2 Best Restaurants in Gardens, Tamboerskloof, and Oranjezicht, Cape Town

From late afternoon through midnight you can follow your ears to find the party at this hipsterish hangout, but come here for lunch, and you'll discover some of the most addictive Mediterranean- and Middle Eastern-inspired food in the city. The unusual menu items—wood-fired lettuce, beef and lamb baked into a pita, eggplant done on the coals and smothered with tahini and other goodies, and cured yellowtail on challah toast that you will dream about for weeks—are full of flavor and everything is scrumptious, simple, and served with a smile. And while there's a bar full of everything (at very reasonable prices, much like the food), you can order filtered water, still or sparkling, served from a specialized tap and free of charge. Just be warned that if you're not up for a slice of pandemonium, you'll want to make your exit before the late-afternoon partiers begin to descend, it will gradually begin to throb with young people out for a good time.

So much German is spoken by patrons here that it's easy to forget you're in Cape Town. People come to this pristine deli for the largest selection of raw sausages and authentic German breads in town and also for the great-value ready-made lunches. Expect pea or potato-and-leek soups as standards and entrees like farmer's omelets or smoked pork chops. It's easy to get carried away and ratchet up the bill while selecting cheeses and imported meats, so beware. Ask the helpful servers to slice your bread, cut a selection of cheese or meat, and package some salads for an impromptu picnic in the Company Gardens nearby. Another option is to grab a coffee and ready-made salami and mozzarella roll. Don't miss the great barrel sauerkraut and pickled gherkins.