5 Best Restaurants in Cape Peninsula, South Africa

Probably the best restaurant anywhere this side of Chapman's Peak, here's where culinary legend and Gallic chef Franck Dangereux (the creator of the original La Colombe in 1996) has perfected the art of serving delicious, unpretentious French-influenced cuisine. He and his team work their "cafe by day, tapas bar by night" magic in a relaxed, renovated barn setting where there's a strong focus on sustainable seafood, ethical meat, and otherwise seasonal and always excellent produce. These ingredients and polished kitchen techniques are channeled into exquisite breakfasts, a creative lunch menu, and wonderful dinnertime tapas that change regularly but are always delicious no matter how simple (chorizo, red onion, and mature cheddar spring rolls with chipotle dip) or decadent (slow-roasted pork belly with Medjool date–and–butternut purée) they might seem. Completing the picture is a selection of excellent and reasonably priced wine pairings and service that's pretty good considering the borderline rural location.   Just a stone's throw away, the Foodbarn Deli sells fantastic pre-made meals, plus fresh baked goods, and a vast array of foodstuffs for the pantry.

Neopolitan chef Luca Castiglione and his South African wife Cecilia offer what is probably the most authentic, unadorned, and delectable Italian cuisine served on the peninsula, if not the entire Cape region, in a friendly space that's as uncluttered as the cuisine. Flavorsome seafood pasta, beautiful Neapolitan-style pizzas, a handful of classic Italian meat dishes, plus a chalkboard listing daily specials round out the menu, and everything is prepared fresh and served with warmth and energy. There's a children's playground just outside—useful when you find yourself settling in for the afternoon.

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.

Offering what are easily some of the greatest pizzas on the peninsula, this branch of the much-loved Cape Town chain provides Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas that feature carefully sourced ingredients and never over-the-top toppings. Choices are pretty straightforward rather than overcomplicated, so you get to taste the components properly, including the crusts with their distinctive smoky flavor. A solid favorite is the simple Truffle, bedecked with exotic mushrooms and sprinkled with truffle oil to create an aroma and subtle umami flavor you will dream of long after, but anchovy lovers should order The Salt without hesitation. The venue is bright and friendly, just like the service, and there's usually an unmissable lunchtime special.

An upmarket option with an Italian focus, this restaurant (upstairs from the Foragers Deli), does good pizzas and pasta (including a wonderful prawn fettuccine), as well as grilled steaks, burgers (at lunch), risotto, and salads. With an owner who hails from San Remo, you can expect food that's freshly made and locally sourced, with pasta that's made in-house (they have egg-free and gluten-free pasta available, too). If prices are a tiny bit higher than you expect, it's a consequence of being a bit far from any main towns, but you won't be sorry.