Cape Town’s Top 5 Restaurants

Cape Town stands proudly as one of the biggest draws to the entire continent. With attractions like the Cape floral kingdom and its natural wonder Table Mountain, millions of tourists have made the trek to this beautiful location, and millions more inevitably will in the years to come.

Cape Town’s picturesque scenery and uniquely blended culture aside, another big draw to the region in general is the food. And when it comes to world-class cuisine, Cape Town wins out in spades with some of the finest restaurants on the globe.

Here are five of the best restaurants Cape Town has to offer.

1: The Test Kitchen

The Test Kitchen is a relatively new restaurant opened up over the summer by world renowned chef Luke Dale Roberts. Although it’s a fairly new spot, it has quickly become one of the hottest restaurants in Cape Town and attracts people from all over.

This 30-seat restaurant truly started out as a “test” for chef Dale Roberts, looking for ways to take his cuisine to new heights. The public has taken to this approach well, flocking in droves to this semi-formal eatery for fantastic dishes. The Test Kitchen has a beautiful old-world-meets-modern setting, with rich woods and bright art, brought to life by subtle globe lighting.

Overall, it can be a little pricy, with the average meal coming in at around R350, but this quaint little spot is one of Cape Town’s finest.

Address: The Test Kitchen, Shop 104 A,
The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Road
Woodstock, Cape Town
Bookings: +27 (0)21 447 2337 or email reservations@thetestkitchen.co.za

Operating Hours
Lunch – Tue to Sat: 12.30pm to 2.30pm
Dinners – Tue to Sat: 7pm to 10pm

2: La Colombe

Executive chef Luke Dale Roberts’ original restaurant, La Colombe, is an Asian-inspired French fine-dining establishment in Constantia Uitsig featuring a seven-course tasting menu that draws in crowds from across the globe.

The ambiance is incredibly unique, with a diner-like feel about it with chalkboard menus, but a very formal atmosphere with the table settings, custom-designed plates and food items like foie gras, bush tea-preserved quince, and rabbit confit.

The restaurant is on the pricy side, so it’s definitely one of those special occasion places for most, but from the unique setting to the blended fusion cuisine, La Colombe stands out for many reasons.

Address:
Spaanschemat Street, Cape Town 7806, South Africa
Bookings: +27 (0)21 794 2390 or email lacolombe@uitsig.co.za

Operating Hours
Open 7 days a week
Lunch: 12.30 – 14pm
Dinner: 7pm- 20.45pm

3: Aubergine

Aubergine stands out as Cape Town’s most complex restaurant in terms of menu and ambiance. Located in the former home of Chief Justice Sir John Wylde built in 1930, this restaurant is the epitome of traditional meets modern. From the beautiful wood ceilings and soft lighting, to the open, airy space and polished service staff, this restaurant is a winner before you even taste the food.

The cuisine at Aubergine, prepared by world-renowned chef Harald Bresselschmidt, is described by many as pure genius. They have an a la carte menu plus a traditional menu, and diners can mix and match their items for a two, three, four, and even five-course meal. From a goat’s milk cheese soufflé to venison medallions and date confit, Aubergine is a very special establishment.

It’s a high-end restaurant that will cost on average about R350 (400/450 with wine), but everyone walks away from this restaurant satisfied.

Address:
39 Barnet Street, Gardens 8001
Cape Town, South Africa
Bookings: +27 (0)21 465 4909 or email info@aubergine.co.za

Operating Hours
Lunch – Wednesday – Friday – 12pm -2pm
Cinq a Sept – Monday – Saturday 5pm – 7pm
Dinner: Monday – Saturday 7pm – 10pm

4: The Roundhouse

Located in Camps Bay, Cape Town, The Roundhouse is a formal-dining establishment that has made it their mission to make every diner feel like a VIP. As soon as you’re seated, you’re instantly greeted by a member of the impressive wait staff asking what you’d like to drink. With contemporary French cuisine brought to life by chef PJ Vadas, The Roundhouse is always near the top of everyone’s list for best restaurants in Cape Town.

The actual restaurant is very attractive, nestled snuggly in the beautiful Glen on the slopes of Lion’s Head, offering picturesque views of Camps Bay. Inside the restaurant, the redwood immediately catches your eye, and the openness of the restaurant is accented well by the light-colored walls and natural light.

Although The Roundhouse is a fine-dining restaurant, it’s not overly expensive. Averaging around R400 per full meal, it is still a little pricy, but compared to other elegant establishments, it’s quite a steal.

Address:
The Glen, Camps Bay, Cape Town 8001, South Africa
Bookings: +27 (0)21 438 4347 or email info@theroundhouserestaurant.com

Operating Hours
Wednesday – Saturday – 9am – 9pm

5: 95 Keerom

Made famous by chef-owner Giorgio Nava, 95 Keerom is one of Cape Town’s finest restaurants and has been known as such for years due to Nava’s insistence on cooking only the freshest ingredients possible. He catches his own fish, farms his own beef, and grows his own vegetables where he can.

Serving Milanese cuisine, 95 Keerom is a beautiful Italian-inspired establishment with plenty of South African influence. With bentwood chairs and Eames-inspired interior and exposed stone, the restaurant looks exactly like what it is – a fine-dining Italian restaurant in Cape Town.

The service is friendly, the food is delicious, and the prices are very competitive. Overall, 95 Keerom is a standout establishment.

We only covered five of the top restaurants in Cape Town, but there are many, many more wonderful places to eat in this beautiful historic location. There’s only one way to find out about other restaurants in Cape Town: You have to visit!

Address:
95 Keerom Street Cape Town 8000, South Africa
Bookings Essential:
+27 (0)21 422 0765 or email info@95keerom.com

Operating Hours
Lunch – Thursday and Friday
Dinner – Monday to Saturday