5 Best Restaurants in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Simon's Town's best restaurant is often packed with regulars who come for good food that's decidedly a few notches above regular café fare. Diners tuck into great breakfasts and a variety of healthy vegan and vegetarian dishes, but there's also a choice of pastas and pizzas, seafood dishes prepared with whatever's fresh off the boat, and a small wine list. Plus, there are coffee drinks, cakes, and assorted light meals if you've got time restraints.

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.

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.

This casual Hout Bay eatery serves a range of delightfully simple Italian fare from antipasti to pasta, as well as what some say is Cape Town's best pizza. Massimo (who is Piemontese) has masterminded these lovely pizzas with a ton of topping choices, and those with dietary restrictions—vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerance—are welcome. Beyond pizzas, the "spuntini" or antipasti include classics like Italian meatballs, caprese salad, and pan-fried spinach with toasted pine nuts. There's a good selection of craft beer, warm service, and a laid-back ambience that help make this place feel like a home away from home. There are two play areas that add to the appeal if you've children in tow.