There’s a clutch of new spots to try out!
From view-drenched fine-dining at the V&A Waterfront and vibey Span(ish) tapas in the city to lesisurely lunches in the Winelands, Cape Town’s impressive foodscape continues to bulge, with new eateries popping up in and around the CBD, in the suburbs and as far afield as the Winelands.
We’ve rounded up the 25 most noteworthy restaurant openings in the Cape – and even added some that are about to swing open their doors, because forewarned is forearmed! (And, we’re all about giving you the inside track, so to speak.)
New Restaurants in Cape Town
New Restaurants in The Winelands
New Restaurants in Cape Town
Coy
Award-winning chef Ryan Cole of Salsify has opened his second restaurant! It’s at the V&A Waterfront (alongside the Bascule Bridge) with sparkling views over harbour, yacht basin and Table Mountain. With head chefs Geoffrey Abrahams and Teenola Govender focusing on sustainable, ethical and locally sourced ingredients that tell a story on the plate, Coy looks to the ocean for inspiration, and follows the coastline around the continent to explore African produce, age-old preparation techniques and forgotten ingredients.
We loved the moody chiaroscuro feel of the interiors, and the relaxed take on fine dining, and were wowed by a tuna tartare, sugar cane and caramelised coconut combo served in a ceramic shell; and a melt-in-mouth ox tongue with earthy ras el hanout spices and black rice, that converted even the most hesitant offal eaters.
Good to know Park at the Portswood parking garage and walk towards the Bascule bridge.
Opened 9 August 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9pm
Contact 021 010 6444, reservations@coyrestaurant.com
Where to find it Scheryn Pavilion Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan
ROOI
Fire is the theme of One&Only Cape Town’s new restaurant ROOI (Afrikaans for red); the name channelling the energy of flames, of vitality and life. The beautifully designed new dining space uses exquisite décor to reflect the warmth, community, fire and conversation of our traditional braai, with a sophisticated sizzle of rich colours and local design. The fire-themed grillroom menu is based around sustainably and ethically sourced South African ingredients. Expect various cuts of South African wagyu beef, aged mutton, Kalahari venison and masala-spiced kingklip. Fire-cooked vegetables, grilled South Coast rock lobster and flame-grilled tuna also star on the menu, with flavours and spices telling the stories of South Africa’s melting pot of cuisines and cultures. A bespoke cap classique cart with a curated list of bubblies, a magnificent mixology menu of signature cocktails, and sommelier Luvo Ntezo’s hand-picked winelist encourages bespoke pairings to accommodate every palate, whatever your choice of meal.
Opened 1 October 2024
Opening times 6pm – 11pm (last seating at 9pm)
Contact 021 431 5888, guestexperience@oneandonlycapetown.com
Where to find it One&Only Cape Town, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan
Hiro Izakaya at Constantia Uitsig
A delicious new venture for chef Cheyne Morrisby (together with his partner Danielle Oosthuizen) at Constantia Uitsig, Hiro Izakaya brings Cheyne’s Japanese-inspired small plates to life (with a touch of fire-cooking) in an informal saké-shop format. A wide covered front verandah, banquettes, bar and indoor seating decorated with Danielle’s vibrant artwork is the intimate setting for an insanely delicious à la carte menu of simplified Japanese street and bar food dishes. We loved the tuna tacos, three crispy wafer-thin triangles topped with marinated fish, the yellowtail ceviche with ponzu, and the short-rib gyoza. Excellent flavours and textures.
Good to know The 4 dishes for R400 option is unbelievable value
Opened 1 May 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 082 373 5045
Where to find it Constantia Uitsig, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan
Chefs Warehouse & Canteen
Feted chef Liam Tomlin is at it again… his new vision for the three storey-building on Bree Street (formerly The Bailey) has totally re-invented the space, with a back-to-the-original Chefs Warehouse & Canteen on the ground floor (global tapas and an edgy urban style); a brand-new restaurant, Merchant, on the first floor (championing local producers in fresh new ways) with a tasting menu and a more casual bar menu; and a rooftop events venue called Room 91. Collaborating with Liam on this monumental transformation are chefs David Schneider and Adrian Hadlow.
Opened 7 August 2024
Opening times CW & Canteen: Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Merchant: Tuesday – Saturday, 5pm (bar) 6pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 773 0440, 91breestreet@chefswarehouse.co.za
Where to find it 91 Bree Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan
Kanji Ramen
The newest addition to Cape Town’s ramen scene, right in the vibey Kloof Nek hub, Kanji Ramen is a collaboration between chef Seelan Sundoo and veteran restaurateur Gavin Hagger (of Jerry’s Burger Bar). Start by sharing a few of the Japanese small plates: a moreish bok choi with garlic and soy, Asian fillet carpaccio, delicious chicken-and-cabbage gyozas, or a bao bun, along with an aromatic cocktail.
Then, there are four different ramen bowls to choose from, all with deep, comforting flavourful broths and hand-pulled noodles: double beef, pork, or chicken, and a vegan mushroom with tofu in a miso broth.
Opened February 2024
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 4pm – 12am
Contact 021 745 6625
Where to find it 12 – 16 Kloof Nek Road, Tamboerskloof, Cape Town
Heirloom
Fresh from an extensive renovation, the signature restaurant at Cape Grace, re-born as Heirloom, has mesmerising views over the marina to Table Mountain, and a fine-dining approach to match. Chef Asher Abramowitz (ex The Bailey) takes a diametrically opposite approach to the fine-dining culture of theatrics, with daringly minimalist four- and seven-course tasting menus and vibrant seasonal à la carte menu. Not a hint of foam, drizzle or garnish in sight, but rather a monochromatic white-themed palette throughout the menu. It’s all about restrained elegance, without skimping on indulgence, impeccably executed.
Opened April 2024
Good to know The hotel’s iconic Bascule Bar is back with a sultry and sophisticated new look and feel.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7pm – 9pm
Contact 021 410 7068, capegrace.heirloom@fairmont.com
Book Through DinePlan
Terrarium
Since Foliage in Franschhoek closed during Covid, chef Chris Erasmus has been missed on the local dining scene. His commitment to sustainable, organic food, from farm and forest to plate is legendary. So we’re super-excited that he’s spearheading a new restaurant at the Queen Victoria Hotel at the V&A Waterfront. The space that was previously Dash is getting a complete turnaround, its new name Terrarium reflecting the focus on regeneration, community and produce sourced from small, family-owned fisheries, butcheries, smokers and beekeepers. Together with head chef Anlou Erasmus and sommelier Marlvin Gwese, Chris is rethinking fine dining, putting a creative spin on sophisticated and sustainable flavour combinations, with an à la carte menu of small plates, as well as the eight-course Fauna or Flora dinner menu (meat-based or plant-based respectively).
Opening 1 November 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday
Contact 021 419 6677, terrarium@queenvictoriahotel.co.za
Where to find it Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Novo Pizza + Wine
Taking over the neighbourhood pizza joint (it used to be Bruegels) with the mission of making it the southern suburbs go-to spot for good pizza and great SA wine, is how 2024 started for Ammy and Arno Steijn. The DIY refurb is relaxed and unpretentious; the wine fridge stocked with a thoughtful collection of local vintages; and puffy-edged pizzas are crisping up fast. We loved the Fellini (fennel sausage and caramelised red onion) and the Bianco Ariela (feta, red onion, pistachio, honey and rocket). There’s a short selection of aperitivi snacks (think caponata, pork polpette and garlic pizza) to precede your pizza, or just to nibble on with a glass of excellent vino.
Opened March 2024
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 5pm – 11pm
Contact 082 211 7489 (WhatsApp), novopizzawine@gmail.com
Where to find it 99 Durban Road, Little Mowbray, Cape Town
Yatai Ramenbar
What happens when street food gets the gourmet treatment, is the question Yatai asks. Downstairs from the pulsing Peruvian-Japanese vibe of Nikkei, this is another collaboration with chef Rikku O’Donnchu, where he’s reimagining the traditional Japanese bowl of ramen into a slightly more sophisticated dining experience. Besides ramen, expect yakitori, dumplings and small plates with a touch of Japanese flair.
Opening November 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10.30pm
Contact 021 109 8094, capetown@yatai.co.za
Where to find it 87 Bree Street. Cape Town
RYŪ Sushi Counter
The quirky container space wedged next to the arch at the Old Biscuit Mill has been reborn as a funky Japanese izakaya and bar, decked out in petrified wood, blown-up polaroids of The Last Samurai, and a counter stretching onto an open-air deck at the front. Chef Rikku Ó’Donnchü takes a modernist approach to sushi (with his signature touch of edgy flair) but keeps it rooted in the Japanese tradition (no California Rolls here). Go for a 10-course omakase menu of chawamushi, miso soup, tempura and robatayaki as well as traditional sushi, or eat à la carte (there are gyoza, katsu curries and sweet treats) to a curated playlist of Japanese hip-hop. The sushi counter is next door to sister restaurant RIKŪ Chefs Counter, and shares the same renowned mixologist, Alecs Powry, who has collaborated with Tristan Jacobs on a refreshing array of bottled cocktails, fermented juices and tea-based drinks.
Opened 4 October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact @ryu_sushicounter
Where to find it Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, Cape Town
Pizza Shed St James
There’s a new Pizza Shed in town… or rather in the Deep South. We can finally sink our teeth into the satisfyingly chewy and puffy crusts of Pizza Shed’s signature slow-fermented Canotto style of Neapolitan pizza, without trekking to town. The new branch on the corner of St James Road (right opposite Folk Café) is cosy inside with reed ceilings,
has several pavement tables squeezed along the frontage, and is perfectly placed for restorative pizza sessions after beach time and swimming in the St James tidal pool.
Opened 23 July 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday + Sunday, 12pm – 8.30pm
Friday + Saturday, 12pm – 9pm
Contact 071 342 5681
Where to find it 56 Main Road, St James, Cape Town
Grumpy & Runt at ditto
It was a sad day for doughnut fiends when Grumpy & Runt closed its doors… The good news is: they’re back. The sweet-toothed, plant-based folks of ditto are welcoming Grumpy & Runt to their Kloof Street store, so there will be even more to love about the seductively sweet hangout. And difficult decisions too… Ditto’s vegan waffles and ice cream (made with Oh Oat milk) or a decadent Grump & Runt plant-based doughnut? You know you’re going to have to dive into both!
Opening 28 September 2024
Opening times Sunday – Thursday, 9am – 10pm
Friday + Saturday, 9am – 11pm
Contact 067 798 8645/083 564 1765, hello@ohoat.co.za
Where to find it 119 Kloof Street, Cape Town
Butter
Butter is spreading the love…. A meltingly sleek new sister eatery to the Loop Street original has opened in Sea Point, and there’s an open air, light-bedecked courtyard at the back. All day breakfasts, luscious lunches and butter with everything, from banana bread to BLTs and butter flapjack stacks. We particularly enjoyed the “bun with everything” (egg, bacon, hashbrown, melted cheddar, jalapenos and tomato jam) and the juicy Butter burger, with mimosas naturally.
Opened June 2024
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm
Saturday + Sunday, 9pm – 3pm
Contact 066 264 2697, hello@butterallday.com
Where to find it 176 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Sloppy Sam
After an 18-month hiatus, Sloppy Sam has found a new home that fits like a glove. In the heart of Heritage Square, it’s got stone walls hung with Persian carpets, and a warm, welcoming buzz. The focus of Hooman Saffarian’s new menu is a series of small plates to share mezze-style: utterly moreish lamb riblets, pan-fried calamari, his legendary loaded hummus with naan breads to scoop it up. Turkish Borek is also a must – light and crispy phyllo pastry cases filled with a deliciously warm potato and cheese filling. And his old favourite mains, such as a luscious lamb shank, pop up as daily specials. Fill the centre of the table with a whole selection and dig in to a generous finger-licking feast.
Good to know There are two seatings, with ample time so you don’t feel rushed.
Opened January 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 5.30pm – 8pm or 8pm – 10pm
Contact 082 377 3707
Where to find it Heritage Square, 100 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town
Bellagio
Thirty years after starting Bellagio in Joburg (where it’s a well-loved name), chef-owner Louise Castle has brought her classic Mediterranean dining to Cape Town. The new Bellagio is hidden away at the Foundry in Green Point (where Beluga used to be), with a peaceful pergola-shaded courtyard, white tablecloths, excellent service and a freshly seasonal menu of upmarket comfort food. Louise’s soufflés are famous (try the cheese one with a spinach or the chocolate one for dessert). We also recommend the Neapolitan-style puffy-crusted pizzas, the pear-and-Parmesan salad with roasted hazelnuts; and the baked kingklip. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, risotto, salads, seafood or steak, you’ll find what you’re after on the varied menu.
Opened December 2023
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 10pm
Contact 021 879 1999, bellagiocpt@outlook.com
Where to find it The Foundry Courtyard, 74 Prestwich Street, Green Point, Cape Town, 8001
Book through DinePlan
Brash
Introducing the newest kid on the burger block! Best friends and business partners, Gabriel Wulfsohn and Benji Fisher’s slick new burger joint on Regent Road is a step-up from their roaringly successful Brashmobile food truck (which has been popping up in all of the coolest spots around Cape Town over the last year). Serving up just two burgers – with beats and a buzz to match – both are smashburgers so you get all the irresistible caramelisation on the edges. Choose between the classic American cheese, onion, pickles, ketchup and mustard or the double patty Mack Daddy with it’s own special sauce.
Good to know To drink, there’s Radley & Finch wine by the glass and Devil’s Peak lager.
Opened 14 September 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 4pm – 10pm
Friday, 4pm – 11pm
Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 002 8376, info@brashburger.com
Where to find it 90 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Qué Linda
This newcomer to Regent Road, just down the block from its Mexican sibling, Una Más, was packed to the rafters on the rainy Wednesday evening we visited. Channelling an old-school Spanish taberna with a subtle contemporary touch, the 50-seater also has an open-air back courtyard (for sultry summer nights).
The menu is a Spanish-inspired selection of tapas and pintxos from chef Dian Botes (who masterminds both establishments). We tucked into punchy patatas bravas, nibbled on slices of jamón ibérico (from Wild Peacock) and shared a paella served in the pan, stacked with prawns, mussels, chicken and calamari… maybe not the most authentic version but generously portioned. A Basque cheesecake served with spice berry compote and dulce de leche is a fitting finish.
Opened August 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – late
Contact 078 184 3354, hola@quelinda.co.za
Where to find it 39 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
New Restaurants in The Winelands
The Beach House
A relaxed seaside eatery is coming to Yzerfontein soon – on 24 October to be exact – with an enviable perch, right on the beach of this laidback West Coast village. What made us prick up our ears is that the dynamic duo behind the new venture are none other than chefs Darren Badehort and Callan Austen (of Dusk, Le coin Français and Nocturne). Chef Jacques Grove, (whose experience spans top positions at the Chefs Warehouse group and stages at Michelin-starred institutions in London) will be heading up the kitchen, and with the team’s combination of superlative palates and dedication to sustainability and authenticity you can be sure that the relaxed but world-class menus will be of the very best calibre. Expect the freshest fish and chips, foraged salads of dune spinach and soutslaai, whole-baked fish cooked over a wood fire, locally harvested mussels, peri-peri chicken, and simple steak Florentine with café de Paris butter.
Good to know There’s a dog-friendly patio!
Opening 24 October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, lunch + dinner
Contact reservations@beachhouserestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Yzerfontein
Book through DinePlan
The Table at Oak Valley
The Table has long been synonymous with relaxed and delicious al fresco lunches at its original home under the oak trees at De Meye. Now owners Brendan and Leigh Thorncroft have adapted their much-loved formula for a second restaurant in the Mediterranean-ish surroundings of Oak Valley wine estate in Grabouw. Here, the pool-room interior (saved for rainy days) gives out onto an elegant terrace beside a turquoise swimming pool with umbrella-shaded tables beside it, with more seating scattered beyond on the lawns under the oaks, which will make The Table regulars feel quite at home. Expect the same focus on hyper-local ingredients with an Elgin/Grabouw flavour, and generous serving plates placed in the middle of the table to share. We can’t wait!
Good to know Bookings open 1 October on Dineplan
Opening mid-November 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday (October – April)
Thursday – Sunday (May – September)
12pm – 2pm (last seating)
Contact 021 859 4111, oakvalley@thetablerestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Oak Valley Estate, 127 Oak Avenue, Grabouw
La Cotte Mill
A historic water mill has taken on a new lease of life as a charming coffee shop… La Cotte has restored their original mill – the oldest in Africa – to full working order, so you can sit on the stoep sipping on an artisanal cup of coffee and listening to the sound of cascading water as the wheel turns. Indoors, you step back a few centuries into a timeless Dutch farm kitchen, with only chef Keshia Louw’s exquisite patisserie to ground your senses in the present. Sublime millefeuille, macarons, strawberry tartlets, basque cheesecake and more (as well as flaky croissants) vie for their place beside your latte. And then wooden shelves stacked with crusty sourdough loaves from the farm bakery beg to be taken home. A divine coffee interlude that is a must on any Franschhoek weekend trip.
Opened October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 3pm
Contact 021 207 3907, millhouse@lacottefarm.com
Where to find it La Cotte Farm, Franschhoek
Melfort
You can really taste the love in the delicious food at this brand-new farm-to-fork eatery near Stellenbosch. Tucked into a valley overlooking a dam, with chickens and peacocks pecking around raised vegetable beds, and wild birds in the reeds, the atmosphere at Melfort is rustic and relaxed. Chef Tasmin Reed pours heart and soul (and organic, locally sourced ingredients) into nourishing dishes that are bursting with energy and flavour, and beautifully presented too. On weekends it’s a set four-course menu served family-style. We feasted on stuffed zucchini flowers with a salsa of charred early tomatoes; succulent Karoo lamb belly with chimichurri; asparagus with harissa, and a divine pommes Anna with coconut. And finished with a soft-set sheep’s milk panna cotta with roasted strawberries and crumbled blondie. With the rain, we were inside by the fire, but when the sun shines the tables on the deck and around the dam are the place to be.
Good to know For weekday lunches you can order from an à la carte menu of shared plates.
Opened 1st September 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Thursday, 12pm – 5pm
Friday + Saturday, 12pm – 5pm, 6pm – 8.30pm
Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm
Contact 060 201 2200, support@melfort.co
Where to find it Marianne Wine Estate, Valley Road (off R44), Stellenbosch
Bloem
Chef Bertus Basson is spreading his wings to Elgin and launching a new restaurant at Paul Clüver Family Wines. Head chef (and business partner) is chef Carla Burger, who has worked her way up through several of the Basson stable of restaurants over the past six years, most recently as sous chef at Chorus. Named Bloem in celebration of the farm’s blossoming fruit orchards, her focus will be driven by the local ingredients of the area, with hearty breakfast dishes and fresh sharing plates for lunch, served with the excellent cool-climate wines for which the estate is known (and wines from a few other Elgin producers). Designed to be family-friendly with a kids play area outside, Bloem looks all set to be a new go-to when exploring the Overberg this summer.
Opens 22 October 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday (breakfast and lunch)
Contact info@bloemrestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Paul Clüver Family Wines, De Rust Estate, Grabouw
Mill Street Bistro
The Stellenbosch dining scene is hotting up another notch… Chef Phil Carmichael (who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, alongside icons such as Michel Roux Jnr, Gordon Ramsay, and Jason Atherton and gained his own star at Maze Prague) has opened his own restaurant in the heart of the historic town. Cape Town foodies might have already experienced his cuisine at the Spier Manor House dinner series last year. Mill St Bistro combines French techniques and the best of local produce in a bistronomy-style offering that is sophisticated but unfussy. Chef Phil is passionate about supporting provenance and sustainability, regenerative farming and local heritage. The open-plan restaurant extends into an informal wine bar area and onto an open deck with a view over the Mill Stream Monument.
Opened 12 June 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12.30pm – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 020 1301, reservations@millstbistro.co.za
Where to find it Cluver Markotter Building, Mill Street, Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan
Adara Restaurant
Welcome back to a legend of the Winelands, chef Edgar Osojnik (many will remember him as the dedicated chef-patron at Buitenverwachting Restaurant for 22 years up until 2020). Back in South Africa, Edgar is about to launch the newly reimagined restaurant at Adara Palmiet Valley outside Paarl. In this charmingly scenic spot among the gardens of the luxurious off-grid boutique hotel, he’s dreaming up a seasonally changing menu of farm-to-table ingredients showcasing the best of the Boland, plus a blackboard of daily specials. As you’d expect from this renowned chef, dishes reveal his Mediterranean influences, and a love of innovation guided by a strong respect for tradition and meticulous craftsmanship.
Opening November 2024
Contact 021 300 1058, info@adara-palmiet-valley.co.za
Where to find it Adara Palmiet Valley, Sonstraal Road, Paarl
Die Steakhuis
When you’re on a Swartland road trip or heading back from seeing the West Coast flowers, there’s a new spot in Malmesbury to stop for a restorative lunch or dinner. In a historic building on a quiet side street, Die Steakhuis, as its name suggests, serves up perfectly cooked steaks of grass-fed Swartland beef (we shared a sumptuous 500g ribeye). There’s also a tapas menu of substantial plates to share (the soy-and-honey-glazed pork belly with sweet-potato mash could have featured as a main in many a city spot) plus burgers, lamb ribs and salads. And a well-chosen winelist of Swartland wines (including AA Badenhorst Secateurs Chenin Blanc and Marras Swartland Shiraz by the carafe). With a beer garden at the back, a cosy bar with button-back leather couches in front of the fire, and a main restaurant with white-clothed tables, a leather banquette and beamed ceilings, it’s a real find whatever the occasion.
Opened June 2024
Opening times Wednesday + Thursday, 12pm – 10pm
Friday + Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
Sunday, 12pm – 9pm
Contact 022 330 5006
Where to find it 3 Loedolf Street, Malmesbury
Book through DinePlan
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One Response to “The 25 Hottest New Restaurants in Cape Town”
Mike Froud
Wonder why no mention of Salon? In Woodstock, Cape Town…
https://salonct.co.za/