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

An utterly unpretentious yet elegant restaurant with a select seasonal menu posted on a chalkboard, Black Sheep features food inspired by all of the Cape’s culinary influences: indigenous, North African, Asian, Middle Eastern, and more. Ingredients are locally and ethically sourced, and the restaurant has a nose-to-tail food philosophy with a focus on ensuring that nothing's wasted. Expect dishes like seared marlin, crispy pork trotters, rabbit puff pastries, Vietnamese style chicken, and grilled kudu. Typically, what appears on the blackboard depends on what meat's available, what produce is at market, and what's in season and freshest. Come early or make a booking, as the restaurant gets full quickly in the evenings.

A true survivor, this authentic Thai restaurant on a busy Kloof Street intersection has been around for what seems like forever. Barely a thing has changed, and it still entices its regulars with fragrant curries, delectable stir-fries with cashews or roasted chili, and of course, the spicy tom yum soup. The menu is extensive without being overwhelming, and you can mix and match your choice of meats, vegetables and tofu, or prawns with a choice of curries (their red curry is a favorite), or pick a straightforward rice or noodle dish.