The Hottest New Restaurants in Cape Town

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 – all of which are ready when you are!

We’ve rounded up the 40 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.)

Let us know which are your favourites in the comments below.

New Restaurants in Cape Town
New Restaurants in The Winelands + further

New Restaurants in Cape Town

Vadivelu

“Indian. With Attitude” is their slogan and it sums up the vibe at this bright and welcoming new Kloof Street restaurant. In the space that used to be Manna Epicure, Jason, Kevin and Tim (cousins and in-laws of a South African Indian family) reinvent the modern Indian idiom: sage and terracotta walls, jungle wallpaper featuring tigers and tropical birds, pistachio banquettes, pale-wood chairs and tables (and gorgeous Mervyn Gers tableware).
Chef Jai studied in Tamil Nadu (the southernmost state of India) and has a deft hand with streetfood snacks, such as the potato masala dosa (with coconut chutney and aubergine curry dip). Authentic Southern Indian dishes, (and a Durban curry or two) make up the mains menu – a divine prawn coconut curry, aloo gobi, and lamb tikka masala, mopped up with crispy parathas. And the short winelist is well chosen to play nicely with spices (with lots of options by the glass). It’s hospitable, generous (we took home leftovers) and already bustling and busy on a Tuesday night.
Good to know There’s an excellent selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Opened June 2023
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 300 5777, info@vadilvelu.co.za
Where to find it 151 Kloof Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Boma on Bree

This fiery new hotspot on Bree Street’s buzziest stretch is an exciting new collaboration between the bar-wizardry team at The Firm, Reg Macdonald and his wife Pini (Village Idiot, Harringtons and more), and cutting-edge chef Vusi Ndlovu and Absie Pantshwa from Edge Africa (last making waves in Cape Town with their pop-up at the Mount Nelson). Expect a cool boma-bar vibe inspired by desert landscapes and big skies from the Karoo to the Kalahari. Cocktails, open-fire cooking and a storytelling fireside vibe promise a place that you’ll want to settle into for the evening.
Good to know Coming soon downstairs: the Tiki Tomb cocktail bar!
Opened August 2023
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday, 12pm – 2am
Contact 021 109 0039,  boma@thefirmct.co.za
Where to find it 107 Bree Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Bang K

For his new modern Thai restaurant, chef Cheyne Morrisby found a fitting location. York Road in Muizenberg, lined with heritage buildings, is like an atmospheric dining alley, with fluttering flags strung across the street. It draws you in… and Bang K stands out, not only for its fresh and different offering but for its moody interior, too. There’s a low-key glamour here, hinting that you’re in for something special. Cheyne is keeping it simple, with food based on the mother flavourings of Thai cuisine – lemongrass, tamarind, coconut, green chilli, galangal, ginger, lime – which he plays with in his unique style and a small-plate approach. Don’t expect noodles and broths; it’s all about the taste combinations (not so much hot-spicy as sour and zesty) applied to fresh produce. Expect beautifully plated dishes – like lovely little gifts brought to the table – from a menu with four categories: Thale (Sea), Thidin (Land), Lok (Earth) and Hwan (Sweet).
Opened October 2023
Opening times Tuesday + Wednesday, 5pm – 10pm
Thursday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 082 373 5045
Where to find it 2 York Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town

Club Kloof

Cardinal-crimson walls, burnt-orange banquettes, a lemon-yellow Amalfi-esque bar in the back courtyard… bold colour is the signature of this vibey new Kloof Street eatery and bar. Club Kloof comes from the duo behind Kloof Street favourite, Our Local, chef Shayne Shutte and Michael Carter. They modestly call their cuisine “Italian-ish”, focussing on simple but excellent ingredients in small-plate-sharing format. Inspired by the Roman pizza in teglio, you can buy the pizza of the day by the slice, or order mini pizzette – side-plate-sized puffy pizzas with simply beautiful toppings. Add a few salads (we recommend the tomato and nectarine with goat’s cheese), a plate of grilled prawns on skewers, beef fillet and fries, plus a cocktail or two and you’re all set for an afternoon or evening of retro 70s-style Italian(-ish) dolce vita.
Good to know Shayne makes an array of pastries and sweet treats using the sourdough starter too, so morning coffee on the street-facing verandah is another attraction.
Opened 25 March 2023
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 8am – late
Contact 072 415 3752, contact@clubkloof.com
Where to find it 84 Kloof Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Nikkei

Japanese-Peruvian cuisine is currently having more than a moment in Cape Town… Nikkei is the name of this fascinating fusion, and also the name of an exciting new restaurant on Bree. A sibling to the bang-on-brand Scala, Burger & Lobster, Iron Steak and Hacienda, the group’s executive chef Justin Barker has worked with the culinary consultation of chef Rikku O’Donnchu to create a fresh and exciting menu. Think ceviche, sumptuous shared plates from the Josper oven, an authentic Japanese-Peruvian grilling experience from the tableside robatayaki, Japanese-Peruvian new style sushi. South American flavours, Japanese finesse and a whole lot of Bree Street vibes…
Opens 12 December 2023
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10.30pm (closed 18 + 25 December)
Contact 021 109 0081, capetown@nikkei.co.za
Where to find it 87 Bree Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

La Trip Club & Social

Athletic Club and Social is about to welcome a new sibling to the famiglia! La Trip is a discreet new social club, hidden away off Buitengracht Street, which celebrates a retro Italian vibe in décor and style. Expect masterly cocktails and a lively scene. Swedish consultant chef Anna Broms (whose background includes high-end restaurants in London, Spain and France) puts a new twist on local ingredients with a Mediterranean-inspired menu of small plates: think charcoal Cape octopus with chorizo, and Saldanha Bay mussels escabeche.
Opens October 2023
Contact 084 087 5566 (The Athletic)
Where to find it 102 Castle Street, Cape Town

Therapy

What could be more therapeutic than sitting round a table enjoying good conversation and good food, a glass of excellent wine or a cocktail or two? That’s what legendary Cape Town-born and Khayelitsha-bred DJs and creatives, Loyiso Mdebuka and Vincent Mvelase Manzini (aka DJ Loyd and Sir Vincent) had in mind for their upmarket new eatery just off Kloof Street. “More than just a restaurant we wanted a space where we join as a community,” says Vincent. “a place that speaks to the kind of people we are. Conversations that are meaningful happen in such spaces.”
Consultant chef Paolo Santo of Gemelli in Joburg has devised a winning combination of heart-warming flavours presented as generous small plates and well-portioned mains: share the sticky lamb ribs on couscous salad with pistachios, and buttermilk fried chicken thighs with apple slaw, a spicy bowl of chorizo and harissa pasta, or a whole plate of sole with fennel salad. And leave room for dessert – a rather gorgeous baked cheesecake and a panna cotta liberally topped with candied hazelnuts.
Therapy is all about being an inclusive space in the heart of the city where all are welcome.
Opening times Sunday – Wednesday, 12pm – 10pm
Thursday – Saturday. 12pm – 11pm
Contact 021 109 0112
Where to find it 5 Park Road, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Chardonnay Deli at Constantia Uitsig

The much-loved Constantia deli and café will be opening its third southern suburbs branch at Constantia Uitsig in October just in time for summer. Charmaine Lilje’s inimitable recipe for delicious food and wine simply served with rustic style and plenty of panache continues here in the beautiful wine farm setting. Expect picnics on the lawn, cheese and charcuterie boards, a cheesecake-and-chardonnay pairing, and her usual fabulous café-dining with a twist.
Opens October 2023
Contact 083 234 0178,  managerCU@chardonnaydeli.co.za
Where to find it Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town

Galjoen

The team behind foodie favourite Belly of the Beast has opened a new seafood restaurant on Harrington Street based on the same sustainably sourced principles. At Galjoen, owners Neil Swart and Anouchka Horn continue the winning formula that wowed Cape Town foodies at Belly of the Beast: a set tasting menu, a limited number of seats and reservations only, plus the best local ingredients, of course. Galjoen is the name of South Africa’s national fish – tough, adaptable and able to swim in rough seas, hardy characteristics that especially resonate with Neil and Anouchka. Galjoen is a semi-industrial space aimed at conveying a sense of the harbour, “with just a hint of that 80s seafood restaurant décor that we grew up with,” adds Neil.
Opened 16 June 2023
Where to find it 99 Harrington Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

The Red Room

Liam Tomlin’s newest restaurant is an exciting venture at the Mount Nelson, where he has brought new life to what used to be the Grill Room (back in the 80s this downstairs venue was the Cape Town hotspot for elegant dinner dances). Headed up by chef David Schneider of Chefs Warehouse Maison, The Red Room has added another exciting eatery to the Nellie’s new culinary repertoire with a sophisticated speakeasy vibe. The exciting pan-Asian menu is divided into three sections that you can select from in any order you please: a sublime array of small plates, authentic dim sum, and a robata grill selection of meat and veg dishes. Leave space for the superb desserts by pastry chef Caroline Lamb.
Opened April 2023
Where to find it: 76 Orange St, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Cowfish

A new lease of life has transformed The Barracks heritage building on Bree Street. The old timbers, beams and exposed brickwork now frame a cosmopolitan urban social hub: Cowfish, which brings a polished offering, high-energy atmosphere and elegant (very Instagrammable) design to Cape Town. The contemporary Asian-inspired menu, as the name implies, ranges from grills to signature seafood dishes. Dim sum, salmon tartare, their hugely popular sushi, superb A-grade aged steak, a large choice of burgers and signature offerings like honey sriracha wings and salmon teriyaki, offer something for every mood and craving.
Good to know The mezzanine space with its thick yellowwood beams and historical charm can be booked for private events and year-end functions.
Opens November 2023
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm
Friday + Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Sunday, 12pm – 7pm
Contact breestreet@cow-fish.co.za @cowfishbreestreet
Where to find it The Barracks, 50 Bree Street, Cape Town
Enquire Now

Verandah

The beautiful conservatory-style verandah overlooking the gardens at the Mount Nelson has taken on a new lease of life under executive chef George Jardine. His evenings-only Verandah Experience embraces simple and elegant three-course à la carte menu that celebrates hyper-seasonality (and changes every two weeks). “Everything tastes better when it’s in season,” says George. He and sous chef Brinelle Cunnigham showcase organic produce from local suppliers (with a sprinkling of home-grown botanicals from the Nellie’s new Wild Foods garden) and focus on quintessential South African flavours with a touch of classic French, Italian and Asian influences.
Opened August 2023
Opening times Daily, from 6pm
Contact 021 483 1000
Where to find it Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, 76 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Chefs Warehouse at The Bailey

Liam Tomlin’s Chefs Warehouse is back on the block! Well, a new block, actually – across the road from where the original Chefs Warehouse opened its doors almost a decade ago. Taking over the ground floor space of The Bailey, the team have departed from Chefs Warehouse tradition by going à la carte, so you can pop in just for a few small plates, or go for the full chefs menu. Fans of the original concept have welcomed back old favourites such as salt-and-pepper squid with chilli; pineapple and caramelised ginger; Vietnamese rice paper rolls; and their signature risotto dish, plus a raft of exciting new dishes conceptualised by Tomlin and executive chef of The Bailey, Asher Abramowitz.
Opened March 2023
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 9pm
Where to find it The Bailey, 91 Bree Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Salon

Chef-restaurateur, Luke Dale Roberts, is back in town with an intriguing new space to bedazzle foodie appetites. Decking out an industrial space on the first floor below the Pot Luck Club at the Old Biscuit Mill in old-world salon style – think velvet drapes, art-deco glass and brass – Salon recreates the feel and drama of the old Test Kitchen “Dark Room” days. Together with chef Carla Schulze, Luke has come up with a brand-new nine-course menu of exquisite dishes conceived as a snapshot of his journey as a chef, and the countries he’s worked in. From pork scratchings in Guinness foam (familiar from TTK) feast your way through Singapore chilli, Sunday roast, shisanyama, and more, expressed with Luke’s signature creativity and complexity.
Good to know There is also a shorter four-course menu, plus pairing-menu options with small-batch wines, beers and sake.
Opened March 2023
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 6pm – 9pm
Contact 087 093 5890, hello@salonpotluck.co.za
Where to find it Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Izakhaya Kukai

Master sushi chef Arata Koga has quietly brought another piece of Japan to Cape Town. Hidden away at Hout Bay’s Victoria shopping mall, this is the real deal, with all the focus on freshly prepared quality food and Arata himself heading up the kitchen. The small, dialled-down space (raw-wood tables and benches, charcoal walls emblazoned with Japanese characters) is usually brimful of locals. Expect classic and authentic sushi from the master, plus ramen, yakitori skewers, donburi rice bowls, as well as a blackboard of daily specials such as octopus, cucumber and wakame salad or grilled swordfish teriyaki. And try the honey ginger or wasabi ice cream for dessert.
Opened June 2023
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 11.30am – 3pm; 5pm – 9.30pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm
Contact 021 790 2560
Where to find it Victoria Mall, 150 Empire Avenue, Hout Bay, Cape Town

Paul

This family-owned French patisserie and café (with a proud French heritage dating back to 1889) made its name worldwide for its croissants, fresh baguettes, coffee and patisserie treats. At the harbourside entrance to the V&A shopping mall, the new Cape Town branch is a cosy and elegant refuge from the bustle, tempting you in with its plethora of tempting baked goodies in the window and luscious hot chocolates. These spoils are amplified by exemplary eggs bennie, French toasts et al for breakfast, and an appealing menu of café-style lunch and dinner dishes, from baguette sandwiches to sole meunière (whole sole cooked in brown butter).
Opened June 2023
Opening times Sunday – Monday, 7.30am – 9pm
Tuesday – Friday, 7.30am – 10pm
Saturday, 7.30am – 11pm
Contact 087 470 0316
Where to find it Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre, V&A Waterfront

Lello’s Caffé

Pavement tables on a cobbled street, old stone walls and real Italian espressos… you could almost be in Florence, but this is a quiet back street in De Waterkant. Lello’s Caffe is the newest baby of the Turilli family (of Scarpetta and Lello’s Deli). Here they channel their Italian heritage recreating the casual but delicious vibe of the Italian espresso bar, making coffee the Italian way with their own deep, dark coffee roast with hazelnut notes. Snack on a plethora of crema-filled cornetti (Italian croissants) as well as savoury eats such as artichoke pies, and schiacciata (focaccia bread) stuffed with appetising fillings of porchetta, mortadella, Sicilian marinated peppers, truffle ricotta, and charred artichokes. La bella vita in Cape Town.
Opened May 2023
Opening times Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 5pm
Saturday, 8.30 – 4pm
Contact 060 795 9071, lellosdeli@gmail.com
Where to find it 5 Jarvis Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town

Marble

Chef David Higgs’ Joburg restaurant has been a celebration of fire-cooking, carefully sourced meat and quintessential South African flavours since it opened in 2016. Now he’s bringing Marble to Cape Town. Before you leap to the booking button, the planned opening date is November 2023, at a brand-new building in the V&A Waterfront with wrap-around rooftop glass-walled views of Table Mountain, harbour and ocean. “We are adding lighter, more Mediterranean flavours, paella, fish cooked over the coals, as well as our local and international aged meat cuts,” David says of the Cape Town menu. With its focus on premium quality, excellent service and luxury finishing, the 220-seater Marble Cape Town is one to look forward to (patiently!).
Opening February 2024
Contact info@marble.restaurant
Where to find it V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

New Restaurants in The Winelands + further

Hoseki

Fresh from a top-to-toe refurbishment, Delaire Graff’s brand-new Hoseki replaces long-standing multi-award-winning Indochine Restaurant. Hōseki (jewel in Japanese) occupies the same light-filled, luxurious space overlooking the Stellenbosch Winelands towards Table Mountain. Envisaged as an elegant Japanese dining experience, with subtle aromatics and a symphony of fresh contemporary flavours, the menu will change with the seasons, with herbs and vegetables sourced from the Estate’s greenhouse and vegetable garden, for an authentic farm-to-table experience honoring Japanese culture and traditions. This new culinary adventure headed up by chef Virgil Kahn promises the same expertise, creativity and finesse that wowed diners at Indochine since it first opened in 2010, but with a brand-new look, flavour and feel.
Opening times Daily, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8pm (last seating)
Contact 021 885 8160, restaurant.bookings@delaire.co.za
Where to find it Delaire Graff Estate, Helshoogte Road (R310), Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

Nocturne

Dynamic and sustainability-minded chef-duo Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin have added another culinary hotspot to the Stellenbosch scene, to go with their award-winning fine-dining restaurant, Dusk. Nocturne is a restaurant-bar, where the cocktails and food go together, breaking boundaries on both. The Dusk test kitchen and fermentation lab provides intriguing food concoctions and a team of cocktail maestros take mixology to new heights of sustainable, local and of course, deliciousness.
Opened July 2023
Where to find it Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

Vrymansfontein

A working almond farm with spectacular views on the Suid-Agter Paarl road, Vrymansfontein is fresh from a magnificent re-imagining as a wine-and-dining destination for families and foodies. Chef Kevin Grobler (formerly JAN Nice, Delaire Graff, Grande Roche) has devised a Mediterranean-inspired farm-to-table menu ih line with owner Max Ward’s vision. The serene signature restaurant, Scape, offers a fresh and flavour-packed menu of family-style shared plates. It’s food you’d happily return for week after week: strawberry-and-goat’s cheese salad with pancetta; beetroot carpaccio with grapefruit and almond gremolata; and the succulent simplicity of the brined then roasted veld chicken. A fresh and fabulous basil ice cream with crunchy honeycomb is another flavour bomb.
Good to know You can also enjoy casual Levantine-style tapas at the bar on the shaded Tree Bar terrace; or laze on the lawns with the Gardens menu of food from the fire, while the kids happily play on the custom-built timber jungle gym.
Opened 10 November 2023
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm (restaurants)
10am – 6pm (wine-tasting)
Contact 082 617 4903, info@vrymansfontein.co.za
Where to find it Suid-Agter Paarl Road, Paarl
Book through DinePlan

Stellenbosch Reserve

The Stellenbosch Reserve wine brand was originally conceived as a love letter to the Stellenbosch Winelands. So it’s entirely fitting that its new home (the farm previously known as Haskell Vineyards) has stunning views from the wide terrace of the new tasting room and restaurant. Here, the sophistication of Mediterranean cuisine combines with the rustic charm of home cooking. The main attractions are the wood-fired oven and rotisserie, around which the menu has been built, with a focus on local ingredients and sustainable sourcing. Think authentic Neapolitan pizza, and baby chicken roasted to perfection. Just in time for lazy summer days in the Winelands.
Opened 28 November 2023
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 3pm
Contact 021 881 3895, visit@thestellenboschreserve.com
Where to find it Stellenbosch Reserve, Annandale Road, Stellenbosch

Toebroodjie

In the heart of Stellenbosch, casual and vibey Toebroodjie is the passion project of chef Hilde-Lee Olivier. Previously the head chef at Restaurant Jardine, she has taken over the original space to bring a fun and accessible eatery with great music to Stellenbosch, with local and Afrikaans influences (and a touch of Asian). Expect tasty shokupan (Japanese milk bread) and ciabatta sandwiches loaded with fillings such as pastrami and smoked brisket; garlic toast with sardines; and whole roasted cauliflower; accompanied by a good selection of wines and Cederberg beer on tap. The attached shop offers Asian goodies, art, games and quick takeaways.
Opened 18 July 2023
Where to find it 1 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch
Contact 066 272 4648, info@toebroodjie.co.za

Gochu Gang

Another streetfood spot in Stellenbosch! This one comes courtesy of chef Darren Badenhorst and team, and is nailing the young Asian streetfood vibe with bucketloads of cool, neon, fab music and energy. It’s along the Andringa Street strip of food outlets and open until late. Think sushi, bao buns, dim sum and a whole raft of Asian snacks from yakitori to poke bowls. It’s also down for eat-in, take-out and deliveries.
Opened July 2023
Where to find it Shop 38, Eikestad Mall (on Andringa Street), Stellenbosch

Rykaart’s

Rykaart’s is on the move! The family-owned eatery in the heart of Stellenbosch, that won our hearts and palates with excellent unfussy everyday dining and a pavement-café vibe, is heading out of town to a new home on Longridge Wine Estate. Husband-and-wife team, Alex and Ella Rykaart are changing things up to suit the new location with its long views towards Table Mountain and gorgeous organic herb and vegetable gardens. Alex will be devising three-course family-style set menus designed for long, lazy lunchtime feasts, inspired by the seasonal produce from this biodynamic farm.
Opens mid-September 2023
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm
Friday – Saturday, 6pm – 8.30pm
Contact eat@rykaarts.co.za
Where to find it Longridge Estate, Helderbergpad, off the R44 between Somerset West & Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

De Blaauwe Kitchen

The beautiful Cape Dutch manor house at Blaauwklippen is home to a brand new eatery. Newly renovated in comfortable and cosy rustic style, De Blaauwe Kitchen serves up Italian-inspired cuisine by Cucina di Giovanni: from wood-fired pizzas to their legendary carpaccio Vittore. There’s a breakfast menu, too for Winelands farm mornings, and an array of steaks, grills and pastas takes you through brunch and lunch to late afternoon. A wood-burning stove at the heart of the long voorkamer and a wide terrace outside look set to make it a year-round family destination.
Opened 9 August 2023
Opening times Daily, 8am – 6pm
Contact 021 880 0133, restaurant@blaauwklippen.com
Where to find it Blaauwklippen, Strand Road, Stellenbosch

Eleven

Global small plates will be the focus of Eleven in Franschhoek, sister restaurant to Ōku and Yama by restaurateur Ryan Shell. Bringing new life to the old Foliage space, he aims to pick up the baton of hyper-seasonal and foraged ingredients that chef Chris Erasmus began. Ryan and chef Pieter du Preez are putting together frequently changing menus inspired by everything except Asian cuisine (which remains Ōku’s preserve), celebrating seasonality in a versatile style, whether you’re after a relaxed lunch of shared plates or an elegant three-course dinner.
Opens end-August 2023
Contact 021 023 3755
Where to find it 11 Huguenot Street, Franschhoek

Lievland Café

A short drive from Stellenbosch off the R44, a lovely Cape Dutch setting awaits, surrounded by gentle green hills, verdant lawns, a goose-dotted pond… and two peacocks. The surrounding hills envelop the restaurant in a valley of tranquility. Inside, a lovely large glass-windowed restaurant with two fires burning brightly, one on each side of the room Outside, a beautiful old oak creates a sense of place, with pasture-perfect views in every direction. Head chef Gareth Goliath’s well-conceived bistro-style menu, showcasing seasonal, local produce with a nod to the Mediterranean, is a mix of rustic and contemporary dishes. Starters include fresh oysters, with a mignonette dressing; cold poached trout, with cucumber, radish and rocket; a charcuterie and cheese platter; and beetroot carpaccio with feta and toasted pine nuts. For mains, choose between lamb Rogan Josh, accompanied by lentil dahl, sambals and a a butter roti; tagliatelle with roasted tomato, aubergine, lemon and Parmesan; a burger served in a fat bun with bacon, cheddar cheese, pickles and chips; and confit duck leg with an orange-and-thyme sauce.
Highly recommended to complete an all-round delicious feast is the burnt Basque cheesecake with a berry sauce.
Good to know There is a short kids’ menu, featuring Bolognese pasta, chicken strips, a white cheddar farm toastie and chips. On a sunny day, there’s plenty of room for them to play outdoors on the sprawling lawns.
Opened October 2023
Opening times
Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 11.30am; 12pm – 4pm
Contact 021 879 7892, cafe@lievland.co.za
Where to find it Lievland Vineyards, R44, Stellenbosch

Kantien

Feted chef-restauranteur Bertus Basson is, seriously, unstoppable! Fresh from the launch of Chorus, Clara’s Barn, Geuwels and Parkeer, he’s dreamed up something totally different – a casual eatery in his stomping ground, Stellenbosch, which adds an easy-eating, laidback meet-up-with-friends vibe to his inspired and varied takes on South African food (often with a hefty seasoning of nostalgia). Kantien (canteen) is the new kid on the block, set to offer pizzas, and more, for eat-in or takeout, lunch and dinner, on Papegaai Street (near Eike).
Opened 24 February 2023
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm – 8pm
Where to find it Papegaai Street, Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

La Motte Artisanal Bakery & Garden Café

La Motte Artisanal Bakery & Garden Café was conceptualised by the owners in cooperation with two foodie legends: baker extraordinaire Markus Farbinger (founder of Knysna’s Île de Pain) and renowned chef-forager Chris Erasmus (ex Foliage). It’s a wonderfully relaxed breakfast and lunch spot, with a menu that is approachable, delicious, informal, breads from the wood-fired oven starring on the menu (and for sale to take home). In the historic Jonkershuis, opening onto shaded gardens, lawns, ancient oaks, and a farmyard-inspired playground, the café is designed to appeal to the whole family.
Opened February 2023
Opening times Wednesday –  Sunday, 8am – 4pm
Contact 021 876 8825, bakery@la-motte.co.za
Where to find it La Motte Wine Estate, Franschhoek

Dispens

Paternoster peeps, there’s something new to look forward to this summer! The iconic Oep ve Koep at Die Winkel op Paternoster has a brand-new name and fresh look. Still run by the Van der Merwe family (Kobus of Wolfgat fame) and set in the historic walls of Paternoster’s 1920s shark-liver-oil factory, Dispens offers the best of nostalgic local kos and a strong focus on shoreline flavours unique to the West Coast, both in the shop and the café. Stop by for coffee and cake, light meals, freshly baked bread and speciality artisanal products such as bergamot marmalade, waterblommetjie piekel, fresh fynbos flowers and hand stitched table linen.
Opened August 2023
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday + Monday, 9am – 4pm
Sunday 9am – 3pm
Contact 072 741 3709, dispens.paternoster@gmail.com
Where to find it corner St Augustine Road and R45, Paternoster

Lina by Farro

The culinary whizzes behind Farro at Gabriëlskloof Wine Estate in the Overberg, Alex and Eloise Windebank, will soon be bringing some of their magic to Hermanus. Look forward to authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas and Italian small plates and salads when they open Lina by Farro, which they plan to do in late September. Just as Farro celebrates contemporary European cooking, so will Lina showcase uncomplicated but delicious dishes using the best local produce. The space is small and cosy indoors, and will have pavement tables looking out towards the ocean.
Opens September 2023
Opening times Daily, 11am – 5pm
Where to find it The Carriages Centre, 173 Main Road, Hermanus

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