Cape Town Food-Restaurants

Cape Town Food-Restaurants information

Cape Classics

Kaapse Tafel * 90 Queen Victoria Street Tel: +27 (0)21-423-1651 This Cape Town staple has been serving Cape Malay specialities such as bobotie and brazed linefish for over 25 years. Olympia Café and Deli ** 134 Main Rd, Kalk Bay Tel: +27 (0)21-788-6396 A jealously guarded secret among locals, this wonderful little café is always busy and vibrant. The in-house bakery produces a wonderful range of pastries for the morning crowd, and then Italian breads to accompany dinner. Late evenings the venue becomes a theatre that takes shape around patrons who linger late into the night. Peddlars on the Bend *** 3 Spaanschemat River Rd, Constantia Tel: +27 (0)21-794-7747 Situated in the Constantia Winelands, Peddlars draws regulars from all over the Cape peninsula. The menu is varied, with good vegetarian options, although meat dishes such as lamb shank and eisbein are their speciality. The award-winning wine list is worth exploring. Foresters Arms * 52 Newlands Ave Tel: +27 (0)21-689-5949 "Forries", as it is known to locals, may well be Cape Town's oldest restaurant with a history dating back over 200 years when it served as an inn for weary travellers. Today Forries enjoys the unusual ability to be a regular for just about every type of local: Businessmen do power lunches here, families come for extended weekend lunches (good play area for the children) and 20-somethings enjoy the English-style pub and associated grub.

African

Mama Afrika ** 178 Long St Tel: +27 (0)21-424-8634 Recreating the ambience of a Zulu boma, this lively restaurant serves up an imaginative variety of African fare such as Crocodile Steaks, Maputo Prawns, Cape Bredie, and Kudu Kebabs to the accompaniment of nightly jam sessions with all the drums and xylophones you might expect. The experience is explicitly designed for tourists but it remains good value, and is always a fun night out. Africa Café ** 108 Shortmarket St Tel: +27 (0)21-422-0221 Chef Portia has travelled the length and breadth of the continent to bring you an epicurian celebration of authentic African cuisine. In true African style, all dishes are intended to be shared. Choose between the Zulu, Xhosa or Ndebele Rooms, each decorated in the vibrant style associated with that culture. There are no starters served here but the splendid views over Table Bay are the perfect appetizer.

Seafood

Wharfside Grill */** Mariners Wharf, the Harbour, Hout Bay Tel: +27 (0)21-790-1100 The place to eat seafood in Hout Bay and possibly all of Cape Town. The ingredients come fresh from the fishing boats at the end of the pier. Lobster bisque, lemon-grilled linefish and fresh oysters all served in a relaxing atmosphere. Suitable for families. Brass Bell * Kalk Bay Station Tel: +27 (0)21-788-5456 A genuine Cape Town institution, celebrated more for its atmosphere and location (on the sea) than its food, which is well priced and of a good standard. Great bar for sunsets, and a live music venue on weekends. Die Strandloper *** Langebaan Tel: +27 (0)22-772-2490 A legendary open-air restaurant situated on the West Coast beach, an hour's drive from Cape Town. Multiple courses are served in between long walks on the beach, swims and general relaxation. It's more than a meal - it's an unforgettable day out. Bertha's Restaurant ** Quayside Centre, Simonstown Tel: +27 (0)21-786-2138 A visit to historic Simonstown is made complete by meal at Bertha's serving wonderful seafood on the edge of the harbour. Unusually for Cape Town, the service is excellent.

Japanese / Asian

Fujiyama ** 100 Main Rd, Sea Point Tel: +27 (0)21-434-6885 Japanese food and good sushi; well designed interior contrasts with the scruffy neighbourhood. Japanese visitors love it. Good winelist; erratic service. Yindee's ** 22 Camp St Gardens Tel: +27 (0)21-422-1012 Authentic southern Thai cuisine in a cosy, friendly setting. Consistently rated the best Thai food in the city.

Italian

Primi Piatti * 18 Brighton Ct, Victoria Rd, Camps Bay Tel: +27 (0)21-438-2923 Continental/Italian food served with pizzazz and a great view of the sea.

Portuguese

Villamoura ***+ The Promenade, Victoria Rd, Camps Bay Tel: +27 (0)21-438-1850 Five-star Portuguese cuisine garnering consistently rapturous reviews.

Indian

Bukhara *** 33 Church St Tel: +27 (0)21-424-0000 The best Indian food in the city; full every night of the week. The cuisine is North Indian, prepared in an open kitchen facing on to the main dining area. The tie-on linen bib is a nice touch.

International

Beluga *** The Foundry, Prestwich St, Green Point Tel: +27 (0)21-418-2948/9 Plugged by Condé Naste as one of the city's best restaurants over the last few years, Beluga is certainly a swish affair with a dynamic menu that draws sophisticated diners. Great wine cellar, of course. 169 On Long * 169 Long St Tel: +27 (0)21-426-1107 Cape Town's longest balcony hosts a varied menu boasting Dutch, Indonesian and International food. A great atmosphere is enhanced by live jazz and an enthusiastic cocktail staff. Madame Zingara *** 192 Long St Tel: +27 (0)21-426-2458 The hottest place in town just now, Madam Zingara's is the place to eat. The eclectic décor and eccentric staff serve to complement a very imaginative menu that has been garnering rave reviews locally. Try the chilli-chocolate sauce with a rare steak. Madame Zingara herself is waiting in a back room to read your fortune. Make reservations well in advance. La Petite Ferme *** Franschoek Tel: +27 (0)21-876-3016 One of the finest Cape restaurants, La Petite Ferme is famous for its unparalleled views over the Franschoek valley. It is customary to take drinks on the lawn before dining. When reserving your table - and make the call well in advance - ask for a balcony table. Situated in the country's gastronomic capital Franschoek, one-hour from Cape Town on the N1. Lunches only.

Bars

Cape Town is really a series of little villages, and its bars tend to cluster in definite areas. The list below contains some Cape classics although is naturally far from exhaustive. A good methodology to employ is to head to an area and then try out every bar you come across. Long Street Running through the length of the city centre, Long Street is home to a motley assortment of trendy restaurants, all-night cafés, nightclubs, and bars. This is a good place for an evening if you want to explore on foot and try a number of different venues. It's fun and vibrant but take care as unsavoury types are drawn here too. 169 on Long is a colonial style bar/restaurant with great views of the street below; slick jazz quartets play here in the evenings (Tel: +27 (0)21-426-1107). Jo'burg is a newcomer that has garnered a loyal clientele with its chic interior and ironic play on the Cape Town - Johannesburg rivalry. (Tel: +27 (0)21-422-0142). Another top class venue is Long Street Café, which draws an upmarket crowd and offers top food and cracking cocktails (Tel: +27 (0)21-424-2464). Closer to Greenmarket Square is the wonderful Fez, a Moroccan-styled club-bar with a splendidly opulent interior. The crowd is fun and decadent; open until the last person goes home. Tel: +27 (0)21-423-1456. Gardens Gardens has a good spread of music venues, laid back cafés and ethnic restaurants. Near to the Kloof St side of this district in Longkloof, Studios Café Bardeli is a cocktail lounge that attracts a pretty hip and self-conscious crowd. Just around the corner, Cohibar is a relaxed and discrete cigar bar with a great selection of whiskies. Tel: +27 (0)21-423-4444 for both. Further up the road Asok Son of Dharma is a newly opened lounge bar expensively decked out in contemporary Colonial furnishings. Atlantic seaboard Cape Town's best sunset bar is to be had at the Ambassador Hotel Bar (34 Victoria Rd. Bantry Bay). The pretentious service is completely at odds with the fabulous views and late afternoon sunshine. Try the oyster platter and champagne deal for good value taste of the highlife. Down the road to Camps Bay, the party really gets going at La Med (Glen Country Club, Victoria Rd Clifton) which plays out like a frenetic singles club and is very popular with the 20-somethings. It is not unusual to see para-gliders landing on the lawns nearby - surely one of Cape Towns more extravagant mating rituals. Along Camps Bay main road, right in front of the beach, are some of Cape Towns most popular and overpriced venues. Try Blues, both for the cocktails and the sunset views while Dizzy Jazz Café draws a fun crowd; both music and food are of a high standard. Observatory Known as "Obs" to the locals, this compact area is an intriguing mix of the ultra-trendy, broke student crowd, bohemian chic and suburban biker. Lay a good foundation for your night out by eating at well-priced Obz Café (115 Lower Main Rd), before exploring the bars. You can wind down at the inimitable Café Cart Blanche (42a Trill Rd), an intimate, decidedly eccentric venue with seductive couches, a good choice of single malts and perfect hot chocolate for those cold winter nights. Waterfront Although aimed mainly at tourists, Waterfront entertainment gets good reviews for its variety, quality and convenience. Good jazz and tempting food can be found at the Green Dolphin (Victoria and Alfred Arcade). Check out Mitchell's Scottish Ale House and Brewery for quality microbrews such as Foresters and Bosuns Bitter; tours of the brewery are available. Cantina Tequila is an ever-popular dinner and party venue on the edge of the picturesque harbour.