39 Best Restaurants in South Africa

A golf cart whisks you up the hill followed by a glass elevator ride to this chic establishment with an infinity fountain that appears to overflow into Zoo Lake and faces the direction of Sandton and Rosebank. It's a popular sundowner spot as it beautifully displays Jo'burg's urban man-made forest and the menu showcases seasonal, regional cuisine with vegan and gluten-free options, but has a particular flair for South African meats, such as lamb chops, oxtail, pork belly, and a selection of locally-bred Wagyu prime cuts. Though it's based at the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, the majority of its diners are not hotel guests—testimony to how good it is.

This unassuming little bakery and deli in Dunkley Square makes the most scrumptious donuts in the city. Women-owned and all vegan, all sorts of sandwiches, bagels, subs, coffees, and treats are also on offer. Don't miss out on the oat-milk soft-serve truck outside. 

Super-stylish Hemelhuijs is both a showcase for a range of exquisite and fanciful ceramicware, and a centrally located restaurant serving equally fanciful and exquisite food. Though a little pricey for lunch, the owner-chef's inventive seasonal dishes burst with freshness and flavor (think pear-and-celeriac salad with hazelnuts and trout, or a crispy panfried veal of sublime flavor and texture) are well worth it. On one of Cape Town's few pedestrian walkways (near the footbridge crossing busy Buitengracht Street), this tiny designer space, where food is served in gold-painted bowls under chandeliers hanging with beads, driftwood, and star-shape seedpods, is truly a treat. Needless to say, breakfast and brunch are also divine.

This new food market at the cruise terminal near the Waterfront showcases some of the best local foods that Cape Town has to offer. Try some killer wings from Sidewing, or a beloved traditional Koesister (a Cape Malay spiced donut) from Fuzzy's Food and grab a good cup of coffee from Coffee by Moses. Want something more filling? Try a tasty dosa from Indikaap's ayurvedic kitchen or a South African braai plate from Pitso's Kitchen. Whatever you get, enjoy it outside in the sunshine, watching cruise ships parking on the dock. 

This tiny Kalk Bay institution with its mismatched tables and open kitchen is much beloved by locals as a super-casual destination for consistently excellent food and a great cup of coffee. The quality of the mostly Mediterranean fare is high, and the servers sassy (some might call it something else). The chalkboard menu changes regularly, but expect dishes like seared tuna with crushed potatoes and lemon mayo, or roast duck on egg noodles teriyaki-style. Great soups—think bacon and bean or tomato and lentil—are served with legendary ciabatta. There is always a great pasta dish on offer (linguine with tuna and cherry tomatoes, anyone?), as well as creative salads and numerous sweet temptations from the bakery. Lines are the norm at peak mealtimes and reservations are not accepted, so be prepared to wait.

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.

This popular spot is all about free-range, organic, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients, and chances are the garnishes on your plate will have been freshly picked from the organic herb garden outside. The vegetarian-friendly menu changes regularly and features a range of dishes served either roasted or raw. Meat eaters, you have not been neglected. Venison frikkadells (meatballs) are served with a buttery potato mash and beetroot chutney, hearty steaks come with potato wedges, and slow-cooked springbok shanks are dished up with roasted vegetables. You can also sample four craft beers, locally made cloudy cider, or freshly pressed juices. The setting is a wooden cottage where guests are encouraged to linger over their meal. Zucchini is part of Timberlake Farm Stall, which has a number of shops.

A new offering in Bo-Kaap for delicious bagels with a Cape Malay twist, Against the Grain has great coffee and their famous koeksisters (traditional spiced donuts). With elegant, ornate decor, this little cafe is a lovely place to stop for coffee or lunch in town. 

One of the coolest places to be seen in Maboneng, Bertrand Café exudes a shabby chic style with its mirror and portrait walls, chandelier, mix-match pops of color, and bookshelves lined with bric-a-brac. The food is a fusion of French and African flavors thanks to inspiration from the Congolese co-owner Bertrand Mampouya. 

An all-day breakfast bistro and bar, this bright little cafe in the heart of Cape Town serves yummy breakfasts and lunches like pancakes, eggs Benedict, wraps, and burgers. As the name implies, buttery goodness and comfort foods are on offer, but the menu is large and includes lots of fresh salads and vegetable-filled options as well as all-day cocktails and great coffee.

Easy eating in a family-friendly atmosphere doesn't get much better than this café, deservedly beloved by the outdoorsy crowd that populates the Cape Peninsula. Sit outside under the oak trees or in, where reed-covered ceilings and a wood-burning stove create a cozy ambience, and enjoy hearty and tasty breakfasts and lunches. Comfort options like fettuccine with chicken in creamy herb sauce or a variety of burgers and wraps are balanced by healthy choices like seared tuna with a wasabi dressing and coriander, as well as unusually plentiful vegetarian and even vegan options. Breakfast treats include everything from muesli to a grilled bacon croissant, carb-free options, and great smoothies. Kids have their own menu and a dedicated play area, and freshly baked cakes and desserts are delicious and huge.

This family-friendly cafe has an extensive menu of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, cake, and coffee, as well as an added surprise—paint your own ceramics. Enjoy a light meal while you paint anything from dishes, bowls, vases, or figurines. With a large grassy area outside and a playground, this is a dream cafe for kids.  

The name of this laid-back cellar/tasting room, which spills out onto an open terrace and garden where children can run around and play, means "The Church Mouse" and a nod to what is a humble venue that is always striving for greatness. Service is incredibly friendly, and the food ranges from must-try pancakes stuffed with milk tart to delectable sirloin steaks, pork ribs, or gourmet burgers (made with two types of meat). It's a welcoming place, whether you come for a full meal, a serious tasting of the wines made using grapes grown along the Orange River, or a snack of decadent sweets accompanied by wine or coffee.

Cecil John Rhodes used to stop for a drink at Halfway House, halfway between the Kimberley and Bultfontein mines, and because he was short, and it was difficult for him to mount and dismount, he was served on his horse. Today, Halfway House is a lively hotel with several restaurants—the best of which is Hussar Grill, a nationwide chain that many regard as the best steakhouse in Kimberley—and this lovely, relaxing courtyard café, where you can get excellent coffee, pizzas and flatbreads, and lovely cakes.

This cozy, atmospheric restaurant is always busy because of the quality of its food and the gorgeous bucolic murals on its walls that complement the retro design elements, making it oh-so Instagram-worthy. The all-day menu serves breakfast, light lunches, high tea coupled with its in-house baked goods and treats, and dinner. Glenda’s prioritizes seasonal produce and supports local farmers and sustainability efforts, which gives it an even greater appeal. 

Stop by for an on-the-go breakfast or picnic take-away, or a sit-down coffee and brunch at the old-style Gourmet Grocer. This is a specialist grocer, deli, bakery, coffee shop, and restaurant, all rolled into one, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s a scrumptious bagel, toasted sarmie, healthy snack, or decadent treat from their niche, family-run suppliers. It also sells fresh and frozen homemade meals, and stocks craft beers as well as a decent selection of wines. If you like their coffee, you can buy their Birdhaven blend to take home, which is roasted on site at Cofeffe Coffee Bar & Roastery. It’s within safe walking distance of The Peech Hotel and the James and Ethel Gray Park, and deliveries within a 5 km (3 miles) radius are free.

With huge portions of delicious food made with extra-large servings of love, Hogsback's old faithful is located in heart of the town's main drag. The restaurant got a new injection of energy in 2021, and locals and visitors continue to come for the great-value menu which features something to satisfy every possible taste, especially the popular Sunday lunchtime roasts. Pop in for coffee or a beer, arrive early for breakfast, order a steak, or tuck into the tastiest vegetarian dishes in town.

Try to reserve a window table for views across the vine-clad valley at this restaurant atop a working winery built into the mountainside. The three-course menu is distinctly South African but rooted in French techniques, with dishes like venison loin with Cape Malay jus. A lot of the produce is grown on the farm, and the aim is to get you to try different flavors with the wines to see which combinations appeal to you most. The restaurant is also open for brunch on weekends.

While locals love to stop in for coffee, breakfast, and brunch, this house-converted-into-a-restaurant is also an excellent place to tuck into a selection of popular South African dishes such as slaphakskeentjies (boiled onions served in an egg sauce) or mosbolletjies (a kind of sweet dessert bread). There's also pizza, burgers, and BBQ chicken on the menu, but look out for anything featuring Karoo lamb. They also use the local rum to make cocktails, so be to try it. A selection of deli items (artisanal jams, teas, toffee, and more) is available to buy. It's not necessarily fine-dining, but fine eating in a relaxed environment.

Known for its hearty toasted sandwiches like the Popeye with a beef patty, bacon, caramelized onions, tomatoes, gherkins, cheddar, and a squirt of mustard and ketchup, Jo'Anna Melt Bar's name speaks for itself. Wash it down with the Give Me Hope Jo'anna—a mixture of locally-made Klipdrift brandy, passion fruit, and pineapple syrup shaken with a shot of red wine and a dash of bitters—at the seemingly oversized bar, which is the central feature of this small establishment. The eponymous drink is named after Eddy Grant's iconic song, Gimme Hope Jo'anna (a reference to Johannesburg), which he wrote after visiting South Africa. It was scathing of the apartheid government and encouraged freedom, which lead the ruling National Party at the time to ban it. And what better way to pay tribute to the country's liberation struggle than by "squeaking your takkies" (dancing) when the jukebox or karaoke get going in the evenings.

After a 20-minute drive out of Kimberley, you arrive in a blip-on-the-map farm town known as Ritchie, where George van der Merwe grows pecan nuts and brews a range of beers named for key moments and figures from Kimberley's history. He also has a restaurant where you can sample some beer; join George for a brewery tour; and settle in for steaks, burgers, or pizza. The vibe is extremely casual, with George's three doe-eyed dogs making the rounds and a large lawn that stretches down to the river where children can run around.

A charming cafe in the Alphen Boutique Hotel, La Belle Constantia has fresh bakes, salads, and more filling lunches, though they are known for their cakes and pastries—be sure to try the lemon meringue or the berry frangipane. In warmer weather take advantage of the delightful outside seating. 

It's hard to find a table inside without a dinner booking (even during the week) at this father-and-son-owned restaurant simply because the food always delivers on taste, portion size, and how it's plated. The jovial ambience and pastel colors reminiscent of a Modena sunset add to the flavor of their modern Italian fare. With handmade pasta by chef son Vassilios Holiasmeno and Neapolitan-style pizzas (the kind where the dough is left to rise for at least two days before being wood-fired) on the menu, you can't go wrong for a quick breakfast bite, hearty lunch, or a romantic dinner date at this corner-side eatery, where locals return again and again.

Claiming a sweet spot at the V&A Waterfront with fabulous harbor and mountain views, this versatile eatery focuses on updated versions of global classics. From fish tacos to a Wagyu beef cheeseburger to salade Niçoise, dishes that you wouldn’t normally expect to see on the same menu are harmonized by shared traits of freshness, flavor, and quality. With a sleek, warehouse-inspired interior and outside seating that maximizes its position overlooking both Table Mountain and the harbor, Mondiall is a highly agreeable culinary stop. Open all day, this modern brasserie is a welcome addition to the Waterfront's often ho-hum offerings.

Next to the Seal Point Lighthouse, this restaurant, bakery, and deli has brought a sophisticated touch to the laidback holiday resort of Cape St Francis. At the helm is Wesley Randles, a celebrated Cape Town chef who moved to the Eastern Cape with his family, which has allowed him to be more adventurous with fresh seafood ingredients, bake decadent treats (like chocolate-filled doughnuts), and integrate a profound knowledge of sensual flavors with a knack for creative plating. Dishes are imaginative and flavorsome, and range from rib-eye steaks and burgers to prawns in a wood-roasted coriander "mojo" (which means "special sauce"). That said, you can also sit here and stare dreamily through the wraparound windows, watching the waves battering the promontory and admiring the old lighthouse as you sip coffee, nibble on delectable wood-fired potato bread, or slurp down fresh oysters. There's a take-away hatch where you can stock up on sourdough loaves or buy homemade ice cream.

A four-generation family-run business, this fuss-free bagel shop and deli specializes in traditional boiled and baked New York–style bagels that are made fresh daily, with a number of delicious toppings—go with a simple schmear of cream cheese on a poppy-seed bagel or try the brisket, smoked salmon, or pastrami. They also serve great coffee, pastries, and an amazing New York cheesecake. 

This easygoing, unpretentious café serves only breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but is always busy, mostly because the food is so fresh and good. Breakfast is a specialty—do try one of their six wholesome breakfast egg baskets—but you could also pop by for high tea and a taste of their homemade cakes. The croissants are also good, as are their home-baked pies, and the popular half and half—a mixture of a egg basket and crumpets.

The Old East Precinct is a suburban development in Hazelwood with a village feel to it, as a wide selection of coffee shops, restaurants, bars and bespoke stores line the leafy streets of Hazelwood Road and 16^th Street. If you’re hungry, you’ll have plenty to choose from here, from Lexi’s Healthy Eatery (our number one choice which serves a selection of vegan, but not only, dishes) to Alfie’s Pizzeria and Deli, and you can never go wrong with Cowfish, which as the name suggests serves a combination of fish, seafood and meat-lovers dishes, alongside cocktails. The gelato at Aroma Coffee Roastery is a must (you’ll recognize it from the giant mural of a tucan at its entrance) and pop by Spout Coffee Company housed in repurposed shipping containers for a cuppa and baked goods. Once you’re satiated, you can browse the handmade leather goods at Freedom of Movement and go off in search of some of the murals and artworks that give this precinct even more character. Certain establishments may be closed on Mondays.

At this Greek taverna, music floats above the buzz of conversation, a souvlaki spit turns slowly near the door, and a refrigerated case displays an array of meze (small appetizers)—which you can also select as a takeaway, if you're on the go. Start with a meze platter of souvlaki, feta, olives imported from Greece, tzatziki, and dolmades, followed by the line fish, grilled on an open flame with olive oil and lemon, or kleftiko (lamb slow-cooked in a clay oven) and a carafe of wine. On weekend evenings, belly dancers perform between the tables against a backdrop of murals of Santorini, and Greek dancers do the Zorba, while patrons partake in "controlled" plate breaking—all while sipping on a glass of ouzo. The dress is casual and the atmosphere very relaxed. Choose from the set or à la carte menus. In summer, most people sit outside beneath the faux grape vines at the street-side tables.

Friendly service, great food, and good value are the highlights of this eatery serving authentic Italian food with a local flavor. Try the pizza with butternut squash, goat cheese, and chopped tomatoes or the prawns panfried with fennel, garlic, and caper butter—both local favorites. It's very busy in season, so book ahead if you can.