2 Best Restaurants in Hout Bay, South Africa

Owned by the Deus Ex Machina moto, surf, and clothing brand, this gorgeous 17th-century Cape Dutch homestead is handsomely tailored, inviting, and a little bit out of the ordinary. There's a retail space and vinyl room, as well as a selection of tasty meals, some of them a slight nod to the rock-and-roll biker culture that infuses the space—a Bikers Blue Burger, a vegan burger named for Mick Jagger, and prego rolls (a Portuguese steak sandwich), pizzas, tacos, salads, crowd-pleasers like beer-battered hake-and-chips and peri-peri chicken, and several options for children. There is indoor and outdoor seating, and lots to take in while you wait, maybe browsing the clothing and accessories range in the shop, or listening to DJs or live music several nights a week. When you first step inside the farmhouse, you may notice the untouched meal-for-one on a small table in the corner of the entry hall. The story goes that there's a resident ghost and it's a long-standing tradition to put something out for her, lest breaking the cycle should upset her and unleash the unknown.

This family-friendly café has an extensive menu of pizzas and burgers (each named after a different artist), salads, sandwiches, cakes, breakfasts, and coffee. But the main draw might be the fact that, while enjoying a light meal, you can paint your own ceramics, be they plates, bowls, vases, or figurines. There's a large grassy area outside and a playground for children to run around while you summon your muse (yes, there's wine available), and there are a few breakfast and lunch meals specifically for children, too.