3 Best Restaurants in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town is the culinary capital of South Africa and quite possibly the continent. It certainly has the best restaurants in southern Africa. Nowhere else in the country is the populace so discerning about food, and nowhere else is there such a wide selection of high-quality restaurants. Western culinary history here dates back to the 17th century—Cape Town was founded specifically to grow food—and that heritage is reflected in the city's cuisine and the fact that a number of restaurants operate in historic town houses and 18th-century wine estates.

Cape Town dining today offers a global culinary experience, with Cape chefs showing the same enthusiasm for international food trends as their counterparts worldwide. French and Italian fare has long been available, but with Thai, Japanese, and Pan-Asian influences flooding in, accents of lemongrass, miso, and yuzu have become de rigueur in fine-dining kitchens. Middle Eastern cuisine is finally making some headway, and the Americas have also come to the fore, with plenty of burgers and ribs, and even chicken and waffles popping up on menus these days, not to mention a few South American and passable Mexican eateries. Ubiquitous pan-Asian fare is probably not as good as what you might be used to in major American cities; sushi is also easily found, though largely limited to tuna and salmon, and often prepared with lots of drizzled mayo and sauces. The locavore trend toward organic produce and healthful dishes is also gaining popularity, though attitudes toward vegetarianism in this meat-happy land remain somewhat backward.

Salsify at the Roundhouse

$$$$ | Camps Bay Fodor's choice

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.

Bungalow

$$$$ | Clifton

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.

La Mouette

$$$$ | Sea Point

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.

Cape Town

Cape Town

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