The 12 Cape Town Restaurants We Keep Coming Back To

There are certain restaurants where you know what you’re going to order before you’ve even sat down, where the owners are always there, welcoming you by name, where the atmosphere is more about old-school charm than the latest design.

These tavernas, trattorias, cafés and restaurants with that nostalgic glam factor have survived recessions, Covid, changing trends, and quiet winter seasons for 20, 30, even 40 or more years.

So, what makes a restaurant in Cape Town stand the test of time? A food offering so consistent and so distinctly their own that regulars keep coming back – year after year after year.

These are Cape Town’s most enduring restaurants.

The Foodbarn

Chef Franck Dangereux was a forerunner of the fine-dining scene in Cape Town, having established the original La Colombe at Uitsig in 1996. But at The Foodbarn (which he opened with partner Pete de Bruin ten years later), you’re not here for fancy food – Franck’s been there, done that. You come for delicious, top-quality meals and wine-pairings in a relaxed, family-friendly (and dog-friendly) environment. “Franck just keeps on serving good food that never disappoints, you know you are always going to have a great meal with him,” says chef Nic van Wyk. Franck’s roots in southern France inform his hearty, earthy style; the menu ranges from breakfast favourites and daytime-café dishes to more cheffy “bistronomy” lunches and tapas dinners (both with the option of 100ml wine pairings). The bonhomie of this stylishly converted barn makes dining here a wonderful outing for the entire clan.
Opened 2006
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 8am – 9.30pm
Sunday + Monday, 8am – 3pm
Contact 021 789 1390, info@thefoodbarn.co.za
Where to find it Noordhoek Farm Village, Noordhoek, Cape Town
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Willoughby & Co

You’ll always find a queue of hungry diners waiting to be seated at Willoughby & Co at the V&A Waterfront. And for good reason – the sushi here is consistently delicious (no wonder it’s another of Liam Tomlin’s favourite restaurants). Though you’re in a mall, the comfortable padded booths shut out the passing traffic of shoppers and give it a spritz of personality. Founded 30 years ago by Jens Tibshraeny, the extensive menu offers a variety of beautifully made Japanese and traditional seafood dishes prepared by experienced chefs under Singaporean head chef Sam Wong, who’s been at the heart of the Willoughby sushi experience since the start. One of our favourites is their signature 4×4 dish (four pieces of creamy rock-shrimp maki and four pieces of Rainbow Reloaded rolls topped with deep-fried prawns tossed in a spicy chilli-bean mayonnaise). And the oyster shooters, salmon-belly skewers, clam chowder, rock-shrimp tempura and “The Colony” (12 of the best prawn dishes). Chef Nic van Wyk says, “The food has been constant for years and we never look at the menu, we know exactly what we want to eat. It is also the only place where I will queue for food, with a glass of wine in hand of course.”
Opened 1996
Good to know Bookings are not accepted, but service is quick and efficient, so waiting for a table usually doesn’t take long. If you’re popping in for a quick bite, perch at the counter and watch the chefs at work.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 418 6115
Where to find it Shop 6132, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Mano’s

Walk along the Main Road in Green Point and you’ll stumble upon a white-canopied eatery where the heavenly smells and buzzy vibe will draw you in… This is Mano’s, where the motley mix of patrons – from models and septuagenarians to local schlebs and bona fide Hollywood stars – is all part of the appeal. The cosmopolitan eatery hosted by the charismatic Mano has consistently been serving the same fresh, flavourful Mediterranean-style dishes for thirty years. Restaurateur Liam Tomlin says, “You’ll bump into half of Cape Town here on a Friday lunch. Mano’s does good, honest, no-frills food, but there’s an atmosphere you cannot design. It is something built over years and that’s what makes it so brilliant.” On chilly evenings, sit inside the candlelit interior and enjoy a hearty chicken liver pasta, the winey, garlicky chicken prego roll, steak Diane, or the famous chicken kebabs. On warm days, pull up a seat at a pavement table and soak up the scene.
Opened 1996
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 434 1090, mano@mano.co.za
Where to find it 39 Main Road, Green Point, Cape Town

Maria’s

Charming Dunkley Square, with its piazza-like bricked pavement and trees, is home to this beloved taverna, where Cleon and Kate Romano have been serving top-notch food for more than three decades. The name they took on with the building, where there’d been a cafe-deli called Maria’s since the 1950s, named for the original owner who lived upstairs above the kitchen. Over the years it’s been named as a favourite of Cape Town luminaries such as Jane Raphaely, Karen Roos and chef Roxy Mudie. Expect traditional fare based on the recipes of Yvonne Romano (Cleon’s mom), tweaked by Kate. It’s fresh and bursting with simple, bold flavours – pillowy pitas or flatbreads with more than 20 mezethes (meze); mains of chicken souvlaki, mussels and yiouvetsi (either chicken, lamb or mushrooms on orzo). It’ll be hard to choose, so settle in for a long, laidback feast. On sunny days and balmy evenings, tables flow out under the trees on the square.
Opened 1994 under current owners.
Good to know They also serve breakfasts with a Greek touch, think grilled halloumi and scrambled eggs with tahini, shakshuka or Greek yoghurt with granola.
Opening times Monday,  11am – 10pm
Tuesday – Saturday, 8.30am – 10pm
Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Contact 021 461 3333, info@marias.co.za
Where to find it 31 Barnet Street, Dunkley Square, Gardens, Cape Town

Magica Roma

This traditional ristorante Italiano in the heart of Pinelands has maintained a fine reputation for serving delicious, authentic Italian food in congenial surroundings for over 35 years. Although the decor is old-school, it is this comfortable and familiar environment that is so charming. As chef-owner Ezio De Biaggi says, “Never change a recipe that works.” While his co-owner and friend Franco Zezia has retired, Ezio (still aided by the restaurant’s longstanding front-of-house manager Lisa Veck) is carrying on the magic formula in the kitchen with their tried-and tested menu of authentic Italian classics, and will even tailor-make a dish for discerning palates. “Going to Magica Roma feels like stepping back in time – the walls are lined with old wine bottles, it’s still got the white tablecloths, and owner Ezio De Biaggi has a special tableside touch,” says restaurateur Jarryd Segal. Try their legendary bean and lentil soup, the zuppa di pesce (seafood soup), the pappardelle with veal ragu, ossobuco or the grilled calamari, which are always winners, and end with the decadent tiramisu – if you have room. The excellent winelist includes local and Italian wines.
Opened 1980s
Good to know Booking is essential, especially if you want to sit at the far end of the restaurant away from the buzz.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 9pm
Saturday, 6pm – 9pm
Contact 021 531 1489
Where to find it Central Building, 8 Central Square, Pinelands, Cape Town

La Perla

Beloved for its history, old-school waiters and stunning sea view, La Perla was one of the first places to stir up the stolid Cape Town restaurant scene back in the 1950s. Dashing restaurateur Emiliano Sandri started out as a waiter on the SA Railways, then opened his own restaurant in Waterkant Street in 1957, where it soon became a gathering place for celebrities and high-society types. He moved it to an enviable spot on the Sea Point Promenade in the 1970s, and there it has remained – along with some of its long-serving staff (who have been on a first-name basis with at least two generations of regular clientele). Emiliano’s son Baylon now owns and manages La Perla (Emiliano recently passed away, aged 91). The menu remains nostalgically retro and recent visits have found that the lasagne is excellent, the kingklip cooked to perfection and the polish is back on the pearl. We recommend any of the delicious homemade pastas or a generous seafood platter.
Opened 1957; at current location since 1970s
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 11pm
Contact 021 439 9538, info@laperla.co.za  
Where to find it 281 Beach Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

Nelson’s Eye

Tucked away on Hof Street, next to Mount Nelson, this may not look like much from the outside, but it’s the steak you’re here for. The decor has an old-English-pub sort of charm (its 60-year history is evident, and when current owners Steve and Luda Albert took over in 1993, they retained its retro charm and traditional steakhouse atmosphere) but, we repeat, it’s the mouth-watering meat that has made it a Cape Town institution. “Every single time I have been to Nelson’s Eye, Steve and his wife Luda are there and my steak is cooked to perfection. It’s always packed to the rafters,” says Liam Tomlin. A stand-out is the indulgent brandy-flambéed fillet with a creamy red wine and Madagascan peppercorn sauce, but the whole range of ribeye, rump, dry-aged Tomahawk deserves a mention, as do the wagyu ribs, with a full range of sauces from monkey gland and Madagascan to chimichurri and creamy roquefort to complete the quality-focussed old-school steakhouse offering.
Opened 1960s
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 5pm – 10.30pm
Sunday, 5pm – 10.30pm (mid-August to mid-May only)
Contact 083 701 7101, reservations@nelsons-eye.co.za 
Where to find it 9 Hof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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A Tavola

A Southern Suburbs Italian institution ever since it opened in 2008, A Tavola continues to deliver traditional Italian flavour to packed houses. A casual ambience looking through glass walls onto Library Square in Claremont is enlivened by hearty aromas wafting into the dining area from the open-plan kitchen. Fresh, seasonal produce is the order of the day – in true Italian style, the owners are committed to using organic herbs and vegetables, pasture-reared beef, sustainable fish and handmade pasta. “I have lunch at A Tavola on my way home from work. Emma and Dave Haupt, the owners, are passionate about wine and just serve good, honest Italian food,” says chef Luke Dale Roberts. He recommends the linguine gamberoni (pasta with queen prawns), the veal with mushrooms, and the octopus carpaccio. Other favourites include tagliolini ai funghi e tartufo (fresh pasta with mushrooms and truffle), and tagliata di manzo (sliced rib-eye with roast Roma tomatoes and broccoli). Explore the winelist, which goes beyond local to include Italian classics such as Chianti, Barolo, Brunello di Montalcino and Amarone della Valpolicella.
Opened 2008
Opening times Monday – Friday, 12pm – 3pm; 5.30pm – 10pm
Saturday, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 671 1763
Where to find it Library Square (opposite Kingsbury Hospital), Wilderness Road, Claremont, Cape Town

Mamma Roma

Situated in Dean Street Arcade with ample underground parking, Mamma Roma specialises in authentic northern Italian cuisine and is usually packed with local regulars who keep coming back for the consistently good food, homely old-school atmosphere and efficient service – not to mention the generous portion sizes. Hands-on owners Romano and Christina Gorrini have been playing to packed houses in Newlands since 1998 (and before that in Stellenbosch since 1986), with a menu of old favourites such as risotto porcini, linguine pescatore, melanzane alla parmigiana – and a chalkboard menu of specials that features the seasonal hits. Look here for asparagus and artichokes in season, roast veal and fresh fish dishes.
Opened 1986; 1998 in current location
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9pm
Contact 021 685 2051, info@mammaroma.co.za
Where to find it Dean Street Arcade, Newlands, Cape Town

Dias Tavern

The home of traditional Portuguese food since 1988, this Cape Town institution in Caledon Street might look nondescript on the outside, but step inside and you’re met with a cacophony of live music and conversation, and mouthwatering aromas. What it lacks in swanky interior design (although it is colourful), it makes up for in flavour and conviviality. It’s a favourite hangout of several top Cape Town chefs, including Jason Kosmas of Pot Luck Club who says, “I love a good Portuguese vibe and who doesn’t love a good peri peri chicken.” The menu covers all the favourites: massive espetadas, prego rolls, peri-peri chicken livers, prawns, calamari… but when you’re after steak it also comes up trumps with fillet, rump or T-bone on the charcoal grill. Or go for one of the Portuguese-style steaks which come slathered in co-founder Sam Perreira’s secret trinchado sauce in a sizzling skillet and topped with an egg.
Opened 1988
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 11.30am – 12am
Contact 021 465 7547
Where to find it 15 Caledon Street, East City, Cape Town

Il Leone Mastrantonio

This convivial Green Point ristorante serves traditional and modern Italian dishes with robust flavours, and is always packed with loyal locals and tourists from nearby hotels. A stalwart of the Cape Town Italian scene since it was added to the Mastrantonio restaurant family (founded in Johannesburg in the 1990s) in 2006, the historic Green Point building ties in with the upmarket trattoria vibe, together with the art on the walls. “It’s a beautiful old building and casual dining space for a meet-up with a girlfriend or a romantic date night. You always know what you’re going to get and it remains consistent in all its offering,” says chef Tracy-Leigh Gaag. Favourites from chef Daniel Toledo’s menu include linguine Portofino (with prawns, rocket, cherry tomatoes and pine nuts); cavolo del pescatore (a seafood mix with cabbage, cherry tomatoes, fennel and peas); the impressive bistecca alla Fiorentina (a 1.2kg grilled T-bone); and classic costolette di vitello (grilled or crumbed rack of veal). And a winelist of notable South African wines and well-chosen imported vintages too.
Opened 2006
Good to know It has private dining rooms available for functions.
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 3.30pm; 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 421 0071
Where to find it 22 Cobern Street (corner Prestwich Street), Green Point, Cape Town
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Olympia Café and Bakery

Bustling, loud, almost always busy and somewhat spontaneous (you can’t book a table but you can stand in line) with a chalkboard for the day’s menu, Olympia is a Kalk Bay institution that has barely changed since founder Kenneth McClarty and friends converted it from a fish and bait shop to a bohemian cafe, simply adding the words ‘and Deli’ to the original signage. People flock here for the laidback vibe, harbour-facing setting and simply delicious food. “Olympia never disappoints,” says chef Tracy-Leigh Gaag. Buttery croissants and pastries are the stars of the morning show, and fresh fish is always on the chalkboard menu for lunch and dinner, whether it’s geelbek and mash, seared yellowfin tuna with crushed potatoes, or the legendary linguine di mare (which has locals coming back year after year). Finish with the lemon tart and the tiramisu for dessert, or go for one of the decadent pastries with your coffee.
Opened 1997
Good to know The bakery around the back (look for the red door) is perfect for a post-walk cappuccino on the benches under the trees (know that you’ll be leaving with a sweet treat in hand).
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7am – 10pm (last orders 9pm)
Bakery: 6.30am – 7pm
Contact 021 788 6396, info@olympiacafe.co.za
Where to find it 134 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

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