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

Arguably the best dining establishment on all of Kloof Street, this always delicious, always fun restaurant is helmed by Swedish-born, South Africa–raised chef Jesper Nilsson, who does everything from gourmet pizzas to line fish with baba ganoush or lamb ribs with butter bean pilaki. His menus are a bit of a puzzle, listing the chief ingredients and making no attempt to name the dish nor describe how the ingredients will be combined. The puzzle is solved by Jesper and his chefs and the reward will be all yours: he manages to coax miraculous flavors onto every plate, and somehow achieves that "OMG" reaction every time.

At this restaurant—part of Cape Cadogan, the boutique hotel next door—chef Amori Burger's (who has done time on TV food shows and worked in the bush cooking at safari lodges) concept revolves around the idea of a family feast. Menus change with the seasons and gravitate around a theme Amori and her squad of chefs are exploring, but guests can choose between a couple of tasting menus or dip into the à la carte selection of small plates, all of it made to be shared. Think of it as food cooked by your (South African) grandmother if she were a world-class professional chef with a contemporary outlook: sharing plates of tasty vegetables, mains with hints of nostalgia, everyone reaching across the table, and lots of fine wine. Just off Kloof Street, the venue is a double-story colonial-era manor house that's been jazzed up and turned into a seriously eye-catching space, decorated in green and white, with tables that spill onto the outside terrace. 

In this warm space of yellowwood tables, sash windows, and reed ceilings, chef-owner Harald Bresselschmidt has served classic European-with-a-twist cuisine since 1996 at one of the city’s oldest fine-dining establishments. Using the freshest South African produce prepared with classical European methods, the chef cooks with wine in mind, and Aubergine's cellar and pairings are unsurprisingly superb. Seafood options are excellent, as are meat dishes like the gemsbok sirloin with chestnut puree. In summer, the garden seating of this historic 1830s home is recommended. Lunch and winter specials are more affordable ways of enjoying this classic restaurant, and apart from its à la carte options, there are degustation menus available.

Don't miss Mount Nelson's legendary high tea, which has been offered since the hotel was erected in 1899 to welcome the then Prince of Wales on his visit to the Cape. Served from noon to 3 pm, afternoon tea offers sweet and savory treats and more than 40 tea varieties, which an expertly trained tea sommelier can guide you through. You should most definitely book in advance.