Where to Eat in Cape Town: Our 10 Favorite Restaurants & Cafes

Arthur’s Mini Super

Set a few blocks from the beach, Arthur’s is one of the spots where Cape Town’s chilled-out beach vibe shines. The all-day, diner-inspired spot is a local favorite for morning egg plates and pizza toast, and afternoon salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Also great: the natural wine selection and the freshly baked cakes. So… it works for pretty much every occasion.

Lion's Bread Rose Street · Cape Town

Lion’s Bread

This cute little sourdough bakery in the vibrant Bo-Kaap neighborhood takes its craft seriously: the loaves here use zero additives and are slow-fermented to optimize digestion. The bread is excellent, as are the pastries (cardamom buns, etc.) and the small selection of sandwiches. This is a great stop for a morning coffee and a slice of sourdough with butter.

Between Us · Cape Town

Between Us

A Bree Street classic for all-day dining, this cozy spot is run by twin sisters and offers crowd-pleasing cuisine at every meal. In the morning, opt for something like the cashew honeycomb oats, and later in the day you can try such dishes as shaved fennel salad with castelvetrano olives and manchego, charcoal grilled chicken with a warm cornbread salad, or bucatini al limone.

Ouzeri · Cape Town

Ouzeri

One of the most popular spots in Cape Town right now is this Greek restaurant that implements local, seasonal ingredients in such dishes as black truffle and guanciale loukoumades and a dish with cabbage, celeriac, truffle, and pistachio that felt a bit like a rich pesto pasta. It’s great for a laid-back but chic dinner.

Leo's Wine Bar · Cape Town

MAX BAGELS & Leo’s Wine Bar

A bagel shop by day, and a wine bar by night—what’s not to like? In the daytime hours, MAX’s churns out bagels (breakfast bagels, grilled cheese bagel sandwiches, etc.) and coffee, but come late afternoon, it transforms into one of the city’s buzziest natural wine bars, Leo’s. We love it for a social sidewalk hangout for pre-dinner drinks and light aperitivo.

Sans Community · Cape Town

Sans Community

It’s not exactly a restaurant, but this organic grocery store deserves a spot on the list for its super high-quality products, from its freshly baked sourdough and homemade granola to its free-range meat and fresh vegetables. It also has a small home goods section, with beauty accessories, cookbooks, and more. This is a great spot to stock up on high-quality groceries and wellness products if you’ve rented a villa. Sans also owns Pauline’s, a great coffee shop chain with one location next to the grocery store, where you can pop in for a coffee and brunch plate.

BLONDIE · Cape Town

BLONDIE

This local haunt is a favorite for a chilled-out but buzzing atmosphere and satisfying Mediterranean cuisine. Come during the day for a quieter scene, and come right at opening in the evening to secure a table before it gets packed. Enjoy the music, mingling, and delicious dishes, including the charred eggplant with tahini and the pita with spicy meat kebab, onion, burned tomato, onion, chili, and tahini.

Tomson Restaurant Cape Town · Cape Town

Tomson Restaurant

Run by the same team as Leo’s Wine Bar and located just next to it on Bree Street, this casual Cantonese restaurant serves arguably the best Chinese in the city. It’s a tiny spot (best to reserve), where you can enjoy dishes including smacked cucumber salad, pork and shrimp wonton dumplings, roast Cantonese duck, and more.

One Park · Cape Town

One Park

The swanky listening bar to have in your back pocket. This Japan-inspired bar has moody interiors, a DJ, Asian-inspired small plates, craft cocktails, and frequently hosts pop-ups, so check their schedule ahead of time to see what’s on.

Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia · Constantia

Chef’s Warehouse Beau Constantia

Thus far, this list has leaned casual-cool, but Cape Town does have a rich fine-dining scene, and we’d be remiss not to include our favorite spot. The Chef’s Warehouse group runs some of the most elevated spots in the area (Thali in Cape Town and Maison, a favorite in the winelands), and Chef’s Warehouse Beau Constantia is our top pick for a splurge meal. Set just a 20-minute drive from the city center in the Constantia wine country, the mostly-glass restaurant has stunning countryside views and a superb but not too fussy four-course set menu that utilizes the highest quality local produce. Book a table on the terrace if you can.