Cape Town restaurants – curry, burgers and steaks
Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by admin in Cape Town
Restaurants in Cape Town are generally better than average with fresh seafood featuring heavily and decent wines produced nearby. Meat lovers must try the organic Karoo lamb which has a good reputation as well as all sorts of exotic meat not normally found on European dining tables such as ostrich and alligator. Unfortunately, much of the best South African food gets shipped abroad although there is still more than enough to go around.
Local linefish such as yellowtail, kingklip, cape salmon and kabeljou are your best bet but beware overpriced lobster and crayfish, especially in the touristy areas. Both wild and farmed oysters will be in season during the first fortnight of World Cup 2010 and make for a fabulous treat.
Long Street is a popular spot for Cape Town restaurants although it is extremely busy with a lively and bohemian clientele. The V&A waterfront has many on the top restaurants in Cape Town although this area is notoriously expensive and often very crowded. There are quite a few buzzing Cape Town restaurants near Green Point Stadium and in the surrounding Atlantic coast neighbourhoods such as De Waterkant.
Cams Bay is where the jet set dine at the fanciest eateries in Cape Town with great views overlooking the beach and ocean along Victoria Road. Fresh fish and seafood is the speciality all long the cape peninsula with Hout Bay and Kalk Bay particularly well served by Cape Town seafood restaurants. And don’t forget Table Mountain Restaurant for reasonable canteen food with awesome views.
A little farther afield are some of the cafes and restaurants of Simon’s Town while if you plan to do a little wine touring the Cape Winelands also has some great places to eat. Franschhoek is known as the heart of the regions culinary endeavour and Le Quartier Francais is considered amongst the very best. Also try La Colombe, The River Cafe, and the Constantia Uitsig in the Constantia Valley, which are well worth a splurge.
Cape town restaurants near Green Point Stadium
Tide
69 Victoria Road, Camps Bay,
Tel: +27 (0)21 437 9701
The best of Cape Town fish and seafood cooked exactly how you like it. Ask they about their catch of the day which never disappoints.
Willoughby’s
Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront,
Tel: +27 (0)21 418 6116
Superb seafood including ultra-fresh sushi and extremely good prices considering the prime location.
Tasca de Belem
Unit 154, Victoria Wharf, Piazza Level, V&A Waterfront.
Tel: +27 (0)21 419 3009
Acclaimed Portuguese restaurant with some lovely seafood dishes and tasty deserts for those with a sweet tooth.
Renaissance Café
Mainstream Centre, Main Road, Hout Bay,
Tel: +27 (0)21 790-7202
Finest coffee in town served in a gorgeous courtyard with relaxing ambience. Open daily from 8:30am to 6pm.
The Ritz Hotel
Corner Camberwell and Main Road, Sea Point,
Tel: +27 (0)21 439-6010
Revolving restaurant on top floor of prestigious Ritz Hotel with lovely views and relaxing chic ambience helps by relaxing piano music.
The Charles
137 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant.
+27 (0)21 437 9706
Open 7am – 5pm. English breakfasts and other staples are the speciality here at this Atlantic Seaboard institution.
Bayfront Blu
Two Oceans Aquarium,
Tel: +27 (0)21 419-9086
Serving great breakfasts in the morning and then more adventurous dishes such as fiery Swahili prawn curry later in the day. Seafood is especially recommended as are the views of Table Mountain and ocean
Biesmiellah
Corner Pentz Street/Upper Wale,
Tel:+27 (0)21 423-0850
This Cape Town restaurant has been dishing out spicy Malay curries and noodle dishes for as long as anyone can remember. No booze though.
Col’Cacchio Pizzeria
42 Hans Strijdom Avenue Foreshore
Tel: +27 (0)21 419 4848
This Italian restaurant does a great variety of pizzas and pastas plus will throw together whatever combination of toppings takes your fancy.
Cape Town restaurants in Long Street and City Bowl
Cafe Eco
90 Long Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 422 2299
This favourite haunt for backpackers offers decent reasonably-priced meals in a relaxed, eco-friendly enviroment.
Sunflower Health Café,
111 Long Street.
This vegetarian restaurant does not have the most extensive menu in the world but what it does do is bloody marvellous.
Lolas
257 Long Street,
+27 (0)21 423 0885
Vegetarian food with a local twist in this environmentally-friendly eatery filled with brooding artists and poets waiting to be discovered.
Long Street Café
259 Long Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 424 2464
This popular eatery has an acclaimed European kitchen and does a mean cocktail. Very busy at weekends.
Mama Africa
178 Long Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 426-1017,
This restaurant/bar in the busy Long Street nightlife zones is a great Cape Town restaurant for party animals with adventurous appetites. Potjiekos and Bobotie feature on the menu alongside kudu, springbok and crocodile steak. Plus decent wine at reasonable prices and live music keep crowds happy.
Bakoven
Southern Life Building, 10 Riebeeck Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 419 1937.
Sandwiches, light meals and decent coffee.
Africa Café
108 Shortmarket Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 422-0221
Arguably the finest exponent to traditional African cusine of any restaurant in Cape Town. Fixed menu of 12 to 15 delicious dishes.
Five Flies
14-16 Keerom Street,
+27 (0)21 424 4442
Housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings, this restaurant to Cape Town is a favourite hangout for diplomats and politicians. Lavish multi-course meals are served with the elegance of a bygone era.
Jewel Tavern
101 St Georges Mall Street, (corner Church Street),
Tel: +27 (0)21 422 4041.
Open plan kitchen means guest can watch their meals being prepared in this blue collar Chinese restaurant popular with local local spot for fisherman. Food is authentic and generally of a very high standard.
95 Keerom
95 Keerom Street,
Tel: +27 (0)21 422 0765
Amongst the best Italian restaurants in Cape Town serving top class cuisine to the city’s trendy crowd in impeccably chic surroundings.
Blue Danube
102 New Church Street, Tamboerskloof,
Tel: +27 (0)21-423-3624
Fusion restaurant serving Austrian/French dishes upgraded with a contemporary twist thanks to exotic local ingredients.
Cape Town restaurants in the West Coast
Tong Lok
10 Link Rd, Parklands, Parklands Centre.
+27 (0) 21 556 8722
Pan-Asian chain of restaurants that specialises in high-end Cantonese grub but also serves up some mean sushi and ramen dishes.
Cape Town restaurants in the Southern Suburbs
Ashton’s Restaurant at Greenways
1 Torquay Avenue, Upper Claremont,
Tel: +27 (0)21-761-1792.
Truly world-class fine dining restaurant with a menu featuring European and international cuisine served with a South African edge.
Cape Town restaurants outside the city
Rhodes Memorial Restaurant
Rhodes Memorial in Table Mountain National Park,
Tel: +27 (0)21 689-9151
Tourists flock here for the stunning views over the Hottentots Holland mountains plus eastern and northern Cape Town suburbs. Deserts and scones take pride of place.
Table Mountain Restaurant,
by Upper Cable Station at summit of Table Mountain,
Open 8:30am – 18:30,
Self service restaurant with 120 seats catering to tourists climbing Cape Town’s infamous backdrop.
