5 Best Restaurants in Cape Town, South Africa

In this warm space of yellowwood tables, sash windows, and reed ceilings, chef-owner Harald Bresselschmidt has served classic European-with-a-twist cuisine since 1996 at one of the city’s oldest fine-dining establishments. Using the freshest South African produce prepared with classical European methods, the chef cooks with wine in mind, and Aubergine's cellar and pairings are unsurprisingly superb. Seafood options are usually excellent, and meat dishes like an ostrich fillet with sweetbread and marrow dumplings richly sublime. Lunch and winter specials are more affordable ways of enjoying this fine restaurant, and in summer, the terrace seating in this historic 1830s home is recommended.

A relatively new offering on this historic wine estate in Constantia, this fine-dining restaurant serves excellent fare from an original Cape Dutch building with charming views of the vineyards. The elegant but unpretentious tasting menu is available for lunch or dinner, and the service is attentive and gracious.  Request a table on the balcony in warm weather to enjoy the wonderful vineyard views.

Serving good, unpretentious fare in an elegantly quirky space with lovely views across the historic Steenberg wine estate, this is a decent fine-dining go-to no matter the time of day. An oak-shaded terrace overlooking manicured lawns makes for a lovely, lazy lunch spot, and the restaurant's interior with its origami swans hanging from high ceilings and huge windows is a stylishly bright space. The lunch and dinner menu feature dishes like pork belly with butternut puree and a cashew-crusted fillet. A Sunday lunch buffet with a South African theme and accompanying live music is a family affair, and various canapé platters are also available throughout the day and can be taken in the delightfully plush bar and lounge area. A private dining room seats up to 24 and is a gorgeous and intimate venue for a special occasion.

In a restored warehouse, this trendy operation has made good use of what was once a derelict piece of land between the V&A Waterfront and the harbor. It's now a place for locals to be seen, with a private beach, several bars, and comfortable covered seating scattered about—everything is overpriced, but the view and toes-in-the-sand vibe may merit a drink or two.

This stylish and centrally located Bree Street bistro draws diners with exquisitely rendered food in an elegant heritage building where exposed brick and ancient yellowwood beams contrast with chartreuse velvet banquettes and sleek furnishings. The menu is small and changes regularly, but the inspiration is modern European served in three courses; expect dishes like risotto arancini, duck confit with braised cabbage, and crème brûlée. Everything is made daily by the co-owners/chefs (who were also the masterminds of Birds, the beloved café that previously occupied the same space). A handpicked selection of boutique local wines which you can also enjoy at the gorgeous old oak bar completes the picture.