The 35 Hottest New Restaurants in Cape Town

From alfresco Mediterranean bites at the Mount Nelson and vibey Greek dining in Sea Point to a fire-kissed African-inspired pop-up in the heart of the city, 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 35 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.)

Tuck in!

New Restaurants in Cape Town
New Restaurants in The Winelands

New Restaurants in Cape Town

The Fountain

Candice Bodington

Sitting under pretty pink umbrellas by the grand fountain at the Mount Nelson, The Fountain is a gloriously informal alfresco offering, giving Cape Town summer vibes with a touch of Mediterranean zing. Chef Luke Barry has curated a menu that matches Mediterranean freshness with local ingredients and pairs perfectly with a bottle of bubbles or cocktails from the Planet Bar. We loved our first tastes of Nonna-style pork-and-beef meatballs with puffy flatbreads, West Coast prawn scampi, roasted calamari, yellowtail crudo, Cape burrata-and-heirloom-tomato salad, and the medley of pizza-style flatbreads prepared just steps from our table (the lamb sausage and mushroom is a dream). On the dessert menu a decadent pistachio bomboloni, and a limoncello-misu with fresh berries that packs a beautifully boozy punch. The lush gardens of the iconic pink lady look like being a home from home this summer.
Good to know No reservations. The Fountain will close from July to September.
Opened January 2025
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – late
Contact 021 483 1000, restaurantreservations.mnh@belmond.com
Where to find it Mount Nelson, 76 Orange Street, Gardens, 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 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 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
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Yatai Ramenbar

Stepping off Bree Street into the dark and moody interiors, a riot of seductive cherry blossoms in the windows, with sizzling-hot beats and a buzz emanating from the open kitchen, it’s clear that Yatai (which opened in November 2024) is already on the list of the Mother City’s must-visit hotspots. Immediately below sister restaurant Nikkei, it shares the same contemporary Japanese inspiration, but here chefs Rikku O’Donnchu and Warwick King put the spotlight on ramen, street food and a sparkle of sashimi. There’s a superb chef’s set menu that takes you through sashimi, gyoza, ramen, robata grill and more, or you can pop in to simply slurp a bowl of next-level ramen. With a vibey bar delivering house cocktails, sakes and Japanese whiskys, a late night happy hour Thursday to Saturday and a playlist of hot beats, Yatai adds another dimension to Bree Street’s nighttime vibe.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10.30pm
Contact 021 109 8094, capetown@yatai.co.za
Where to find it 87 Bree Street. Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

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 October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact @ryu_sushicounter
Where to find it Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock, Cape Town

Terrarium

Chef Chris Erasmus’ commitment to sustainable, organic food – from farm and forest to plate – is legendary (we’ve missed him since Foliage in Franschhoek closed). So we’re super-excited about the new restaurant he’s spearheading at the Queen Victoria Hotel. Terrarium is an intimate space hidden away above the V&A Waterfront (with stunning views and a kitchen garden of indigenous plants and herbs), its name reflecting the focus on regeneration, community and produce sourced from small, family-owned fisheries, butcheries, smokers and beekeepers. Together with head chef Anlou Erasmus (no relation) and sommelier Marlvin Gwese, Chris is rethinking fine dining, putting a creative spin on sophisticated and sustainable flavour combinations and big bold flavours.
Good to know There’s an à la carte menu of small plates, as well as the utterly delicious and intriguing eight-course Fauna or Flora dinner menus (meat-based or plant-based respectively… we recommend you share one of each).
Opened November 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 419 6677, terrarium@queenvictoriahotel.co.za
Where to find it Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Heirloom

Fresh from an extensive renovation, the signature restaurant at Cape Grace has been re-born as Heirloom, its luxurious new look maximising the iconic hotel’s mesmerising views over the marina to Table Mountain. Chef Asher Abramowitz finds expression in the unhurried spirit and bountiful terroir of South Africa, and has reimagined the offering as an elegant à la carte menu that combines tradition and creativity, and changes with the seasons. Think elevated takes on smoked snoek with roast apricot, kudu tartare, Cape Malay mussel pot with pickled spekboom, a braai lamb rack, millet risotto, veld-raised beef fillet, and charcoal roasted rock lobster tail with seafood bisque.
Good to know The hotel’s iconic Bascule Bar downstairs on the marina also has a sultry and sophisticated new look and feel.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 6.30pm – 9pm
Contact 021 410 7068, capegrace.heirloom@fairmont.com
Where to find it Cape Grace, A Fairmont Managed Hotel, West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Restaurant by Jameson Stocks

Tegan Smith

A much-lauded celebrity chef in the UK, Jameson Stocks has a history of Michelin-star restaurants, a hankering for streetfood, and a newfound love of Cape Town. After a series of collaborations with chef Peter Tempelhoff (of Fyn, Ramenhead and Beyond), Jameson is getting ready to open his first restaurant in Cape Town, which’ll be bistro in style.
He and Peter trained together under Marco Pierre White more than 25 years ago and the bond forged in the fire of the Quo Vadis kitchen is still strong. From their early fine-dining days they’ve both come to a present-day love for authentic, elevated streetfood, (Peter at Ramenhead and Jameson at his new Just Street Food venture in Chichester, UK), bringing exceptional technique and flavour to a more accessible dining experience. At a recent collaborative lunch, Jameson brought over a Hereford beef brisket that he’d smoked for 17 hours, served with slaw and chimichurri. And made beautifully delicate apple waffles with poached strawberries and ice cream for dessert. We can’t wait to see what he’ll be cooking up soon at his new Cape Town bistro.
Opens April 2025
Where to find it The Clarendon Boutique Hotel, 67 Kloof Road, Fresnaye, Cape Town

Amare

Amare is Latin for love, which obviously permeates every dish at this brand-new restaurant in Bantry Bay. “South Coast Mediterranean is how the owners describe it. Olive oil, lemon and chilli feature in most dishes, so the food is light and flavourful rather than rich and heavily sauced.”
All the plates we tasted on the busy Saturday night we visited were fresh, vibrant, delicious. Highlights off the Appetizer section were the crumbed feta with honey, cabernet balsamic and oregano; tomato gazpacho; beef carpaccio; and kingklip ajillo with garlic, chilli and capers.
The Mains menu has something for everyone: linguine limone; charred aubergine with baba ghanoush and Parmesan; chalmar beef; grilled prawns; and chargrilled linefish. Each comes with a complimentary side, which were stand-outs themselves: white kidney beans; sauteed seasonal vegetables; crispy potatoes with burnt butter and sage; and a perfectly fresh green salad.
In addition to a concise, curated winelist, there are delicious cocktails, which were a hit with the Insta influencers (of which there were many). For dessert the earthy and delicious chocolate torte with salted lemon sorbet comes highly recommended.
Good to know Amare is open everyday for breakfast through to dinner.
Opened December 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7.30am – 11pm
Contact 021 300 8290, info@amarecapetown.com
Where to find it 29 Victoria Road, Bantry Bay, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Kiki

A vibey new addition to the Regent’s Road scene (from the owners of Jarryd’s, Ariel et al), Kiki does for Greek food what Ariel does for Italian, putting a contemporary spin on the delicious flavours of Athens and the Greek riviera. And it’s already creating a stir. Think meze-style sharing plates of dolmades, tzatziki, fried halloumi, spanakopita and more, as chef Scott Walker re-interprets the flavours he explored on his recent Greek Odyssey. A pantheon of creative cocktails completes the experience.
Good to know No children under 12 allowed at dinner. A lunch service is planned soon.
Opened December 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 023 2667, info@kikicapetown.com
Where to find it Piccadilly Court, 85 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Libertino

Homemade pasta, Insta-worthy lipstick-red interiors and an oh-so-Shazamable soundtrack – there’s a lot to love at Libertino, De Waterkant’s vibey new Italian eatery. If you like your pizza with a side of disco, take a right at the giant tattoo-rose graffiti on Jarvis Street and walk through the leopard-print curtains. At the top of a neon-lit stairway you’ll discover a spot that’s intimate enough for a candlelit date, and funky (town) enough for a fun night with friends.
There’s no meat on the menu – choose from yummy vegetarian or scrumptious seafood dishes. Portions are generous and the combinations are inventive. Try grilled nectarines with whipped burrata, charred artichokes with saffron-infused aioli, or share lemony Sicilian-style prawns to start. Mop up everything with the complimentary fresh focaccia. Pastas and pizzas are handmade from scratch on the premises daily and come in two sizes: single or shareable. As do the salads. Can’t decide between aubergine rigatoni, spaghetti vongole, truffle-and-mushroom fettuccine or the crema di zucca pizza with pumpkin cream, Gorgonzola, stracciatella and walnuts? Have them all! But be sure to leave a little room for an affogato or the excellent traditional tiramisu. While you’ll want to book a table inside, all the better to feast on the eclectic décor, there’s a terrace too, where the moon might just hit your eye like a big (burrata) pizza pie.
Opened December 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 6pm – 11pm
Contact 075 089 3250, hello@libertino.co.za
Where to find it 47 Napier Street, De Waterkant, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Ganesh

Not new-new, but certainly an exciting and novel chapter for this Obs institution… The team from Bodega Ramen (Ryan McDonagh, Bryn Divey and Jade Konz, themselves Obs locals) have taken over Café Ganesh, as owner Anthony Baker retires after 29 years… And after a small renovation, it’s back! Tipping their hats to Anthony’s legacy, the exciting new menu features Thai streetfood, from moo ping pork skewers to short rib pad krapao, and khao soi (fried chicken, pickles and crispy noodles).
Good to know Happy hour is daily (4pm – 6pm)! Plus there are Sunday Bloody Mary sessions, with a DJ on the vinyl decks.
Opened February 2025
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 4pm – 12am
Sunday, 12pm – 6pm
Contact 062 585 9854
Where to find it 38 Trill Road, Observatory, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Marble

It’s finally here! Chef David Higgs has brought his fire-cooking celebration to Cape Town. At the top of the restored heritage Union Castle building, Marble has wrap-around rooftop views of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront’s working harbour and the Atlantic ocean and is the spot for glam sundowners this summer. Offering a real destination feel, the 220-seater restaurant continues the signature Marble fire-cooking style – with a touch of Cape Town added to the mix. “Marble is about the experience, the vibe, when you walk in there’s a great energy,” David says, “fire brings people together.”
Opened December 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 002 8484, capetown@marble.restaurant
Where to find it Union Castle Building, V&A Waterfront
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Edge

Chef Vusi Ndlovu has found a new summer residency for his Edge culinary concept: a creative and respectful exploration of African ingredients. Now he and partner Absie Pantswha are collaborating with rooftop hotspot Vue Shortmarket in the heart of Cape Town for a sizzling summer pop-up and are looking forward to adding a new chapter of fascinating, storytelling flavour to the Edge narrative. The new restaurant promises nuanced live-fire cooking, bubbles and cocktails as Vusi highlights the beauty and depth of Africa’s gastronomic heritage in a hot new menu curated specifically for this new venture. Expect his signature focus on under-explored indigenous ingredients, progressive techniques and an experimental celebration of African traditions and fire cooking for a snapshot of Africa on each plate.
Opens 5 December 2024 until end-April 2025
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 1pm – 10pm
Contact 021 569 7090, info@vue-shortmarket.co.za, info@edgerestaurant.africa
Where to find it Vue Shortmarket, 108 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town CBD
Book through DinePlan

The Wes Bistro & Bar

Stepping through the yellow door on Shortmarket Street takes you into the whimsical world of a Wes Anderson movie… The Grand Budapest Hotel takes up a whole wall and there’s a visual treat and touch of magic in every corner. Owner Megan Kritzinger (who founded Stellski Coffee Bar) was also inspired by her love for the classic old-school French bistro. She’s brought in food legend Pete Goffe-Wood to bring to life a menu based on those classics: think bouillabaisse with rouille and croutons, moules frites, chicken liver parfait, goats cheese souffle and herb-crusted rack of lamb with ratatouille. The Wes is playful yet down-to-earth and perfect for anything from a casual lunch to a cocktail and/or date night dinner.
Opened October 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday. 12pm – 10pm
Sunday 12pm – 5pm
Contact info@thewes.co.za
Where to find it 55 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Juno

A light and fresh new venue in the curvy Signatura Tropicana building on Kloof Road, Juno is a community-gathering place filled with love and warmth (and superb baked goodies). Shelves are piled high with fresh bakes from the Table Seven kitchens (Luke and Katie Wonnacott are the culinary team behind it, alongside Rory Jossel), so you can tuck into their legendary croissants, almond croissants and pain au chocolat and a wide variety of breads. Then there are fresh salads, mehttps://app.asana.com/0/108308739187906/1204991510339062zze, tapas, breakfast buns, toasties and wraps, for grab and go or sit down breakfasts, brunches and lunches.
Good to know Shop for pantry essentials such as fresh milk, jams, preserves, granola, Puglia cheeses, wine, flowers, and more.
Opened November 2024
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 6.30am – 5pm
Sunday, 6.30am – 4pm
Contact 021 003 3601, hello@juno.co.za
Where to find it 6 Kloof Road, Sea Point

Alfi Pizza

Sea Point is having a prolonged moment! The latest addition to its cosmopolitan and vibey food scene again comes courtesy of the group behind Jarryd’s, Ariel et al, who are planning to rock the Main Road to its pizza foundations. At Alfi Pizza they’re bringing New Haven pizza to the party – a thin-crust Neapolitan style of pizza developed in Connecticut in the 1920s. It’s hand-rolled to thin crust, wood-fired to give a crisp base with plenty of char. They say their pizzaiolos are basically sourdough DJs spinning dough magic… We can’t wait to check out the beats! Expect all the classics from Sicilian to Quattro Stagioni, plenty for meat lovers with double beef chorizo and Mexicana, and a spicy Diavola with hot honey.
Opened February 2025
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 4pm – 11pm
Contact info@alfipizza.co.za
Where to find it 158 Main Road, Sea Point

Our Local Sea Point

A second branch of Our Local has just opened in Sea Point – in the old Laughton’s Building on Main Road. It’s got the same eclectic, vintage, plant-filled rustic aesthetic as the original Kloof Street branch, with high ceilings, a dog-friendly bowl of water at the door, and an always-laidback vibe. Breakfast, brunch and lunch menus continue all the old favourites from eggs Arnold Bennet and shakshuka to avo toast and toasties, and the cake hatch features their divine flourless chocolate cake, worth visiting for alone.
Opened January 2025
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 8am – 3.30pm
Contact 064 642 5004, eat@ourlocal.co.za
Where to find it 295 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005

Seebamboes

Surf and turf gets a dash of flair when the team behind Belly of the Beast and Galjoen start to play. Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart have collaborated with chef Adél Hughes and Jill-of-all-trades Liebet Jooste to develop a tasting-menu experience that riffs on gastronomic nostalgia in a contemporary reimagining surf and turf. The result? Playful, celebratory, original, delicious!

Seebamboes is an intimate space in the mezzanine above Galjoen (seating just 16 diners), with an unexpected view of Table Mountain visible over the chefs’ shoulders in the open kitchen. Combining sea- and land-harvested produce in more nuanced, experimental, and delicious ways (and with an offbeat local wine list), their aim is to make surf and turf memorable for all the right reasons.
Opened March 2025
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 6.45pm
Contact 079 093 0559, eat@galjoencpt.co.za
Where to find it 99 Harrington St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925
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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 September 2024
Opening times Sunday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm
Friday & Saturday, 12pm – 11pm
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 Monday – Friday, 5pm – 12am (kitchen closes 10pm)
Saturday, 12pm – 12am
Sunday, 12pm – 11pm
Contact 078 184 3354, hola@quelinda.co.za
Where to find it 39 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
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Kanji Sushi

The dynamo duo behind Kanji Ramen (the slurpworthy hub on Kloof Nek corner) is at it again. A fresh collaboration between chef Seelan Sundoo and veteran restaurateur Gavin Hagger (of Jerry’s Burger Bar) brings a dedicated sushi spot to the courtyard at Heritage Square. Relax under the ancient vine, soak up the chilled urban vibes and tuck in to an array of freshly rolled sushi in the heart of the city.
Opening March 2025
Where to find it Heritage Square, 100 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town

Bo-Vine Wine and Grill House in the City

The sizzling Camps Bay steakhouse is opening a second branch in the heart of the city, in Hout Street, actually. Due to open any day now, it’s set to continue the edgy vibe of its Camps Bay sister restaurant alongside a straightforward menu of perfectly grilled steaks (all grain-fed South African beef) and a well-chosen winelist. We can’t wait to see what the steak crew have planned for this new venue.
Opening March 2025
Where to find it Hout Street, Cape Town

New Restaurants in The Winelands

L’Ami Family Brasserie at La Motte

The completely re-imagined heart of La Motte Wine Estate recently re-opened after years of renovations… Immensely chic but with an informal farm vibe, the brand-new brasserie is family-friendly with a long wrap-around stoep opening onto the grassy central lawns, and an accessible menu inspired by seasonal farm ingredients and open-fire cooking.
Chef Richard Carstens brings a Mediterranean-meets-South-Africa flair to the flavours, and simple but spectacular is the result: perfectly prepared fresh cob with a seriously addictive vin blanc sauce; beef tartare on superb sourdough from the estate bakery; beetroot and fig salad; plus steaks, lamb and venison cooked on the Spanish open-coal grill. There’s a touch of nostalgia and a vibe that is all about feasting with friends, as the name L’Ami (French for friend) suggests.
Good to know There’s also a small plates menu available in the afternoons until 4.30pm after the lunch service. And there’s a children’s menu.
Opened December 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 11.30am – 3pm
Friday + Saturday, 6.30pm
Contact 021 876 8000, lami.restaurant@la-motte.co.za
Where to find it La Motte Wine Estate, R45 Main Road, Franschhoek Valley
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.
Opened 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
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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

Lorenzo’s

A brand-new Italian restaurant has just joined the Delaire Graff foodscape. Right next to Delaire Graff Restaurant, Lorenzo’s is an intimate 40-seater lunch spot that spills outdoors under a sun-dappled Iroko pergola, evoking a classic alfresco Mediterranean experience. Chef Clinton Jacobs and team are working with talented Italian consultant chef Alfonso Russo on a menu of authentic Italian dishes, using whatever is in season from the estate garden. The dramatic bronze-panelled pizza oven churns out superb wood-fired pizzas, then there are luscious antipasto such as burrata Caprese, wood-fired artichokes and veal carpaccio, and a mouth-watering selection of hand-made pastas.
Opened November 2024
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm or 2pm (2 seatings)
Contact 021 885 8160, reservations@delaire.co.za 
Where to find it Delaire Graff Estate, Helshoogte Pass, Stellenbosch
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The Beach House

This relaxed seaside eatery has an enviable perch, right on the beach of Yzerfontein and has been cooking up a storm over the summer in this laidback West Coast village. The dynamic duo behind the new venture are none other than chefs Darren Badehort and Callan Austen (of Dusk, Le coin Français and Nocturne). They’ve brought in chef Jacques Grove, (whose experience spans top positions at the Chefs Warehouse group and stages at Michelin-starred institutions in London) to head up the kitchen, where the relaxed but world-class menus focus on unpretentious sustainability and authenticity in keeping with the seaside setting. 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!
Opened October 2024
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, lunch + dinner
Contact reservations@beachhouserestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Yzerfontein
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Bloem

Chef Bertus Basson has spread his wings to Elgin and launched a chic farm 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, Carla focusses on the local ingredients of the area, with classic breakfast dishes (and mimosas), and thoughtfully crafted sharing plates for lunch. Think hearty lamb pie, elegant raw yellowtail with leche de tigre, shaved gammon with celeriac remoulade, the dishes changing with the seasons, and all 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 (and a kids menu), Bloem is the new go-to when exploring the Overberg.
Opened October 2024
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 9am – 2.30pm
Contact 021 844 0607, info@bloemrestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Paul Clüver Family Wines, De Rust Estate, Grabouw
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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 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.
Opened November 2024
Opening times Monday – Saturday 12pm – 2.30pm; 6pm – 8.30pm (seatings)
Sunday is Braai Day 12pm – 2.30pm; 5.30pm – 7.30pm
Contact 021 300 1058, info@adara-palmiet-valley.co.za
Where to find it Adara Palmiet Valley, Sonstraal Road, Paarl
Book through DinePlan

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 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
Book through DinePlan

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