu of modern French-fusion-style cuisine in a beautiful old Sea Point home that is all sash windows, working fireplaces, and bold color. With a choice of three or six courses, you'll be treated to inventive and delicious seasonal fare such as tuna tartare or duck breast with fermented red cabbage. Split into several different rooms, each of which seats only about 20 people, the restaurant allows for lingering conversation even on the busiest evenings. Friendly, competent service and a beautiful courtyard that is very popular in the summer complete the picture. Not all courses are winners, but at these prices, the overall experience is well worth a visit.

If you've always wanted to try Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa's famous Japanese cuisine, but were put off by the potential bill in New York or London, Nobu Cape Town offers a chance to sample what may not constitute exactly the same level of cuisine, but will nonetheless make for a highly enjoyable experience. A vast modern space in the Waterfront's One&Only resort provides a fitting backdrop for the splurge of the Omakase multicourse tasting menu, which will likely include dishes such as the signature Alaskan black cod with miso. Service is gracious, and the selection of sake and local wines is stellar if costly by local standards.

This stylish restaurant is one of the only dinner and dance venues in Cape Town; expect a big menu with well-made meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes with a Portuguese flair. A lively band performs all sorts of classical tunes from Frank Sinatra to George Michael, and there are lots of sing-alongs, but more importantly, music to dance to, which diners do in between courses.

Known for its exceptional natural beauty, Cape Town is surprisingly short on restaurants with killer views; The Roundhouse, serving modern South African cuisine, is helping close that gap. Converted from its origins as an 18th-century Table Mountain–side hunting lodge, this unique fine-dining restaurant overlooking Camps Bay specializes in applying creative flavor combinations to local ingredients—think Karoo ostrich with a fennel seed glaze or hake with carrot and cashew puree. All three connected dining rooms exude a romantic warmth with their white tablecloths and copper hurricane lamps, with the Somerset Room enjoying the best sea views, and the private whiskey room being ideal for larger parties of up to eight guests.

Check out the adjacent "Rumbullion" picnic area, an excellent place to while away a summer's afternoon enjoying breathtaking mountain and sea views and a more casual burger-and-pizza-style menu. Opening hours vary with the season, so best to call and check.

In this raw-timber structure in the heart of the docks, about three miles north of other V&A venues, the music is loud, the tables are crowded, and the decor is nonexistent, but tourists come in droves to gorge on fresh seafood. Expect to pay through the nose for a kilogram for local crayfish (similar to lobster) or scarce and endangered wild abalone, which is being poached nearly to extinction. Large prawns are also pricey. There is plenty of less expensive seafood, and daily specials such as baby squid and local line-caught fish are competitively priced. Lunch specials are more reasonable, but this is still more of a tourist destination than a destination restaurant.