RESTAURANTS

Restaurants

One of the many attractions of Cape Town is the quality and variety of restaurants in and around the city, which by international standards remain fantastic value. As well as a wide variety of international fare, there are numerous restaurants offering local Cape Malay dishes and traditional African cuisine, and seafood is also extremely popular. Fine diners and families with young children will find they are equally well catered for.

Camps Bay and the Waterfront have a wide choice of restaurants, but many of the better ones are outside these tourist hotspots. The town of Franschhoek, 40 minutes outside Cape Town, is known as the gourmet capital of South Africa with plenty of first-rate restaurants, while many of the wine farms in Constantia and around Stellenbosch have fantastic restaurants for long lunching accompanied by a bottle of the superb local wine.

Restaurants in Cape Town usually add a 10-15 percent service charge to tables of six or more; otherwise waiters expect a tip of 10-15 percent for good service. Restaurants are non-smoking, but most have separate smoking areas.

For a comprehensive list of restaurants in Cape Town check out www.diningout.co.za

Wakame

$$$$$ | Japanese

The sister restaurant of Wasabe in Constantia, Wakame has a great position overlooking the ocean and is always packed with food and fashion connoisseurs. The focus is on sushi, but Wakame also serves excellent Modern European fare. There is a good bar and a outdoor terrace, ideal for sundowners. In peak season there are two sittings and booking is essential.

Address: Beach Road, Mouille Point; E-mail: info@wakame.co.za; Telephone: 021 433 2377

Constantia Uitsig

$$$$$ | French

A huge success story from day one, Constantia Uitsig is an Italian-French restaurant with Asian fusions set in picturesque wine country, backed by the Constantiaberg. Chef Frank Swainston continues to create food with broader influences now than this original Provencale-Tuscan mix, he claims Australian and Asian influences too these days. Next door is Uitsig's sister restaurant, La Colombe, serving richer food which some prefer, but the views are not as good. Booking essential.

Address: Constantia Uitsig Farm, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia; E-mail: frank@uitsig.co.za; Telephone: Uitsig: 021 794 4480; La Colombe: 021 794 2390

Blues

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

For over 15 years Blues has been synonymous with the spectacular views of Camps Bay. Be it a stormy winter's day or perfect sunlit afternoon, you will always find Blues as buzzy, busy and as fashionable as ever. The restaurant that introduced modern California cuisine to the Cape today boasts a menu incorporating Mediterranean and fusion influences with a focus on seafood. Book well in advance during peak season and expect slightly chaotic waitering. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Address: The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay; E-mail: info@blues.co.za; Telephone: 021 438 2040

Millers Thumb

$$$$$ | Seafood

Solly and Jane Solomon's refreshingly-casual seafood restaurant in uptown Cape Town, Miller's Thumb's ever-changing chalkboard menu means that the customer, though reasonably assured of always finding something familiar, will just as surely find a couple of unlikely options. Cajun and Creole dishes have their influence in this kitchen, as does a winning Japanese dish which must be tried at least once: 'Yaki Soba', a noodle dish with prawns, chicken and cashews, which has become a staple. There's generally a pasta dish or two on the menu with interesting sauces, complemented by a good choice of wines.

Address: 10b Kloofnek Road, Tamboerskloof; E-mail: thethumb@mweb.co.za; Telephone: 021 424 3838

Five Flies

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

Five Flies is a sassy upmarket dining venue situated in the hub of Cape Town's legal and financial district. Great care has been taken with the interior renovations of this historic 18th-century building in order to create one of the most unique dining experiences in the Cape. Executive Chef, Gerard van Staden has become renowned for his artistic and delicious creations, which are presented together with some of the Cape's finest wines. Secure street parking available.

Address: 14-16 Keerom Street, Cape Town; E-mail: info@fiveflies.co.za; Telephone: 021 424 4442

The Codfather

$$$$$ | Seafood

Situated just behind Camps Bay's main strip, the Codfather offers a unique presentation of fine fish. There is no menu at this low-key restaurant - you make your choice after a personal discourse with your waiter on the daily specials. It is then weighed, prepared to the highest standard and served at your table. Staff are all first class and provide a fine act. There is also a sushi bar. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Address: 37 The Drive, Camps Bay; E-mail: codfathr@mweb.co.za; Telephone: 021 438 0782

Beluga

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

Beluga is a stylish eatery located in the Foundry, a wonderful 100-year-old red-brick building that once housed one of the city's oldest metal works, now converted into a modern interior design and office centre in the heart of what is rapidly becoming Cape Town's film and modelling district. The restaurant offers the best of New World cuisine - plenty of robust flavours, interesting ingredients and generous portions - while the cocktail bar serves great drinks and retro-cocktails, and a welcoming café spills out onto an enclosed courtyard, serving light meals and coffees from early till late.

Address: The Foundry, Prestwich Street, Green Point; E-mail: info@beluga.co.za; Telephone: 021 418 2948/9

Caf� Royale

$$$$$ | American

Royale is the gourmet burger joint in Cape Town and it is not uncommon to see scruffy jeaned skater types rubbing shoulders with trendy executives. Royale offers a spectacular range of burgers (and an entire list of different veggie burgers too) and one can chop and change toppings, choose between ostrich, chicken, veggie burgers, regular burgers or even seared tuna burgers and feast on a mix of potato wedges, sweet potato fries, regular fries and delicious salad. The burgers sport amusing names such as the 'Miss Piggy' (with bacon and guacamole) and the 'Fat Bastard' (double everything) and the restaurant also offers a range of pizzas and mouth-watering milkshakes. Royale now boasts an upstairs bar and lounge known as the Waiting Room that features live music, as well as a third floor that caters for private functions and has a sundowner deck.

Address: 273 Long Street; Telephone: 021 422 4536

Ginga

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

The trendy Ginga restaurant, situated in the Bo-Kaap district is a fine dining experience. The lofty, industrial restaurant amalgamates a French brasserie ambiance with a modern capetonian design creating an intimate and stylish environment. Chef Michael Bassett serves up contemporary fusion cuisine with a wine list to compliment and upstairs is the laid back Shogo bistro/bar, the perfect place for a pre or post-dinner drink.

Address: 121 Castle Street; Telephone: 021 426 2368

Pigalle

$$$$$ | Modern Eclectic

Famed as Cape Town's most stylish dinner-dance venue, Pigalle is a vast, split-level restaurant divided into intimate dining areas, each boasting a view of the dance floor and band. The lavish furnishings, elegant tables and background music create the perfect atmosphere to indulge in the sumptuous offerings from either one of the set menus or from the à la carte menu. Start with black mussels; choose between the ostrich fillet with mushroom and peppercorn sauce, the fillet medallions, or the Pigalle Platter (prawns and langoustines in lemon butter), and share the crème brûlée or baked cheesecake with someone special. Open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Address: 57 Somerset Rd, Greenpoint; E-mail: pigalle@mweb.co.za; Telephone: 021 421 4848

Bukhara

$$$$$ | Indian

Offering Cape Town's finest Indian cuisine in an elegant setting, Bukhara is situated in the CBD of Cape Town, and attracts business people, politicians, food critics and lovers of fine food. The glass-walled kitchen allows diners to watch the Indian chefs at work, while enjoying a savoury taste experience that explores the spices and flavours of authentic India. The fare includes meat, poultry, seafood and vegetarian favourites, as well as a variety of breads and rice. Open for dinner nightly and lunch from Monday to Saturday.

Address: 33 Church Street; Telephone: 021 424 0000

Caf� Mozart

$$$$$ | Caf�

Something of a Cape Town institution, Café Mozart has been attracting locals and foreigners for over thirty years. Reputed to serve the best coffee in town, Café Mozart is a great breakfast stop with tables spilling out onto a shaded pedestrianised walkway where buskers amuse passers-by with jovial tunes. With superb fruit juices, a mouth-watering selection of sandwiches made on freshly baked bread and an attractive daily menu created at the whim of chef and proprietor Tom Kelley, there is something for everyone. For teatime lovers head to Café Mozart and sample their variety of looseleaf teas that are served in elegant silver teapots and quirky crockery. Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast and lunch.

Address: 37 Church Street; Telephone: 021 424 3774