Cape Town Food & Drink
Restaurants, Cafes & Bars
cape town (CBD)
Highlights: Elgr, MOJO Market, Egghead Diner, House of Machines
1. ëlgr
Elgr was one of the last meals I had in Cape Town and it did not disappoint. It is located at 75 Kloof Street in downtown Cape Town. The menu and cocktail list fit on a small, square card no bigger than 6×6 inches and you can find up-to-date offerings here. It is a refined restaurant serving high quality food at a reasonable price.
This is a great spot for dinner or pre-drinks with some small plates. It has a sophisticated feel with a lounge type of vibe which spans throughout several rooms. There is also a main dining room on the first floor. The menu is predominately Greek and there is a high attention to quality. You will need a reservation for the downstairs dining area and be sure to follow their dress code. Dress smart casual, no flip flops or tank tops. The Athletic Club & Social is located at 35 Buitengracht St.
That’s right, Casablanca in Cape Town located at 103 Kloof Street. Rick’s has a stellar western menu and three floors of dining areas with a number of full bars. Take advantage of their terrace on a nice day and one of their TWO happy hours running between 3p.m. – 6p.m. and 10p.m. – midnight. You can check out their daily specials and the R79 cocktail of the week here.
Great, standard place to start your night out. The menu is solid with your typical bar food done very well. They have a lot of seating and an open central atrium with picnic tables which provides a good atmosphere for a few drinks and appetizers. You can find Jerry’s in Heritage Square, 98 Shortmarket St.
Okay, this is a bit of a tourist trap but hear me out. Towards the end of my stay in Cape Town my taste buds were craving something adventurous and once we received the unfortunate news that Gambi had closed down we had to quickly find a plan B. So, after a long search over espresso martinis at The Athletic Social & Club, we found Marco’s menu and honed in on their African platter: Springbok, Kudu and Ostrich all on one plate. It turned out to be a five minute walk away too. The small 200g steaks of each were cooked very well and are served with your choice of sauce and side. The restaurant was empty when we arrived in the early evening but a few tourist buses must have dropped tour groups off for a late dinner and then a band came on stage to play which added a whole new vibe. Don’t get the crocodile carpaccio though. Find Marco’s at 15 Rose St.
6. Ariel Modern (Sea Point)
This is a very good, high-quality Italian restaurant located at 90 Regent Rd in Sea Point. The pizza was absolutely incredible.
Market Hall Vibes:
1. MOJO Market Sea Point – There are a ton of food and beverage options in a trendy space with open seating. You can check out their website in the link I provided and see any upcoming live music or events. It’s located at 30 Regent Rd, Sea Point.
2. Eastern Food Bazaar – satisfy any cravings for curries, rotis or middle eastern dishes from Bombay to Bo-Kaap. This market is located at 96 Long Market St.
1. Egghead Diner – small diner at 34 Kloof St with a fantastic menu. The breakfast burrito was the best I had during my month in Cape Town.
2. Swan Cafe – French style creperie right next to the District Six museum.
3. The General Store – good coffee and lunch spot with fresh ingredients at 22 Bree St close to the V&A Waterfront.
4. Origin Coffee Roasting – cafe with high-quality coffee beans and solid brunch menu at 28 Hudson St near the V&A Waterfront.
5. New York Bagels – self-explanatory bagel shop with great reviews in Cape Town at 44 Harrington St right by the District Six museum
6. The Electric – everything you want from a cafe and coffee shop. Good coffee, good atmosphere and a reasonably priced versatile menu located close to the District Six Museum at 48 Canterbury St.
The Power and the Glory @ 13d Kloof Nek Rd – Great spot for a weekend night out.
Blondie @ 71 Kloof St – trendy spot that will get pretty packed on the weekend. There’s a small food and drink menu that draws a crowd.
House of Machines @ 84 Shortmarket St. – good bar for solid drinks or your morning coffee. Check the wall for daily events and live music. The Thursday open mics draw a very good crowd with plenty of local talent.
Maverick’s @ 68 Barrack St – Gentleman’s club if you want to visit or become a dancer. We didn’t make it but we did get the recommendation from a few different people so it’s up to you if you’re keen. It’s located right by the District Six museum.
Muizenberg
Highlights: Blue Bird Garage Market (Thurs/Friday), The Shed, Hans & Llyod, The Commons
1. The Shed – Pizza, burgers and sushi. Do a few things and do them well. The bacon, feta & avo pizza was fantastic and their chicken burger was one of the best I’ve ever had. Find them at 165 Main Rd.
2.Tortuga Loca – Mexican style restaurant with a good selection of tequila at 141 Main Rd.
3. Tiger’s Milk – We found Tiger’s Milk to be pretty standard but nothing to write home about though a number of people seem to like it. The menu is large and they have a full bar. They do have the best view in Muizenberg though so it’s a great way to have a meal if you can snag a spot by the window. Located in Surfer’s Corner.
1. Hans & Lloyd – Located in Surfer’s Corner is an unbeatable stop after your surf. Their coffee is excellent and they have a solid menu for breakfast or lunch. They also serve fresh juice and smoothies.
2. The Commons – Great spot if you’re looking for a cafe with a chilled vibe and a view overlooking Surfer’s Corner.
3. Harvest Cafe – Located at 4 York Rd. Here you can find hearty smoothies and smoothie bowls.
4. Empire Cafe – Good spot if you want a different start to your morning. We found the steak & eggs to be a great deal and they also have a number of beers from the Afro Caribbean Brewing Company.
5. Knead Bakery – I liked this spot right in Surfer’s Corner. They had good coffee and their breakfast sandwiches came in generous portions.
1. The Shed – Good place to have dinner and a few beers
2. The Commons – Followed by some cocktails and live music (check their website for upcoming events)
3. The Striped Horse – Continued to your standard dive bar which will have a DJ and a solid crowd until late on the weekends.
Kalk Bay
Highlights: Olympia, Kalky’s, The Chardonnay Deli, The Brass Bell
1. Olympia – Kalk Bay favorite. Olympia has a small, changing high-quality menu with different items in the morning and evening. In the evening it is quite a scene and experience. If you plan to go for dinner it is essential to stop by early and put your name down on the whiteboard. Otherwise you are unlikely to get a table. Located at 134 Main Rd.
2. Sirocco – Great open air spot for lunch or dinner on a nice day located at 75 Main Rd. If you plan to have dinner there then it would be wise to make a reservation ahead of time.
3. Salt – Good spot for small plates and drinks. They also serve coffee and breakfast in the morning. They are located right next to Olympia at 136 Main Rd.
4. Cape to Cuba – This is a Cuban/Cajun style restaurant tucked away across from Salt and Olympia. They have a decent menu with great sandwiches. There is a dining room and a separate bar area with plenty of outdoor seating facing the water or in their courtyard. They may have live music and DJs playing at night in their bar area. They also have a small humidor for cigars.
5. Kalky’s – Everything you’d want from your dirty (figuratively speaking) fish n’ chips spot right on the pier. Be sure to take a walk along the pier to catch seals taunting fisherman while taking in the sea. Be mindful of the waves though.
1. Olympia – great coffee and breakfast menu
2. Sirocco – good open air vibe for your morning brew
3. Chardonnay Deli – located at 20 Main Rd. They have a good drink and brunch menu. Be sure to try one of their homemade cheesecake slices!
4. The Courtyard Cafe – located at 48 Main Rd. They have a quality breakfast and lunch menu to be enjoyed in the courtyard.
1. Sirocco – early evening outdoor drink and lounge spot
2. Brass Bell – good for a swim in the tide pool and beers in the bar overlooking the water. Located by Sirocco through the underground walkway.
3. Salt – can be a vibe later in the evening after some small plates. Good cocktails.
4. Cape to Cuba – good bar atmosphere especially when there is live music or a DJ
Fishhoek
Highlights: The Victorian Times
1. Peak Cafe – Standard breakfast and lunch menu with coffee, smoothies and juice. The staff was super friendly. Located at 72 Main Rd.
2. The Coffee Guy Fishhoek – coffee close to the beach at 30-24 Beach Rd.
3. Chalk and Cheese – cafe with a cool ambiance located at 150 Main Rd.
4. The Stag and Maiden Cafe – standard cafe with some food and sweets. Located at 6 Recreation Rd.
The Victorian Times – Fish Hoek is a quiet, residential area so you won’t find much nightlife but, The Victorian Times, known as The Vic will generally draw some sort of crowd from the afternoon into the evening. This is a great spot to meet locals and hangout. There is a ton of space indoors and outdoors throughout the small compound and there is a back room with two pool tables. They serve bar food later than most places are open in Fish Hoek. Be sure to catch a rugby match and expect a local vibe. Located at 148 Main Rd.
living the wine life
One thing that I did not know about Cape Town before I got there was how big the wine scene is. Truthfully, I had never even been to a winery (okay, that’s a lie, one time in Qingdao, China but it was weird) before and (un)fortunately I think Cape Town may have ruined wineries for me anywhere else I go in the world. They blew me away with amazing wines, beautiful venues and unbeatable prices. The best part is that there is nearly an unlimited number of them to choose from based in three main areas: Constantia, Franschoek and Stellenbosch. Fellas, if you want to impress your wine loving girlfriend and you are looking to have a vacation somewhere then definitely consider Cape Town if to only see some attractions and spend a few days in the vineyards. You (she) will not be disappointed.
constantia
Constantia is home to the oldest wineries in South Africa and the entire southern hemisphere. Groot is thought to be the oldest winery in the area established in 1685. Wines from this area are very famous and Klein Constantia produces the notable Vin de Constance which was even enjoyed and requested by historical figures like Napoleon and Charles Dickens. It is a rich and sweet dessert wine that you must try when visiting. You can really get a taste of history in these vineyards with their long succession of world class winemakers. The wineries in this area are close enough to the city where it is easy to uber to and from though you might have a longer wait while leaving the venues. I really enjoyed Steenberg as well and took one of their Chardonnay’s with me back home to the states.
Constantia is only a 30 minute drive from the airport and a 20 minute drive from the V&A Waterfront so it is a very accessible option for people staying in Cape Town CBD. You can check out the Constantia Valley website to plan your visit and find even more things to do in addition to the wine tastings.
Franschoek
Franschoek is another picturesque wine country destination with over 45 active vineyards. Your tour of these vineyards can be made a bit easier using the Wine Tram which I would recommend so you can easily visit several different vineyards over the course of the day.
You can find all the information you need on the Wine Tram website. We did the hop-on-hop-off experience where you can select one of ten different tram lines to visit different sets of wineries. Here is a link to the schedule and timetable. The lines each cost 280ZAR and there are curated experiences starting from 1,600ZAR. It is definitely wise to do your research ahead of time and book your line/time slot in advance which you can do here. These wineries oftentimes have much more to offer than simply wine tasting so I would really recommend doing a lot of research to make the most of your time in Franschoek. We did the Burgundy Line which certainly did not disappoint.
Stellenbosch
Okay, Stellenbosch isn’t exactly in Cape Town but it’s close enough and the two can be done together. There is a small downtown area you can look to stay in but it is a college town so expect that sort of vibe. It will also be a ghost town during school breaks. My recommendation would be to hire a driver to take you to and from each winery. Ubers will be difficult to call as the area is a bit more rural. We hired one of our Uber drivers from earlier in the trip to take us around for the whole day. You can negotiate between 1,500 and 2,000ZAR so when that is split three or four ways it is quite an agreeable price and a seamless way to get around the area. We were able to hit four different wineries which was a comfortable pace.
Our Itinerary
I will lay out our itinerary as I felt we got a good mix of places and they were all very good. We started off at Waterford with its regal, Tuscan style architecture and then switched it up to Stellenzicht which was much more open in the fields and had excellent food with great service. We then went to Oldenburg which had my favorite red wine of the day and a lawn view with vineyards in the background enclosed by beautiful mountains. It’s a view worthy of a desktop background. We then were able to make it to our last stop, Tokara, which had a unique feel all on its own. They have a great terrace space which overlooks the rows of vines running in waves on a hill. All of the wineries were spectacular and incredibly affordable. They were some of the first wineries I had ever visited and I was blown away.
There is something like 150 wineries operating in Stellenbosch so it might be pretty difficult to visit them all and I only experienced a fraction of what Stellenbosch has to offer. You can find a wealth of information at the official tourism website of Stellenbosch. Plan well and start early!