A vibrant fusion of African, Cape Malay, Portuguese, and global influences, Cape Town’s food scene is as dynamic as the city itself.
Sleek new openings and time-honoured institutions sit alongside hundreds of world-class vineyards, making the city a must-visit for any self-proclaimed food-lover. Since being crowned Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Food City in late 2024—outshining culinary heavyweights like Milan, Hong Kong, and Tokyo—there’s never been a better time to experience the city’s gastronomic delights. Read on for where to eat in Cape Town.
As a full-time traveller and writer, I was lucky enough to spend a month sampling the best of Cape Town’s food and wine scene earlier this year. Here, I’ve pulled together a list of the foodie hotspots I’d recommend sampling on a trip to the Mother City—from buzzy new openings worth a visit to culinary classics that truly stand the test of time. Reservations recommended.
Ouzeri
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Despite being a rather long way from the Mediterranean, Ouzeri serves up modern, bright Greek cuisine using locally sourced produce to stunning effect. Chef Nic Charalambous draws from his rich Cypriot and Greek heritage to create a rotating menu of seasonal dishes, mixing innovative takes on the classics with Greek staples, including loukoumades and pork kalamaki. The menu, like the dining space, is sleek and unfussy, but you will need to make a reservation. It’s always (unsurprisingly) busy.
The Strangers Club
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This multidisciplinary space combines art, retail, and dining under one historic roof. The Strangers Club serves up some of the best brunch in the city and is an ideal spot to get some work done. We’d recommend starting the day with The Anchovee—an anchovy butter-coated breakfast sandwich—and a strong coffee. When you’ve wrapped up your last email, you can spend another hour or so exploring the expertly curated shopping space out back, jam-packed with local clothing and jewellery brands and African handicrafts.
Edge x Vue
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Cape Town has a fantastic array of international dining spots, but you can’t travel to the Mother City without sampling African cuisine. Since leaving his exciting pop-up at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel last year, celebrated Zimbabwe-born chef Vusi Ndlovu has been looking for his next challenge. Enter: EDGE x Vue. Ndlovu’s focus is on crafting brilliant African dishes, cooked over fire, for the discerning diner. This summer residency isn’t permanent, so it’s worth following EDGE on socials to see where they might be popping up next.
Clarkes
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Clarkes is a Bree Street classic. But this lively all-day diner remains popular for good reason. By day, expect to see business breakfasts and remote workers propping up the bar with a coffee. By night, the lights go down, the music starts and the vibe kicks in. On the menu? Diner classics (think: burgers and hotdogs) done really, really well.
Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic
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If you’re looking for food with a view, then make sure you book a table at Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic for your next trip to Cape Town. Nestled on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula, below the famous Chapman’s Peak drive, you’ll arrive and be chauffered by bus down the cliff to the dining space. The concept is tried and tested – a five-course tasting menu, designed to be shared and focused largely around the seafood available in the adjacent bay. Every meal starts with their popular oat and honey brioche with burnt fennel butter and one course will always be the house risotto – which is different at each of the Chef’s Table restaurants around the city.
Babylonstoren
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Babylonstoren is probably the most well-known of Cape Town’s vineyards and is a little out of town between the two bustling wine areas of Stellenbosch and Franschoek. Part wine producer, part farm-to-table pioneer, the estate offers so much more than wine tasting. Take an afternoon to explore the gardens and say hello to the animals who live on-site before grabbing a bite at one of Babylonstoren’s two restaurants. Babel is the choice for fine dining – and offers a seasonal a-la-carte peppered with produce grown on the farm (don’t miss their water buffalo milk ice cream), whilst the Greenhouse Restaurant is a more casual affair. Both require a reservation, sometimes months in advance, due to Babylonstoren’s continued popularity with locals and travellers alike.
Oranjezicht City Market
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The best food in Cape Town isn’t always found in a restaurant. Case in point: The Oranjezicht City Market. The market hosts over 40 local farmers and 80 artisanal food traders each week and is one of the city’s most popular hangouts. Arrive hungry and spend a couple of hours hopping between food pop-ups and boutique stalls. Some of our favourite bites include the Pistachio croissant from Jason’s Bread (a Cape Town staple), sticky steamed buns from How Bao Now and you can’t leave the market without trying a fresh pasteis de nata. Wednesday evenings in the summer season are busy and have a more festive atmosphere, while the Saturday and Sunday sessions feel a little more laid-back. We recommend a visit to both.
Noop
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Wine enthusiasts are well-catered for with a 350-strong wine list at Noop, a homely little Bistro in Paarl. No good bottle should be enjoyed without a meal to match and the ever-changing menu at Noop makes for the perfect pairing. Unpretentious, and simple is chef Zian Oosthuizen’s philosophy. Herbs and vegetables are grown locally and meat is handpicked daily from a local butcher in Paarl. Portions are generous and the atmosphere relaxed – making Noop a great place dinner when you really want to take your time.
Belly Of The Beast
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A meal at Belly of the Beast is never a gamble but always a surprise. This 24-seat, meat-focused spot offers a tasting menu with no set menu or number of courses – so every visit could be totally unique – which is all part of the fun. South Africans take their Braii (that’s barbecue) very seriously, and this snout-to-tail restaurant is no exception. Slow-cooked, unusual cuts are to be expected but trust that it’ll be some of the best meat you eat on your trip. If you don’t eat meat or fish, the restaurant can still cater for you too, just give them a heads up when you book.
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