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Cape Town is the culinary capital of South Africa and quite possibly the continent. It certainly has the best restaurants in southern Africa. Nowhere else in the country is the populace so discerning about food, and nowhere else is there such a wide selection of high-quality restaurants. Western culinary history here dates back to the 17th century—Cape Town was founded specifically to grow food—and that heritage is reflected in the city's cuisine and the fact that a number of restaurants operate in historic town houses and 18th-century wine estates.
Cape Town dining today offers a global culinary experience, with Cape chefs showing the same enthusiasm for international food trends as their counterparts worldwide. French and Italian fare has long been available, but with Thai, Japanese, and Pan-Asian influences flooding in, accents of lemongrass, miso, and yuzu have become de rigueur in fine-dining kitchens. Middle Eastern cuisine is finally making some headway, and the Americas have also come to the fore, with plenty of burgers and ribs, and even chicken and waffles popping up on menus these days, not to mention a few South American and passable Mexican eateries. Ubiquitous pan-Asian fare is probably not as good as what you might be used to in major American cities; sushi is also easily found, though largely limited to tuna and salmon, and often prepared with lots of drizzled mayo and sauces. The locavore trend toward organic produce and healthful dishes is also gaining popularity, though attitudes toward vegetarianism in this meat-happy land remain somewhat backward.
Hidden in the Montebello Design Center and Nursery is this quaint little cafe that has been serving locals for decades. Serving thoughtful breakfasts, light lunches, sandwiches, and a select number of delicious hot meals. There is an extensive cake, pastry, and deli counter with all kinds of homemade goods. On warmer days, a seat outdoors allows you to view the wonderful plants in the nursery next to it and there's a small play area for kids to enjoy.
Entirely vegan and plant-based with health front of mind, the food here is nutritious and utterly delicious. From freshly-squeezed juices to incredible smoothies (ideal on hot days), and dishes like chickpea curry, butter bean stew, and tacos filled with spicy cauliflower, avocado, cashew nut cream cheese, and Mexican beans and brown rice, no corners are cut and the emphasis is on making every mouthful delicious, rich, and packed with nourishment. There are also homemade bagels, wraps, soups, and pasta with some sort of cheesy-tasting alternative made from nuts. There are two more locations, the original in Gardens, just off Kloof Street, and another in Observatory.
Amid the tribal masks, beaded place mats, and raw-wood headrests, this vast café is a breath of fresh air tucked away from the mainstream in a historic building in the backstreets of Green Point. It's such a secret that you could walk right past it without knowing it's there, but do seek it out because it's not only a lovingly restored oasis, but the food (mostly breakfasts and brunches, but also excellent lunches) is wonderful and the kitchen is always striving to bring more creativity to the menu. Expect dishes like Turkish eggs (homemade labneh topped with poached eggs), chicken livers with mosbolletjie (a traditional Cape Dutch sweet bun), and some super-healthy and entirely vegan options, plus salads, burgers (falafel, beef, or chicken), grilled sandwiches, and freshly baked cakes for lunch.
Originally on Long Street, this restaurant was created in 2007 by Senait Mekonnen with an emphasis on authentic Ethiopian recipes served in the traditional way—guests sit at low tables and eat with their fingers. Although the menu gives detailed and vivid descriptions of what you can expect from each dish, a tasting platter that samples about five different main course items (vegan options available) is a good place to start. Each dish comes with injera flatbread made from gluten-free teff flour, the Ethiopian staple, which you peel off and use to scoop up the various stews, vegetables, and meats steeped in beautifully spiced gravies. You can also ask for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, and on certain nights there's live Afro-jazz. Service is friendly and on the ball, and Senait studiously ensures that the food is consistently reminiscent of home.
Delicious daytime meals are just one reason there's almost always a crowd in this friendly corner spot on the outer edge of De Waterkant. It could also be the changing art exhibit on the walls or the warm service, but it's probably the tasty meals conjured from nourishing ingredients, the excellent coffee, smoothies, and freshly squeezed juices. The menu adapts according to the seasons as the emphasis is always on fresh, healthy flavors (they have plenty of gluten-free and vegan options available), and the food is exquisitely presented (don't come if you're in a hurry as they do everything to order). You can sit inside or on the sliver of space outside—sometimes there are even people sitting across the road with their mugs in hand. It feels as much like a community get-together as a gracious, intimate neighborhood breakfast spot, and being here always feels like you've discovered a secret hub of culinary excellence.
Prepare to eat with your fingers at this unassuming hole-in-the-wall restaurant, where chef and owner Yeshi Mekonnen demonstrates her deep love for the food of her homeland, evident in the traditional and fresh dishes she prepares from scratch. Meals are served on large sharing platters or individual plates and come with the traditional injera (naturally gluten-free flatbread made from teff flour) that you use to scoop up each mouthful; ask Yeshi to guide your choices according to your mood and level of hunger. Decorated with trinkets from Ethiopia, this quaint spot has low-to-the-ground seating (in the traditional style), which adds to the feeling of being worlds away from the street outside.
The savory buckwheat galettes and sweet crêpes are a great alternative to typical breakfast and lunch menus found elsewhere. The stylish, naturally lit crêperie exudes Parisian charm with its blue and red accents, dangling wooden birdcages, and pizzazz, all thanks to the inherent style of the French proprietor, a former model. Other French classics feature, too, like croque monsieur, ratatouille, raclette, and petite boulette (meatballs)—plus all the teas (and coffee) you’ll ever need.
