Sun-drenched beaches, swaying palms, dreamy turquoise water and sunset views…
Straddled by a palm-fringed sandy beach on the one side, and an ever-buzzing promenade on the other, Camps Bay has the sparkle of St Tropez and the sex appeal of South Beach. It’s also a favourite place for locals to enjoy morning swims, surfs and cycle rides, all against a glorious backdrop of Lion’s Head and the Twelve Apostles.
By day, alfresco cafés overflow onto the pavements as Vespas and convertibles glide by – the vibe is hot, sexy but oh-so chilled.
At night, Camps Bay’s laidback persona is washed away by the tide and the suburb transforms itself into a dazzlingly cosmopolitan hub, awash with glitz and glamour. Party-seekers flock to stylish restaurants and swanky cocktail bars on the famous strip to get a slice of the action, while dedicated diners seek out the frisson of fine-dining establishments with ocean views.
Here are our current favourite Camps Bay restaurants. We’d love to hear about yours in the comments below.
Salsify
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from the hillside above Camps Bay is one of Cape Town’s finest, owned by chef Ryan Cole (who served as Luke Dale Roberts’ head chef at the acclaimed Test Kitchen). With sweeping views of the ocean and majestic Lion’s Head as a backdrop, Salsify serves modern cooking, inspired by nature and driven by the seasons. Enhancing the overall experience is excellent service, two top-tier wine-pairing options, edgy-chic interiors (seasonal installations, sumptuous fabrics, avant-garde graffiti, and a show-stopping bronze statue) that complement Ryan’s seasonally driven, locally conscious fine-dining menu.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12.30pm – 2pm; 6pm – 8.30pm
Sunday, 12.30pm – 2pm (last seating)
Contact 021 010 6444, reservations@salsify.co.za
Where to find it The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, off Kloof Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
Mantra Café
Beautiful views, beautiful décor, beautiful people, Mantra Café epitomises the spirit of Camps Bay with a vibe that manages to be both chilled and happening. For the best views of palm trees, beach and ocean (people-watching, too) grab a table on the open wooden deck, or enjoy the gloriously plant-swathed interior, all upstairs at the heart of the Camps Bay strip. The café menu comes in generous portions – think tuna ceviche, butterflied prawns, sirloin tagliata and hand-cut chips – with an extensive wine list and excellent cocktails, and there’s an enticing breakfast menu too. A fantastic spot for brunch, sunset cocktails, date night or dinner with friends.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 10.30pm
Contact 065 823 3901, info@mantracafe.co.za
Where to find it 1st Floor, 43 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
The Codfather
It’s all there in the name. Camps Bay’s OG of seafood has been doing things the unconventional way since their inception in 1998. With no menus (you read right), you can be sure that what’s on offer was still swimming a few hours earlier. The sushi conveyor belt is always rammed with locals and tourists, providing a buzzy vibe day and night. Just up the road from the seafront, the upstairs restaurant has glimpses of the ocean over trees and of Lion’s Head, but it’s the huge selection of seafood you’ll be feasting your eyes on: yellowfin tuna, Norwegian salmon, wild-caught prawns, Mozambican langoustines, deep-sea south coast crayfish, scallops, smoked salmon and salmon roe, as well as butterfish, kingklip, yellowtail, swordfish, marlin, east coast sole and sardines (depending on availability). Get plenty of help in making your decision from knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Good to know Vegetarian sushi is also on offer.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10.30pm
Contact 021 438 0782/3, codfather@mweb.co.za
Where to find it 37 The Drive, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
The Pottery
A relatively new kid on the block, The Pottery is an appealing place to chill that locals and families are loving, just up from the Camps Bay strip (in the same block as The Codfather). The laidback Wonki Ware ceramic-painting creative vibe is layered with warm and friendly service and easy café food. Pedro’s pizzas are a highlight: chewy, Neapolitan-style with the leopard prints (IYKYK) on the crust; then there are fresh salads, wraps, smoothies, and milkshakes – a real hit with the kids. More good news is that the prices are not crazy Camps Bay prices, so it’s a great place to head to for a post-beach toastie, or waffle with the family. And it dials up its own brand of Camps Bay nightlife with happy hour cocktails and late opening on the weekends.
Opening times Sunday – Wednesday, 9am – 5pm
Thursday – Saturday, 9am – 9pm
Contact 087 470 0743, campsbay@thepottery.co.za
Where to find it 41 The Drive, Camps Bay
The Bungalow
It’s officially Clifton, but within a stone’s throw (literally) of Camps Bay, and with its position looking out over the ocean and Clifton 4th Beach, the Bungalow has the barefoot luxury beach vibes down to the max. Fresh from a renovation and ready for the new season, The Bungalow is the place to chill over lazy post-beach lunches and sundowners, with DJs hotting up the beat on the weekends from 4pm – 8pm. Mediterranean-style cuisine, seafood platters, butterflied prawns, sushi, bubbly, cocktails and a buzzy atmosphere make it a popular place to soak up the stunning views and feel part of the beach-beautiful scene.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 11pm
Contact 021 438 2018, managers@thebungalow.co.za
Where to find it Glen Country Club, 3 Victoria Road, Clifton
Book through DinePlan
Tiger’s Milk
Stunning beach views from a perfect position on the Camps Bay strip, a laidback holiday vibe, and the crowd-pleasing, unfussy, budget-friendly food that Tigers Milk is known for. Think thin-based pizzas, nachos, tacos, cheese balls, burgers and more, washed down with colourful cocktails or craft beer. Book ahead to get the popular outside tables on the upstairs verandah and soak up the lively atmosphere with your sunset views. Or pop in for an easy breezy weekend breakfast after a morning swim (served till 11am).
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 11am – 12am
Friday – Sunday, 9am – 12am
Contact 021 137 1850, campsbay@tigersmilk.co.za
Where to find it 35 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
Bilboa
Grab a table on the gorgeous deck at Bilboa under striped umbrellas and you’re in prime Camps Bay country, elevated above the road for uninterrupted views over the beach and Lion’s Head. The sophisticated interior with slick lighting and gold accents provides an escape from the weather, while keeping the views centrestage. The varied menu bursts with Mediterranean flavours, from chimichurri fillet skewers to burrata and asparagus hummus, but seafood is really their speciality. We particularly recommend the grilled calamari and the pistachio-crusted kingklip, beautifully presented, perhaps with a crisp glass of bubbly to match the mood.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 11pm
Contact 021 286 5155, reservations@bilboa.co.za
Where to find it Shop 120, First Floor, The Promenade, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
Azure Restaurant
The stunning views from The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa (just along the scenic coast road from Camps Bay) whisk you away from the city bustle into a world that is ocean, mountain and pure luxury. Where else in the world can you sit on the terrace of a restaurant with the majestic Twelve Apostles as a backdrop, picture-perfect Lion’s Head in the distance, poised above a bright blue sea as you dine? The hotel’s flagship restaurant, Azure, does things in style with linen tablecloths, silver cutlery and carpets you sink into. Chef Christo Pretorius’ elegant menus celebrate local flavours and sustainable seafood with deft and delicious expertise, supported by a fabulous wine list from sommelier Juliet Bowley-Urquhart. The Azure Steak – a 250g fillet cooked perfectly medium-rare, with pommes frites and a generous topping of Café de Paris butter – deserves a special mention, too. A sumptuous setting for a special occasion or date night with a difference.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7am – 10pm
Contact 021 437 9029, azure@12apostles.co.za
Where to find it Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
Bo-Vine Wine and Grill House
When you come off the beach with a hearty appetite for a straightforward steak and a glass of wine, and a patina of Camps Bay cool, Bo-Vine is where you’ll find it. Amid moody, edgy, graffitied decor (or at a pavement table for that sundowner view), sip on a glass from the hand-picked wine list that covers all the bases, while you decide on your cut of meat from the grill. From Karoo wagyu and picanha to tomahawk and T-bone, ethically farmed field-to-fork produce is the ethos of Steve Maresch and his team. And you’ll find a classic grillhouse array of starters, burgers, salads and desserts (plus those legendary crispy pap chips), so there’s something for all the family.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 063 712 6310, bovine@cbkitchens.com
Where to find it The Promenade, 85 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
Book through DinePlan
Café Caprice
An institution of the Camps Bay strip, Café Caprice has been rocking the beach bar and café vibes since it opened in 1999. With pavement tables to soak up the beachside buzz, an insta-worthy arched verandah framing the view, the Veuve Cliquot champagne bar, not to mention laidback lounges, it covers every Camps Bay mood. Pop by for breakfast after cycling or a morning swim, or for lazy lunches, sultry sundowners and weekend cocktails, with resident DJs setting the beat. A crowd-pleasing café menu moves from all-day breakfasts (eggs bennie et al) through burgers and sushi to steaks, salads, club sandwiches and calamari, and whether you’re after bubbly or a pornstar martini, the bartenders shake or stir the perfect pour for every occasion.
Good to know No children after 6pm on weekends. Live music Thursday to Sunday
Opening times Monday 12pm – 12am
Tuesday – Thursday, 9am – 12am
Friday – Sunday, 9am – 1am
Contact 021 438 8315, reservations@cafecaprice.co.za
Where to find it 37 Victoria Road, Camps Bay
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