8 Best Restaurants in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

This gem not only serves excellent coffee and all kinds of tasty treats and sinfully good baked goods to nibble and snack on, but it also has an extensive menu featuring breakfasts, pizzas (not as good as the Pizza Shed across the road) and burgers, small plates (think fish tacos and chicken wings), and a range of full meals. Supporting local producers where possible, they source their ingredients with care, using free-range eggs and chicken, grass-fed beef, and eco-conscious packaging. With lots of indoor and outdoor seating, this café becomes a lively spot during the summer, with occasional live music; note the passing trains along the very close track.

This Kalk Bay institution with its mismatched tables and open kitchen is so much more than a bakery that happens to do a roaring breakfast and lunchtime trade. Check out the blackboard for listings of full-scale meals, including a regularly changing roster of delectable and sophisticated seafood dishes, steaks, pork belly, pasta, and soups, all made with the same flair as those scrumptious breakfasts that have been luring hungry mouths since 1997 when this place went from being a greasy fish-and-bait shop to a deli-style café serving a decent cup of coffee.

Easy eating in a family-friendly atmosphere doesn't get much better than at this café, deservedly beloved by the crowds that flock here, especially when the weather is fine over weekends. Sit outside under the oak trees or inside, where reed-covered ceilings and a wood-burning stove create a cozy climate, and enjoy hearty and tasty wood-fired pizzas, pastas, burgers, and breakfasts served until 4 pm. You can also get a good old, no-nonsense rump steak and chips or a battered hake with a side salad, or go all-in for a meal-sized salad of goat's cheese, crispy butternut squash, avocado, and sun-dried tomatoes. Children have their own menu and a dedicated play area, and the freshly baked cakes and desserts are delicious and huge.

This family-friendly café has an extensive menu of pizzas and burgers (each named after a different artist), salads, sandwiches, cakes, breakfasts, and coffee. But the main draw might be the fact that, while enjoying a light meal, you can paint your own ceramics, be they plates, bowls, vases, or figurines. There's a large grassy area outside and a playground for children to run around while you summon your muse (yes, there's wine available), and there are a few breakfast and lunch meals specifically for children, too.  

A beloved institution with a fittingly laid-back vibe, Empire is something of a destination eatery serving wonderful food in a lively, wholesome environment. There's a regularly changing chalkboard menu, plus a variety of burgers, wraps, pasta, and salads, as well as some of the best breakfasts (served all day) on the peninsula—and some seriously habit-forming desserts. And, yes, bloody Marys at breakfast are possible, and if you sit upstairs, a view of the sea is too. 

For yummy bakes, creative meat-free burgers, and their famous crêpes (sweet or savory), this spot is a great antidote to the various chain restaurants found along this popular strip. It's low-key vegetarian and, aside from what you see displayed, they also make incredible healthy smoothies and protein-dense shakes, some with superfood ingredients, and serve freshly squeezed fruit juices, toasted sandwiches, all-day breakfasts, and good coffee. It shares an entrance with Gary's Surf Shop, a legendary place for surf gear and surf lessons.

It is a shack, albeit a very quaintly decorated one with all sorts of bric-a-brac, and perhaps the best scones you'll taste anywhere in the country. They also bake cakes and do a few desserts (try the Cape brandy pudding if available), and have milkshakes and kombuchas, teas, coffees, and the like. Plus it's simply a gorgeous setting, with pet pigs frolicking about and some chickens pecking the ground. It's run by a lovely couple who will also dish out advice on where to hike or what to see next, so it's well worth a detour.

With lots of healthy and vegan-friendly options, from falafel wraps and homemade veggie burgers to excellent breakfasts, good fish-and-chips, and a variety of delicious cakes on display, this is an extremely pleasant daytime dining spot with consistently satisfying food. The atmosphere, too, is a joy, miles from the crazy pace of the city, and it's operated by a crew of charming souls who make you feel right at home.