Cape Town on the Western Cape of South Africa in the Summer
is a wonderful place to visit. The fact their Summer coincides with the Great
British Winter provides another fantastic reason for going, getting to leave
the cold and grey behind! Sea, sunshine and sights are the treats you can
expect to find, but perhaps you weren’t aware of the ridiculously high level of
restaurant scene you find here. I was astonished at the range of great
restaurants, the fabulous value for money, the superb selection of local wines
and beer and amazing service. There are hundreds of great dining experiences to
be had in Cape Town. This is my selection of my very favourite places.
Chefs
Warehouse
Chefs
Warehouse is a foodies’ impossible dream; a cook book shop curated with love
and care, a cooking implement store with genuinely great cookware, a deli with
some of the world’s best ingredients available and a tapas bar with a
difference. All under the same roof. No, I wouldn’t have believed you unless I
had seen it with my own eyes, either!
Daily tapas for 2 to share is served here, with nods to Vietnamese, Italian and Japanese food. The menu changes each day, based on which ingredients are at their best at market that day. The food here is without question some of the best I had in South Africa, truly world class. The dishes are cheffy and well presented without being self-indulgent. Chef Liam Tomlin is a cook book author with a great eye and innovative ideas. With luck he may broaden his horizons and consider a restaurant on the European continent!
(Please note that no bookings are taken here. You need to turn up and wait for a table. It is worth it!)
Daily tapas for 2 to share is served here, with nods to Vietnamese, Italian and Japanese food. The menu changes each day, based on which ingredients are at their best at market that day. The food here is without question some of the best I had in South Africa, truly world class. The dishes are cheffy and well presented without being self-indulgent. Chef Liam Tomlin is a cook book author with a great eye and innovative ideas. With luck he may broaden his horizons and consider a restaurant on the European continent!
 |
| Snigdha meets Chef Liam Tomlin |
(Please note that no bookings are taken here. You need to turn up and wait for a table. It is worth it!)
Chefs Warehouse
92
Bree Street, Cape Town 8001
+27
(0)21 422 01 28
Email: info@chefswarehouse.co.za
Mzansi
Restaurant
Located
in Langa Township, this is a restaurant that feels more like being invited into
someone’s home for dinner and a party.
If that puts you off, then it is your loss. Because Nomonde cooks fabulous traditional Xhosa food in this family restaurant she runs with her husband Ace, and once you’ve eaten, the fun begins! Nomonde tells you the story of how she set up and built the restaurant and its clientele (a fascinating insight into the recent history of South Africa) and then it is time to groove to the Marimba and Sax sounds of the house band.
Dancing is not optional, and if you fancy, you can join in! My Marimba playing is rudimentary, but I managed to make a small contribution to the ensemble.
Safe, friendly and fun, if you’re staying in Cape Town, you’ve got to try something different.
Mzansi Restaurant
Here is the “must know” information:
- You need to book, at least the day before, to come here. This is because the food is bought and cooked for the number of visitors.
- This is not a “walk-in” restaurant.
- There is no menu, the dishes are made according to what is good, and is served up buffet style.
Dancing is not optional, and if you fancy, you can join in! My Marimba playing is rudimentary, but I managed to make a small contribution to the ensemble.
 |
| Snigdha playing the marimba |
Mzansi Restaurant
La
Mouette
Set
up by English Chef Henry Vigar, La Mouette serves beautiful plates of “Modern
European cuisine”; strongly influenced by French food with cheffy tweaks and
inspired presentation. Fresh seafood is a staple here.
I tried one of the tasting menus for the Festive season, and had a delightful meal full of surprises, colour and flavour. Each season, the tasting menu is changed to use the best of what is available, so my pictures may not represent what you would be served with. In the Summer food is served in the front courtyard, with comfy garden furniture and parasols making the dining environment a pleasant al fresco one, but there is attention to detail here; throws and blankets are available should the weather take a turn (the Cape Doctor is a fresh wind which can make an unexpected appearance!). Very good value for money, this is a place to treat yourself to food which competes with fine dining establishments in London at a small fraction of the cost.
I tried one of the tasting menus for the Festive season, and had a delightful meal full of surprises, colour and flavour. Each season, the tasting menu is changed to use the best of what is available, so my pictures may not represent what you would be served with. In the Summer food is served in the front courtyard, with comfy garden furniture and parasols making the dining environment a pleasant al fresco one, but there is attention to detail here; throws and blankets are available should the weather take a turn (the Cape Doctor is a fresh wind which can make an unexpected appearance!). Very good value for money, this is a place to treat yourself to food which competes with fine dining establishments in London at a small fraction of the cost.
La Mouette
78 Regent Road, Seapoint, Cape Town Central 8005, South Africa
+27 21 433 0856
http://lamouette-restaurant.co.za
78 Regent Road, Seapoint, Cape Town Central 8005, South Africa
+27 21 433 0856
http://lamouette-restaurant.co.za
The
Black Sheep
Tremendously
good value, The Black Sheep has a select daily menu lovingly hand chalked on
two huge blackboards each day. All produce is local and seasonal. It has the feel
of an informal gastopub, although the food is a lot more special.
Booking is
highly recommended, or you could have a long wait for a table. Loyal locals
come here time after time for the diverse and imaginative dishes, extensive
selection of wine available by the glass and friendly, enthusiastic service.
I wish there was a place like this within walking distance of my house; being able to walk here from my Cape Town digs brought home to me how vibrant and superb Cape Town’s eating out scene is.
I wish there was a place like this within walking distance of my house; being able to walk here from my Cape Town digs brought home to me how vibrant and superb Cape Town’s eating out scene is.
The Black Sheep
104 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South
Africa
+27 21 426 2661
Worth visiting:
Saigon Restaurant (Corner Kloof and Camp Street, Cape Town Central, South Africa)
Harbour House Kalk Bay (Main Rd, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, 7990, South Africa)
Kloof Street House (30 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town Central 8001, South Africa)
Snigdha has not received any incentive, financial or otherwise for posting these recommendations. All meals were paid for, fair and square.
I eating tremendously well when we visited South Africa in 2004. Cape Town and the garden route were particularly excellent for great great food. We spent five glorious weeks there, then 3 in Botswana and a last one in Namibia (we'd been to those two countries before). Was such a magical trip!!!!
ReplyDeleteI eating tremendously well when we visited South Africa in 2004. Cape Town and the garden route were particularly excellent for great great food. We spent five glorious weeks there, then 3 in Botswana and a last one in Namibia (we'd been to those two countries before). Was such a magical trip!!!!
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