South Africa’s Cape Town is home to some of the best restaurants on the continent. Whether you are after an authentic South African restaurant or you wish to check out the most popular sushi and tapas spots in the city, Mother City’s buzzing dining scene won’t disappoint. To help you out, here is our list of 10 restaurants in Cape Town everyone needs to visit.
1 Pot Luck Club
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Conveniently located on the top floor of the Silo at the original Old Biscuit Mill, Pot Luck Club offers an amazing tapas menu created by the popular chef Luke Dale Roberts. Sharing plates is encouraged and there are five tastes available including bitter, sweet, umami, salty, and sour. Besides tasty food, Pot Luck Club offers amazing city and mountain views.
2 La Tête
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Opened in 2016, La Tête is a French-inspired bistro where Chef Giles Edward is in charge of preparing delicious tapas-style tail, trotter, cheek, and heart. As you can see, no part of the animal goes to waste here and everything is devoured with glee. Surprisingly, La Tête has a nice selection of vegetable dishes including the popular retro celeriac salad, char-grilled green beans, and nicely chopped kohlrabi salad. The service is excellent and the wine list is extensive.
3 La Colombe
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Located at the Silvermist Wine Estate on the slopes of the Constantiaberg Mountains, La Colombe is definitely one of the best restaurants in Cape Town. The restaurant is headed by the award-winning chef Scot Kirton who will blow your mind away with his creative French-Asian dishes. Make sure to try the king crab, as well as the mouthwatering yuzu gel.
4 The Test Kitchen
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This is our second restaurant on the list where Chef Luke Dale Roberts uses his innovative flavor combinations to create contemporary and experimental dishes. The Test Kitchen serves haute cuisine with a sensual and intelligent presentation. Get your share of delicious tapas in the Dark Room and try the charmingly plated main dishes in the Light Room. For those who not know, the Test Kitchen was ranked number 22 in the “World’s Best Restaurant Award” in 2016. Keep in mind that the waiting list is quite long, so it’s recommended to book well in advance.
5 Greenhouse
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Situated in the Cellars-Hohenort hotel, Greenhouse offers an amazing setting with an enclosed glass box and overhead glass panels which make you think you are having dinner under the stars. If you are looking for some fine local South African cuisine, executive chef Peter Tempelhoff and head chef Ashley Moss are here to impress you with their innovative cooking and presentation. Some of the signature dishes here include Cape Malay pickled fish, mushroom, sherry and chocolate King Cone, and braaied gamefish with kelp salad. In case there is some space left for dessert, try the amazing chamomile sherbet, clotted cream, and dehydrated yogurt.
6 Marrow
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Marrow is a New-York style broth restaurant in Cape Town that boasts an uncluttered interior and offers tasty broth soups. They serve brown, green, clear, and white broths in bowls or cups with different toppings. Choose from a variety of trimmings including cubes of apricot, lentils, or venison. You can also add sticky rice balls, chorizo, or boiled eggs to your healthy bowl of broth.
7 Three Wise Monkeys
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There is no shortage of great restaurants in Cape Town and Three Wise Monkeys is one of them. This Sea Point Japanese gastropub attracts both locals and tourists who come here to try the popular umami-laden broths. Make sure to try the beef brisket option, as well as the beef fillet and chicken ramen. For those who don’t eat meat, a delicious veg ramen is offered on the menu.
8 Kyoto Garden Sushi
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One of the hippest Japanese restaurants in Cape Town, Kyoto Garden Sushi sells a variety of both cooked and raw dishes. For starters, order the delicious sashimi which includes pieces of tuna and Cape salmon with pickled ginger, wasabi, and daikon radish. Don’t leave before trying their signature moreish black sesame-seed ice cream. In case you are into hard liquor, order a glass of Hibiki Harmony Blended Whiskey.
9 Maria’s
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If you are looking for a Greek restaurant in Cape Town, make sure to visit the lovely Maria’s. The atmosphere here is laid-back and the owners Clayton and his lovely wife Kate are extremely friendly. Calamari in tomato sauce is the specialty of the house, while lamb with artichokes is also quite tasty. For dessert, order the popular kataifi. It’s delicious!
10 Il Leone Mastrantonio
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Il Leone Mastrantonio is a family-run Italian restaurant in Cape Town’s Green Point where you will find homemade pastas, as well as a number of tasty starters including bruschetta and Carpaccio. Some of the most popular pastas come with prawns, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts. They also serve fresh fish, a couple of chicken dishes, and tiramisu and crème caramel for dessert.
