Top 10 Best Restaurants in Cape Town (2025 Edition)

 

Cape Town isn't just South Africa’s Mother City — it's also a culinary capital, where world-class chefs blend local flavors with international flair. Whether you're a fan of fine dining with mountain views or casual coastal bites with ocean breeze, Cape Town serves it all on a silver platter. Here’s our fresh and exciting list of the Top 10 Best Restaurants in Cape Town for 2025.

10. Gold Restaurant

📍 Green Point

Why Go: Not just a meal — a full African cultural experience. Gold offers a 14-dish tasting menu from across the continent, accompanied by live drumming and dancing.

Must Try: Moroccan lamb tagine and Cape Malay bobotie.

Vibe: Vibrant, festive, culturally rich.

9. Aubergine Restaurant

📍 Gardens

Why Go: A long-standing gem blending Eastern and Western flavors with a focus on wine. It’s where classic meets contemporary in a warm, intimate setting.

Must Try: Karoo lamb with aubergine purée and cumin jus.

Vibe: Understated elegance and seasoned excellence.

8. Pier

📍 V&A Waterfront

Why Go: From the team behind La Colombe, Pier is a seafood-focused fine dining experience at Cape Town’s bustling harbour. The tasting menu is an oceanic adventure.

Must Try: Linefish with seaweed butter and the oyster starter.

Vibe: Upscale coastal with polished service.

7. Kloof Street House

📍 Gardens

Why Go: Step into another era with velvet curtains, vintage chandeliers, and a lush garden patio. The menu is approachable but refined — a hit for locals and tourists alike.

Must Try: Crispy calamari and the truffle-infused mushroom risotto.

Vibe: Eclectic, romantic, with bohemian charm.

6. The Pot Luck Club

📍 The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock

Why Go: A lively rooftop eatery offering tapas-style plates with a global twist. Perfect for foodies who want to sample multiple flavors in one sitting.

Must Try: Fish tacos and the famous smoked beef fillet with black pepper and truffle.

Vibe: Trendy, shareable, social.

5. Salsify at the Roundhouse

📍 Camps Bay

Why Go: Overlooking the Atlantic with Table Mountain at its back, Salsify brings historic charm and new-world dining together. Dishes are modern, seasonal, and artfully prepared.

Must Try: Salsify-aged duck with truffle and celeriac.

Vibe: Refined luxury with breathtaking views.

4. The Test Kitchen Fledglings

📍 Woodstock

Why Go: A socially uplifting concept by famed chef Luke Dale-Roberts, this restaurant trains aspiring chefs from underserved communities. The food? Bold, elegant, and internationally inspired.

Must Try: The umami-rich pork belly ramen and silky panna cotta.

Vibe: Heartfelt mission meets gourmet dining.

3. Belly of the Beast

📍 East City Precinct

Why Go: With no menu and only 20 seats, this intimate spot offers a surprise 6-course meal using only local, sustainable ingredients. Every dish tells a Cape Town story.

Must Try: Whatever the chef creates that night — it’s always extraordinary.

Vibe: Cozy, personal, with a touch of culinary theatre.

2. La Colombe

📍 Silvermist Wine Estate, Constantia

Why Go: Perched above the Constantia Valley, La Colombe is the gold standard of South African haute cuisine. Expect whimsical plating and a world-class wine pairing experience.

Must Try: Tuna "La Colombe" — a signature starter that doubles as edible art.

Vibe: Serene, scenic, and unforgettable.

1. FYN Restaurant

📍 City Centre

Why Go: Ranked among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, FYN redefines fine dining in Africa. With its sleek, industrial interiors and a Japanese-African fusion menu, FYN offers a sensory adventure in every dish.

Must Try: Wagyu with miso-glazed eggplant and the bento-style dessert tray.

Vibe: Urban-chic, innovative, and ultra-sophisticated.

Cape Town: A Culinary Canvas

From oceanfront indulgence to mountain-view fine dining, Cape Town's restaurant scene continues to shine on the global stage. Whether you're a local or a traveler, these ten eateries represent the best of what the city has to offer — not just in taste, but in story, setting, and soul.