There’s nothing so controversial as a list that claims to be a guide to the finest of any experience… Our list of The Seven Best Restaurants in Cape Town & Surrounds is based, instead, on what we think are the most unique culinary experiences in the Cape, that defy categorisation – food that you could have in the Mother City, and nowhere else.
It’d take a brave soul to declare a definitive winner in the city across, for example, pizza, sushi or seafood – so we haven’t. The restaurants on our list offer unique dining experiences that are quintessentially Capetonian – specifically without entering into fine dining territory. There’s no shortage of quality, provenance, technique and style in any of the restaurants – but you also won’t need to book a spot six months in advance to enjoy a fantastic meal, at any of them.
The selection is largely based on restaurants in the city, or within easy reach of it – there are plenty of wonderful restaurants in the winelands and beyond, but we’ve made our selection based on ease of access for guests based predominantly in or near the heart of the city. Our team is working on a list of The Seven Best Fine Dining Restaurants in Cape Town & Surrounds, to celebrate the very best of the cutting edge of the culinary spectrum – but there isn’t a restaurant on this very list that will provide anything short of stellar service, intensely flavourful food and truly unique settings.
