5 Best Restaurants in V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

In a dizzying rooftop venue that was purpose-built (on top of one of the Waterfront's 100-year-old buildings) for this outpost of chef David Higgs' most iconic Johannesburg restaurant, this glamorous spot opened at the end of 2024. With "meat, salt, and fire" its watchwords, the focus is on food cooked over an open flame, inspired by a kind of upmarket rendition of what South Africans call braai and Americans refer to as barbecue, and undertaken in kitchens decked out in the world's most state-of-the-art grilling equipment. Steaks of the highest caliber are only the beginning—the entire menu, from wood-fired linefish with burnt leeks and seaweed butter to mushroom paella made with rice from the wood-burning oven, is a charred, smokey, coal-tinged thing of beauty. Plus there's a scene-stealing bar (for which walk-ins are possible) and a wraparound balcony where it's possible to feel elevated in ways both literal and metaphoric.

In a restored warehouse, this trendy operation has turned a once-derelict piece of land near the V&A Waterfront into a private beach space with several bars and comfortable covered seating areas inside and out. Although the food—huge rectangular pizzas, colorful salads, Wagyu burgers, seafood platters, steaks, fish-and-chips, and tasty but not-exactly-authentic sushi—is slightly overpriced, remind yourself that you're paying for the view, the toes-in-the-sand vibe, and the chance to rub shoulders with some of Cape Town's shiniest, happiest people. This is simply a beautiful place to have a cocktail and create memorable moments with a like-minded tribe of partiers and carefree pleasure-seekers.

If your reasons for traveling are to experience some of the world's most creative dining, then chef John Norris-Rogers has plenty to dazzle you with, as he experiments with flavors and inventive ways of presenting dishes. From a platter of seafood morsels to sourdough served with curried hake butter and lamb with morel and chimichurri, diners experience show-off levels of culinary virtuosity. Whether it's the between-course nibbles and palate cleansers, the astonishingly beautiful crockery, or the glittering harbor views, this will be a full-on, immersive dining experience. Children under 8 are not allowed. 

Almost entirely comprised of outposts of the Cape's most popular restaurants, this food hall has more than a dozen different kitchens and four bars (one that's wine-focused). For immaculate sushi, try Sushiya, where Cape Town’s lauded chef Peter Tempelhoff has collaborated with a Michelin-star chef from Japan, or visit Barakat for a contemporary take on Cape Malay cuisine (order the bobotie, a curried beef mince dish, followed by a couple of donut-like koesisters) or maybe stop by Milo for sish’nyama—aka braai or barbecued food created by one of the country’s most exciting young chefs, Vusi Ndlovu. Plus there's Asian street food from How Bao Now; simply delicious cooking at celebrity chef Siba Mtongana's Siba Deli; and the best ice cream in town from Unframed. Most stalls get going at 11 am—Nosh opens for breakfast at 8 am—and the market stays open well into the night with occasional parties and live music.

Claiming a sweet spot at the V&A Waterfront with fabulous harbor and mountain views, this versatile eatery focuses on updated versions of global classics. From fish tacos to a Wagyu beef cheeseburger to salade Niçoise, dishes that you wouldn’t normally expect to see on the same menu are harmonized by shared traits of freshness, flavor, and quality. With a sleek, warehouse-inspired interior and outside seating that maximizes its position overlooking both Table Mountain and the harbor, Mondiall is a highly agreeable culinary stop. Open all day, this modern brasserie is a welcome addition to the Waterfront's often ho-hum offerings.