Cape Town has towering mountains and scenery so unbelievable it looks like another planet. So sometimes it feels like a much bigger place than it really is – but there aren’t a lot of ways to do Cape Town wrong as long as you follow these two rules:
plan your days around sunrise and sunset, and never miss a meal.
For the first part of that, make sure to have “sundowners,” sunset drinks and snacks with friends at a scenic overlook, as frequently as possible.
Which shouldn’t be too hard with the average bottle of wine here coming in at 60 rand (under four dollars).
Where To Eat In Cape Town South Africa
Fine Dining
The South African fine dining scene is unique – there are tons of options and they’re way more accessible than you might expect.
Most places offer seven or more courses for less money than you’d pay for a boozy airport meal and the food typically involves creative twists on South African dishes with indigenous ingredients that you just don’t see anywhere else.
The Test Kitchen
The Test Kitchen is the best restaurant in Cape Town. Dinner here is elaborate and involves 16 courses, complimentary cocktails, and surprises like homemade, infused gummy bears or vintage South African brandy.
Your table even relocates halfway through. But despite the fact that you’ll eat things like “lime-compressed apple,” the Test Kitchen feels more like an extravagant holiday dinner at a friend’s house than a stuffy restaurant.
The Potluck Club & Gallery
We could send you to The Potluck Club just for the view alone – it’s on the top floor of the tallest building in The Old Biscuit Mill complex – but you’d miss out on the best small plates in the city if you left after a picture.
This place is always lively and full of people, so it’s a great choice for a big group dinner or birthday celebration, or to start the night before taking a 10-minute ride to Bree, Kloof, and Long Streets, the main area for bars and nightlife.
To order, you mark which creative small plates you want on a paper checklist and give it to your server.
Chefs Warehouse
If you’re looking for a really special dinner but want to stay in the City Bowl (the center of town), Chefs Warehouse is the best spot.
This place lands somewhere between a tasting menu and small plates restaurant, serving eight shared dishes across three courses for two people to split for R800 (a convoluted math problem that works out to $25 a person).
They don’t take reservations, so it’s best to show up around 5:30pm, put your name down before they close the list (which can be as early as 6pm in the summer), then wait it out at their bar next door, No Reservations, or at Gigi’s Rooftop Bar a few blocks away.
What food is popular in Cape Town?
The foodie capital of South Africa, Cape Town’s flavoursome cuisine reflects its rich cultural heritage while its award-winning wines deserve a toast
Braai. .
Boerewors.
Biltong.
Gatsby.
Bobotie.
Malva Pudding.
Roibos tea.
Is food expensive in Cape Town?
While meal prices in Cape Town can vary, the average cost of food in Cape Town is R618 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Cape Town should cost around R247 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner.