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With a panoramic view of Walker Bay, La Pentola specializes in international cuisine with South African flavors. Drawing on French, Italian, and Mediterranean influences, executive chef Shane Sauvage uses the best local ingredients to create delectable dishes. The extensive menu includes fresh seafood, duck, ostrich, prime cuts of beef, pastas, salads, and exotic game dishes. For starters order one of the house specialties: basil and pork livers or Spanish snails wrapped in bacon and steamed in Chardonnay. Entrees include line fish basted in butter and cooked with red onion and tomato, and beef fillet served with a KWV brandy, dijon mustard, and cream sauce. If you're in the mood for something exotic, try the warthog loin fried with butter, brandy, honey, and mustard, or cubed crocodile tail and curry sauce in pastry. Wine connoisseurs will be delighted with the award-winning wine list, which is as varied as the menu.
Ocean View, 87 Marine Dr., Shop 4, Hermanus, Western Cape, 7200, South Africa
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A restaurant of this caliber is a real find in small-town South Africa. The husband-and-wife team of Salvatore and Nina Branda create beautifully composed dishes combining South African produce with avant-garde Italian cooking. The menu comes as a two-, three-, or four-course option.
145 Voortrek St., Swellendam, Western Cape, South Africa
Known For
- Good local wine list
- Lovely garden setting
- Family run
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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$$ | | Mediterranean
Chef-owner Marc Friederich is a foodie with an instinctive feel for what will work. And work his restaurant does: it's consistently full, consistently interesting, and always a pleasure to eat in. What to choose? There's a Lebanese mezze for starters made up of mouthwatering dips, dolmades, falafel, and warm pitas for scooping, or you could opt for Marc's fish soup with a dash of ouzo and aioli crostini. For entrées there's organic beef, paella, or free-range duck breast with a fruity salsa. Children are also well looked after—there's spaghetti with tomato sauce, a choice of burgers with fries, and vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce as part of the deal for a very reasonable R50. Marc also serves as sommelier, so the wine list is comprehensive and he can help you with food-and-wine pairings.
129 Main St., Paarl, Western Cape, 7646, South Africa
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Miko is a contemporary fine-dining restaurant with seating indoors and out, both offering spectacular views of the Franschhoek Valley. Many dishes have an Indian influence, such as the pork belly with biryani rice and cauliflower masala purée. The daytime menu is a simpler affair, featuring salads, burgers, and fish-and-chips. There are plenty of choices for vegans and vegetarians.
Dassenberg Rd., Franschhoek, Western Cape, 7690, South Africa
Known For
- Quirky decor
- Seasonal produce
- Inventive desserts
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This long-running place is a local favorite, managing to serve delicious and delightfully plated food while remaining totally unpretentious. The menu is small and eclectic, featuring some Asian-inspired dishes, classics like steak and fries, or pan-fried catch of the day. Don't pass up hearty South African desserts such as malva pudding. Reservations are recommended on weekends.
127 Main Rd, Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa
Known For
- In a charming older building with towering windows
- Guests get a warm welcome
- Extensive wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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At the Tulbagh Hotel, the Olive Terrace Bistro serves local wines and tasty food on a pretty terrace shaded by white karee tree on summer days. In winter there's a cozy indoor dining area with a roaring fire and a view of the snow-covered mountains. The à la carte menu features South African dishes made with locally sourced produce and homemade breads, jams, and chutneys. The menu is fairly broad and has a decent selection for vegetarians and vegans.
22 Van der Stel St., Tulbagh, Western Cape, 6820, South Africa
Known For
- Al fresco dining in warm weather
- Hearty breakfasts
- Cozy atmosphere
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Overture has a constantly changing menu that manifests a pure love of food with distinctly South African dishes featuring local cheese, game meat, and biltong (the national snack of dried, spiced meat). The food is very good value for this level of cuisine; the menu can be ordered as a three- or five-course banquet. For an extra fee the sommelier will pair each course with excellent local wines.
Annandale Rd., Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 7600, South Africa
Known For
- Friendly service
- Excellent tasting menu
- Great value
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.–Wed., Reservations essential
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$$ | | Eclectic
The busy road and the swaths of invasive nonnative trees that need to be chopped down give absolutely no indication of the gem that lies beyond the entrance to Vergenoegd wine farm. Pomegranate chef Mike Israel is known for his fresh, contemporary cuisine, but you'll be hard-pressed to concentrate on the menu—the views are fantastic and the historic manor house has been wonderfully restored. Luckily, the menu is dead simple. Mike has gone for the less-is-more approach and simply lists fish, lamb, game, poultry, and vegetarian. This gives him plenty of scope to play with the fresh ingredients he has available. You could start with the famous Pomegranate tomato tart or opt for the beetroot carpaccio starter with goat cheese. There are field mushrooms served with rosemary and Gorgonzola in a poppy-seed crepe. Mains come with Mike's classic, flavor-filled sauces. The wine list is clever and has an excellent selection of good wines divided into three price categories, the cheapest cheekily referred to as Bank Manager's Choice.
Vergenoegd Wine Estate, Baden Powell Dr. (R310), off the N2, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 7600, South Africa
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. No dinner in winter; no dinner in summer Sat.–Mon.
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This cozy eatery's small, seasonal menu changes daily and features innovative fare and simple presentations. If the delicious wildebeest with gooseberry and Amarula sauce is on the menu, do not miss out. The flavors of the popular ice-cream trio change often, but you can expect options like coconut and sesame, ginger and rooibos tea, or even curry and balsamic vinegar. The carefully chosen and well-priced wine list reflects regional labels.
12 Church St., Tulbagh, Western Cape, 6820, South Africa
Known For
- Delicious game meat
- Eclectic decor
- South African specialties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and Aug.
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Best known as a judge on the local edition of MasterChef, Reuben Riffel's flagship restaurant in his hometown of Franschhoek is a wonderful blend of fine dining techniques and unpretentious surroundings. Dishes marry local ingredients with French techniques, and in many cases they have a sprinkling of Asian influence. The decor is minimalist but welcoming, with exposed brick walls and large windows, and the service is impeccable and well informed.
2 Daniel Hugo St., Franschhoek, Western Cape, 7690, South Africa
Known For
- Owned by one of the region's top chefs
- Favorite destination of locals
- Globally inspired fare
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Hidden in the center of town, Spek and Bone is a cozy restaurant with a lush courtyard whose tables and chairs are set under a canopy of vines. The menu focuses on what they call tapas, although they have an international flair rather than a strong Spanish influence. The set menu consists of seven dishes. There is an excellent wine menu to accompany the hearty dishes, featuring award-winners produced at nearby vineyards. This is one of six restaurants from South African celebrity chef and pioneering foodie, Bertus Basson, lovingly named after his two beloved pets.
84 Dorp St., Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 7600, South Africa
Known For
- One of South Africa's best-known chefs
- Asian influences
- Great wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
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Owner-run Terra Mare has become a favorite with locals and tourists alike, offering not just great freshly prepared meals and affordable wine but a wonderful dining experience in a friendly and laid-back setting. The owners produce opulent food with French, Italian, Afrikaans, and German influences; kudu fillet and chef Thabo salad are favorites, as is the three-mushroom risotto. As for dessert, how does limoncello sorbet or tiramisu sound? A good selection of wines, not limited to wines from the Paarl area, is available. Enjoy your meal on the terrace overlooking the Paarl vineyards, or have a drink in the cozy bar. Swiss-born Olivier and Italian Delenia are hands-on and have created a warm and inviting space; customers become regulars and soon become friends.
90A Main St., Paarl, Western Cape, 7646, South Africa
Known For
- Cozy atmosphere
- Tiramisu
- Friendly owners
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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This friendly, long-running place on the main approach road to Riebeek Kasteel is a lovely spot to sit outside and enjoy a glass of the local wine. The menu is a meaty affair, with a range of perfectly cooked steaks and a tender, juicy ostrich fillet. Vegetarians will have to settle for salad, but there is at least good selection.
34 Church St, Riebeek Kasteel, Western Cape, South Africa
Known For
- Outdoor tables overlooking the valley
- Children's play area
- Mediterranean flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.
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Quirky and brightly decorated, this unpretentious gem is not to be missed. Because the freshest local ingredients are used, the menu changes frequently. Not surprisingly, seafood is the main attraction—the oysters here are legendary—but meat-eaters will delight in a wide selection of pork, lamb, quail, and Chalmer steak. Enjoy your meal in front of a warm hearth when it's cold out, or dine under the canopy, dotted with fairy lights, on a clear night.
St. Augustine Rd., Paternoster, Western Cape, 7381, South Africa
Known For
- Freshly caught seafood
- Al fresco eating
- Local characters
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun.
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The chic and industrial decor here is a bold contrast to the old-world charm of Huguenot architecture: high-backed leather chairs, wine-bottle chandeliers, and steel doors that open onto a sculpture garden. The menu is fairly compact and yet impressively varied, featuring venison, beef, seafood, and Franschhoek trout, along with a couple of vegetarian options. You can go à la carte, but the two-course and three-course prix-fixe menus are highly recommended. Each dish is paired with the estate wines, and the unobtrusive but eagle-eyed waiters make sure your glass is never empty.
off R45, Franschhoek, Western Cape, 7690, South Africa
Known For
- Exceptional service
- Elaborately creative meals
- Striking decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.–Thurs., Reservations recommended
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This corrugated-iron shack on the beach stood empty for years, then suddenly metamorphosed into a buzzing seafood restaurant. As well as the usual seafood and fish, you'll find fish curries, deep-fried calimari, and smoked snoek samosas on the menu. There are a couple of meaty dishes too, plus at least one vegetarian option. It's literally set on the sand and is an ideal location to take in the sunset.
Strandloper St., Paternoster, Western Cape, 7381, South Africa
Known For
- Watch the whales in the bay
- Freshly caught seafood
- Good children's menu
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$$$$ | | South African
If you're looking for a day trip, Waverley Hills Estate is a 20-minute drive from Tulbagh. This 320-acre estate is known for its organic wines with robust fynbos characteristics. As you drive onto the farm, keep a lookout for the ducks that do "snail patrol" through the vineyards. Waverley Hills also produces a range of organic olive products, which can be sampled in the tasting room. The restaurant, with panoramic views of the valley, serves South African–inspired cuisine such as smoked snoek pâte, olive tapenade, black mussels, and pork belly with sweet chili jam. They also offer chicken, hot dogs, and pizza for the little ones. A five-course organic food-and-wine pairing experience costs about R300 per person for either lunch or dinner (reservations essential). The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (twice a week), and picnic baskets can be ordered in advance. Given the dining options on site, this makes for a great day.
Off the R46, between Tulbagh and Ceres, Wolseley, Western Cape, 6830, South Africa
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sat.–Tues. and Thurs.
