The Best Salads in Cape Town

They’ve come a long way since the days of throwing some lettuce in a bowl and saying “pass the dressing”. Nowadays, salads are gourmet offerings, with chefs upping the ante in terms of seasonal, locally sourced produce, and innovative and unexpected combinations of ingredients. May we recommend some of our favourites…

1. Waldorf salad, Osumo

What’s in it Lettuce, rosa tomatoes, celery, apple, mozzarella, goji berries, walnuts in a tangy dressing.
Cost R57
What we love The New Age health twist on an old classic – the goji berries add a chewy tartness. But we wish they’d roast the walnuts…
X-factor The combination of the sweet apple and the creamy dressing is moreish.
Note It’s not on the menu any more (we can’t think why), but if you ask for it, they’ll gladly make it for you.
Opening hours Monday – Saturday, 9am – 6pm
Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Contact 021 683 0353, cavendish@osumo.co.za
tel.
Location Dreyer Street, Claremont, Cape Town

2. Yellow Salad, Babylonstoren

Image Credit: Figs Flowers Food

What’s in it Edible flowers, carpaccio of pineapple, grilled and fresh sweet corn, fresh butternut, granadilla, carrots, papino with a citrus, cinnamon and medjool-date dressing.
Cost R75
What we love Everything you see in this salad is fresh from Babylonstoren’s eight-acre garden.
X-factor The garden-to-table experience; the papino, citrus, cinnamon and medjool-date dressing – name one other place with that on its menu!
Opening hours Wednesday – Sunday, 8.30 –
Contact 021 863 3852
Location Babylonstoren, Franschhoek

3. Salad Buffet, Olami – previously Sababa Kitchen & Deli, Bree Street

What’s in it Every day there are 12 different salads set out for the buffet. Tal Smith’s Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours elevate her food to scintillating heights.
Cost R50 (three salads); R65 (four salads)
What we love The huge variety; the freshness; the flavours.
X-factor The brinjal and tahini salad; the seared fillet.
Opening hours Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm (falafel evenings, Thursday, 6pm – 9pm)
Contact 021 424 7480
Location Olami Cape Town

4. Sal’s Warm Crunchy Quinoa Salad, Four & Twenty Café and Pantry

What’s in it Crispy pan-fried quinoa, griddled chorizo, paprika and ginger-dusted calamari, green chilli, fennel, orange segments, caramelised apples, toasted almonds, fresh rocket, lime dressing. (Vegetarians can leave off the chorizo and calamari.)
Cost R87 (vegetarian, R72)
What we love A warm salad is a welcome change of pace.
X-factor Four & Twenty is both a café and a pantry run by two Cordon Bleus chefs, churning out fresh daily pastries and hand-crafted confectionary.
Opening hoursTuesday – Saturday, 8am to 5pm (hot kitchen: 8.30am – 3.30pm)
Sunday, 9am – 4pm (hot kitchen: 9am – 2.30pm)
Insider tip Reservations for tables of six or more; no reservations on Saturday.
Contact 021 762 0975
Location Four & Twenty Café, Wynberg

5. Tabbouleh & Halloumi Salad, Tashas

What’s in it Bulgar wheat, fresh tomato, mint, parsley, red onion, lemon, olive oil, lettuce and micro greens, grilled halloumi and baby marrows, all finely chopped so that no one flavour overpowers another.
Cost R72 (half), R94 (full)
What we love Tashas’ produce is delivered fresh every morning, so you know you’re getting the best quality. We also love the generous portions of halloumi, and that the salad comes in a half-portion too, if you’re not too hungry.
X-factor You can taste the freshness of each bite in the crispness of the ingredients, as each salad is made to order. Even the herbs are sliced fresh for each dish.
Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, 7am – 9pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7am – 10pm
Sundays and public holidays, 8am – 9pm
Contact 021 794 5449
Location Tashas, Constantia

6. Seared Tuna Niçoise, Sotano

Image Credit: Newmark Hotels

What’s in it Seared tuna, new baby potatoes, green beans, olives, poached egg.
Cost R99
What we love This modern yet simple twist on a tradional classic.
X-factor No tinned tuna in sight, this one’s made with smack-of-the-sea fresh fish; the view of the Mouille Point promenade and ocean beyond.
Opening hours Monday – Sunday, 7am – 10.30pm
Contact 021 433 1757, book through DinePlan
Location Sotano, Mouille Point

7. Powerhouse Salad, Nü

Image Credit: Nü

What’s in it Roasted beetroot and red onion, feta, avo, sweet corn, celery, rosa tomatoes, toasted sesame seeds, alfalfa sprouts, homemade lemon-and-olive-oil dressing.
Cost R52
What we love Each salad is presented with its nutritional information.
X-factor The way the beetroot is prepared – crunchy and delicious.
Opening hours Monday – Friday, 7am – 7pm
Saturday & Sunday, 7.30m – 7pm
Contact 021 439 7269
Location Nü Sea Point

8. Salad of the day, Plant Café Vegan Restaurant

What’s in it The ingredients of this salad change daily. The mushroom with Dijon mustard dressing is popular, as is the quinoa with a peanut dressing.
Cost R39
What we love That we don’t know what we’re going to get until we walk through the door and read it on the chalkboard.
X-factor All Plant Café’s food is free of preservatives and harsh ingredients, and everything is 100% plant-based. Vegans will be in seventh heaven.
Opening hours Monday & Tuesday, 7.30am – 7pm
Wednesday – Saturday, 7.30am – 10.30pm
Sunday, 9am – 3pm
Contact 021 422 2737
Location Plant Café, CBD
Insider tip Plant delivers to businesses in the CBD between 11am and 3pm at no extra charge and usually take about 30 minutes.