The 10 Best Restaurants in Durbanville

Famous for its cool-climate sauvignon blanc, the best views of Table Mountain, and wine-farm mountain-biking trails that stretch for kilometres, this suburb and wine valley on the northern outskirts of the city has a laidback charm and surprises around every fold of its rolling hills. From fine dining to farm fare, there’s food and wine for every occasion.

The Farm Eatery at Diemersdal

The restored stable at this historic, family-owned farm is the domain of chef Martin de Kock, who worked with George Jardine at Jordan Restaurant before starting The Farm Eatery here in 2014. His frequently changing tapas menu is the best way to experience his classic French style overlaid with hints of Asian, Provençal and Spanish influences. We highly recommend going for the chef’s menu: six plates over three courses (plus snacks and palate cleanser), which include spontaneous seasonal creations not on the main menu. Highlights when we visited were a double-baked Gruyère soufflé with broccoli; Cape salmon in a sweet potato Thai curry velouté; and roast duck with baby beetroot. But do keep space for desserts that really are to die for. Not in the mood for tapas? Tuck into the simple bistro menu of Chalmar beef or Abalobi linefish with chips and béarnaise, and a choice of sides.
Good to know The terrace looks out over hills and vines and opens onto a lawn with lots of space to play, plus there’s a separate kids’ menu. On Thursday evenings there’s a very popular steak special. And Sunday lunch is a set menu of shared plates.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 3pm
Thursday – Saturday, 6pm – 9pm
Sunday, 12pm – 3pm (set menu, reservations only)
Pet friendly? No
Contact 021 976 1810, restaurant@diemersdal.co.za
Where to find it Diemersdal Wine Farm, Koeberg Road, Durbanville, Cape Town
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De Grendel Restaurant

With its awe-inspiring views of Table Mountain across a dam, vines and farmlands, De Grendel is an instant escape from the city despite being only 20 minutes from the CBD. Forget for a minute, if you can, the spectacular location… the estate’s award-winning wines and classic fine-dining from chef Ian Bergh (a passionate locavore who previously worked with Franck Dangereux at La Colombe) are already a winning recipe for celebratory date nights and lunches. Menu descriptions simply list the ingredients (including organic produce from De Grendel farm and garden) without any verbal flourishes, leaving it to the plate itself to wow you. The mouth already waters reading descriptions such as bouillabaisse, linefish, prawn, mussels squid, fennel tomato, grana Padano; or venison loin, beetroot, sweet potato, shimeji, berries, pink peppercorn and cherry… but it’s the beautifully executed flair and flavours that have put the restaurant on the must-dine list since 2012.
Opening times Lunch: Tuesday – Sunday, 11.30am – 1.30pm (last seating)
Dinner: Tuesday – Saturday, 6pm – 8pm (last seating)
Pet friendly? No
Contact 021 558 7035, restaurant@degrendel.co.za
Where to find it Plattekloof Road (M14), Durbanville, Cape Town
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Groot Phesantekraal

Old wooden beams, mangers, stone floors and built-in chicken roosts are some of the charming features we love about the restored 1767 mule stable that houses the restaurant at Groot Phesantekraal. A long-time favourite with locals, this family wine farm has ushered in an exciting new chapter with the relaunch of their eatery last year. Chef Germaine Esau puts the spotlight on hyper-seasonal ingredients from the farm… think venison pies, buffalo tartare, pumpkin preserves, homemade charcuterie and terrines, artichokes, quinces and just-picked figs. On our visit we fell for fall-apart-tender lamb with smoked aubergine, tomato and basil, and a surprising (and deeply delicious) potato and mushroom ‘risotto’ (no rice, it’s finely chopped potato that absorbs all the flavour), but the menu changes at the drop of the hat, according to what’s freshest on the farm – and from the ocean, too, such as a divine-sounding smoked snoek and black mussel chowder. Expect hearty farm-kitchen flavours, pickles, preserves and plenty of passion. Open for breakfast as well as lunch, it’s a delightful escape from the city, with a timeless atmosphere and layer upon layer of honest-to-goodness farm flavour.
Good to know There’s a children’s menu too.
Opening times Tuesday –  Friday, 8.30am – 4pm (kitchen closes at 3.30pm)
Saturday + Sunday, 9am – 4pm (kitchen closes at 3.30pm)
Pet friendly? No
Contact 021 825 0060, restaurant@phesantekraal.co.za
Where to find it Klipheuwel Road (R302), Durbanville, Cape Town
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Wilde Vy Bistro

Canons, long views over the valley and a spreading wild fig are the first things that catch your eye as you climb the steps to the new Wilde Vy Bistro restaurant at Signal Gun Wines. The space has been completely reimagined and beautifully refurbished as Ghanaian restaurateurs Kwasi Osei-Kusi and Charles Bucknor partnered with chef Jürgen Snyman (ex Kloof Street House) to create a home for the generous bistro cuisine that Jürgen wanted to cook. Terrace tables and couches cluster under the shade of a wild fig tree, two enclosed verandahs set the scene for breezy indoor-outdoor dining, leading into a series of cosy rooms (with a fireplace) for winter. The menu is rooted in the Cape, perfect for easy sharing and full of bold flavours to take you through lunch, afternoon cocktails with a few small plates, and sundowners into dinner (as well as weekend brunches). We couldn’t get enough of the totally moreish Huguenot cheese churros dipped into an umami Marmite mousse, and a summery citrus-cured salmon with ajo blanco, apple and cucumber. And we shared a huge (and succulent) fire-grilled pork chop (sliced from the bone), served with caramelised apple and charred cos lettuce, plus a lovely roast pumpkin with hazelnuts and goats’ cheese. Full of flavour, generous portions, and a relaxed atmosphere with smooth service, this is one that locals and foodies are already taking to their hearts.
Good to know Sunday lunches feature big wood-fired roasts such as a proper porchetta or roast lamb rib with all the trimmings. There is a children’s menu too.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 12pm – 9pm
Saturday + Sunday, 10am – 9pm
Pet friendly? No
Contact 064 643 9766,
Where to find it Hooggelegen Farm, Hooggelegen Office Road, Durbanville, Cape Town
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Patina and The Terrace at D’Aria Winery

Whatever your dining mood, the Copper Collection restaurants at D’Aria have it covered. The light, airy glasshouse of The Terrace is the place for lazy light-filled lunches: with a sushi-making station and dedicated pizza oven, plus seafood (prawns baked in the wood-fired oven, anyone?), steak, burgers and salads. It’s ideal for everyday meet-ups with a Mediterranean feel and lots of open-air tables. If a perfectly grilled succulent steak with tasty and creative sides and starters is your deal (or perhaps a prawn risotto or grilled Norwegian salmon), head to Patina Steak & Wine. Leather booths, smooth walnut tables and touches of copper create a refined, moody and cosy fireside setting in the Old Stone House, with a few tables on the verandah for sunny summer evenings. Or settle in for the evening next door at the plush Botany Lounge, sipping sophisticated cocktails and snacking on small plates such as arancini, jalapeno poppers or a meze platter.
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 11pm
Friday + Saturday, 11am – 11pm
Sunday, 11am – 5.30pm
Pet friendly? Yes (at outside tables)
Contact 021 205 0572, info@coppercollection.co.za
Where to find it Tygerberg Valley Road (M13), Durbanville, Cape Town
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Book Patina

Jéan Restaurant at Klein Roosboom

This boutique winery is one of the Cape’s true hidden gems, the restaurant windows opening straight onto the vines. Chef Loríanne Heyns takes an uncomplicated approach, balancing seasonal flavours and putting a spin on SA food heritage. Famous for the breakfast bagels, you could also start the day with Turkish eggs with feta whipped yoghurt, spicy zough sauce, za’atar-spiced herb and cucumber salad and butter-toasted flatbread; or banana bread French toast with bacon and honey roast banana. Menus change with the seasons but lunch might include their popular Korean-fried chicken burger, a rich and hearty lamb minestrone, and kudu loin paired with buchu, coffee and butternut. There’s a separate Sunday brunch menu that adds brunchy burgers, savoury waffles and Sunday roasts to creative twists on the breakfast menu. And there are picnics too.
Good to know Jéan Restaurant hosts live music events and the fun ‘Tux & Tekkies’. The latter sees you dress up for a sunset or full-moon walk, which starts at the tasting room, takes you through the vineyards to canapés atop a hill, and ends with dinner in the restaurant.
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 9am – 4pm
Friday + Saturday, 9am – 5pm; 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Pet friendly? No
Contact 086 057 2572, bookings@kleinroosboom.co.za
Where to find it Tygerberg Valley Road (M13), Durbanville, Cape Town
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Chocolat Bistro

You had us at “chocolat”… Lovers of cakes and vintage bric-a-brac meet under the chandeliers in the resoundingly OTT baroque interior of this house-turned-restaurant, where even the flower vases are repurposed silver teapots. (There is also seating on the fairy-lit back porch or in the gorgeous garden, with a children’s play area.) The extensive menu covers all the bases – breakfasts (with bubbly, why not?!), light lunches, mezze plates, pizzas and classic, crowd-pleasing mains (garlic snails, phyllo-wrapped fig-stuffed brie, chicken schnitzel, lamb shank, oxtail and pork belly). But it’s the sweet stuff you’ll probably be lured in by: all-day desserts and a range of cakes, red velvet, carrot cake, fig-and-pecan baked cheesecake and scones.
Good to know Poke your head into Petit Chocolat, the cubbyhole-sized shop, bakery and deli out back. The on-site Duchess Bar does cocktails, and a high tea menu is available. They opened a dedicated events space called The Birdcage in 2023.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 7am – 10pm
Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Monday 7am – 5pm
Pet friendly? Yes, with a dog menu, on leash on the patio and in the tented area.
Contact 021 975 2426, bookings@chocolatbistro.co.za
Where to find it 46 Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town
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The Tangram Restaurant at Durbanville Hills

Stunning views from the double-volume, glass-walled Tangram Restaurant take in Table Mountain and the sweep of the bay. It’s a dramatic contemporary setting for a menu that chef Tamzyn Ehlers describes as “unpretentious yet sophisticated”, exactly the food you want to eat for a relaxed spoil. Expect approachable flavours and generous portions, with creative twists on old favourites to keep the palate entertained: bobotie samosas with curried carrot puree and pickled beetroot; peri peri chicken meatballs with tortilla tacos, carrot and pineapple salsa and garlic and lime aioli; a pickled hake fishcake with butternut puree, vegetable ribbons and apricot soubise. Perennially popular, the pork belly is a fixture on the mains menu, and a grilled-to-perfection Chalmar beef fillet steak is accompanied by smoked caramelised onion and sweet potato puree. In the evenings, each dish on the menu comes with a suggested complementary Durbanville Hills’ Collectors Reserve wine pairing in tasting quantities… and they actually are complimentary! Desserts are a standout too, Tamzyn’s pastry chef and baking background coming through strongly.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 8.30am – 11am; 12pm – 3pm; 6pm – 10pm
Sunday, 8.30am – 11am; 12pm – 3pm
Pet friendly? Outdoors only (not the main restaurant area)
Contact 021 558 1300, Info_durbanvilleHills@heineken.com
Where to find it Tygerberg Valley Road (M13), Durbanville, Cape Town
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Annapurna

Tucked away at the back of Durbanville’s Heritage Square centre, this cosy family-run eatery, named after the Hindu goddess of the harvest, looks relatively ordinary from the outside, but the food, the food! Warm and welcoming owner Ricky Poovan has run Annapurna since 2002 (from its original Tygervalley venue to opening this Heritage Square location in 2015), and continues to serve up rich, delicious, traditional North Indian cuisine prepared from scratch to a steady stream of appreciative locals. Expect chicken, lamb, seafood and fish curries in mild, medium or hot (the mild is as burn-free as you get), as well as a satisfying range of vegetarian, vegan and low-carb options. There are more than a dozen kinds of bread to mop up the sauces (and the moreish banana, apple and pineapple raitas), the butter chicken is to die for, and the pathia (lamb, chicken, prawns or fish in a sweet-sour-hot brown onion sauce) is worth the drive.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 4pm – 9pm
Pet friendly? No
Contact 021 976 2046
Where to find it Heritage Square, corner of Vrede & Gladstone Streets, Durbanville, Cape Town
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Hussar Grill Durbanville

Hussar Grill’s reputation for consistent excellence extends to its Durbanville branch, conveniently placed in the upmarket Village Square centre with safe underground parking. The traditional ambience of green-leather booths, walls filled with vintage photos and memorabilia, and shelves crammed with books and bottles, gives it an immediately familiar timeless feel. You can rely on carefully aged, grilled-to-perfection steaks, luscious gourmet burgers, spare ribs that fall off the bone, as well as a host of chicken, seafood, salad and vegetarian options, plus an award-winning winelist. The chocolate vodka martinis from the beautifully appointed bar come highly recommended, or finish off in style with an after-dinner cognac.
Good to know The long-standing Tuesday Date Night offering is very popular so book ahead for that.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Sunday, 12pm – 3pm
Pet friendly? No
Contact 087 809 3885, durbanville@hussargrill.com
Where to find it The Village Square, Oxford Street, Durbanville, Cape Town
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