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Eating Out
Guide to Drinking and Dining in Cape Town
Cape Town does not have a
definitive local cuisine, although Cape Malay food, with its fusion
of European and Eastern influences, is unique to the Cape.
Restaurant prices are exceedingly good value by European standards
and it is not unusual to see foreign visitors howling with laughter
as they study their bill.
For the most part though, the restaurant scene is highly diverse and
dynamic, with a wide variety of well-priced international food
available. Seafood is mostly excellent, with crayfish, fresh
linefish and oysters in abundance. Compiled below is a personal
selection of the best in terms of cuisine, atmosphere and price.
PRICE GUIDE: (average cost of a main course):
= less than ZAR40,
= ZAR40-70,
= ZAR70+
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.
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