The Top Restaurants in Cape Town as Voted by SA’s Top Chefs

Now an established favourite at Constantia Uitsig, Ember & Oak has filled a gap for locals with an informal but tasty array of global tapas. Tim and Judy Pick have created a short menu of delicious small plates to browse on the terrace tables outside the Uitsig heritage cottages,or inside by the fire. The vineyard, lawns and Constantiaberg mountain views are spectacular, but it’s the often-changing, flavourful, unpretentious (and affordable) small plates that draw a crowd.

Rated by Ivor Jones, Gary Coetzee, Caroline Lamb, Glen Williams, Kerry Kilpin, Scot Kirton
Contact 067 499 5621
Where to find it Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, Spaanschemat River Road, Constantia, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Tim and Judy just know how to show you a good time without taking anything or themselves too seriously. And the Aperol slushies are dangerously good!”
Glen Williams (Foxcroft)

This perennially buzzed-about restaurant, suspended above the famous vine-clad valley, offers a frequently-changing set menu of fine-dining-calibre shared plates delivered with glorious views and casual finesse. Chef-patron Ivor Jones (who co-owns the eatery with Liam Tomlin) concocts an array of imaginative dishes, with an emphasis on freshly harvested produce from the farm’s gardens, and adds an inspired injection of global flavours.

Rated by Scot Kirton, Kerry Kilpin, Teenola Govender, Cheyne Morrisby, Franck Dangereux, John Norris-Rogers, Kieran Whyte, Roxy Mudie, Shaun Scrooby, Tim Pick, Vusi Ndlovu
Contact 021 794 8632, cw@beauconstantia.com
Where to find it Off Constantia Main Road (M41), Constantia Nek, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Truly creative food, warm service and unmatched scenery. It never fails to impress!”
Teenola Govender (Coy)

It means untamed in Afrikaans, and Bertus Basson’s first foray into the innercity is anything but tame. Just off Kloof Street in the shiny new Canopy by Hilton Cape Town Longkloof hotel, it opened in May 2025, and with Bertus at the helm, it’s not your stock-standard hotel restaurant (the tagline is butcher, baker, cocktail maker).  There’s a heap of South African nostalgia in a superb collection of small plates, wood-fired flatbreads and punchy mains, everything made in-house or sourced locally, as well as top-notch cocktails and cool beats.

Rated by Amori Burger, Glen Williams, James Gaag, Justin Barker, Luke Lawrence Barry, Marcus Gericke, Marthinus Ferreira, Ryan Cole, Scot Kirton, Serushia Naidoo, Tasmin Reed, Vusi Ndlovu
Contact 021 569 8880
Where to find it Park Road, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Unfiltered, produce-driven cooking that’s full of heart. It’s raw in the best way – honest, soulful, and brave.”
Tasmin Reed (Melfort)

A stalwart on the restaurant scene, this unpretentious fine-dining establishment – housed in a characterful old building in the heart of Cape Town – has been serving creative dishes inspired by the season and meticulously planned wine pairings since 1996. German-born chef-patron Harald Bresselschmidt is held in high regard by top chefs in South Africa for his culinary achievements. His food philosophy emphasises fresh produce sourced directly from farmers and trusted suppliers. And his substantial wine list is second to none.

Rated by Christophe Dehosse, Garth Bedford, Giorgio Nava, Marcus Gericke, Matt Manning, Shaun Schoeman
Contact 021 465 0000, info@aubergine.co.za
Where to find it 39 Barnet Street, Gardens, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“A Cape Town institution with a fantastic wine list!”
Matt Manning (Grub & Vine)

A top-drawer eatery from Luke Dale Roberts, The Pot Luck Club is headed by chef Jason Kosmas, whose exciting menu is designed to showcase all five flavour profiles (salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami). Plate-sharing is encouraged, so that diners can experience a gastronomical gamut of tastes. Situated on the top floor of the Silo at The Old Biscuit Mill, the ambient eatery boasts killer city views, especially at night.

Rated by Anouchka Horn, Carla Schulze, Geoffrey Abrahams, Lara van Heerden, Luke Lawrence Barry, Teenola Govender
Contact 021 447 0804, reservations@thepotluckclub.co.za
Where to find it Silo Top Floor, The Old Biscuit Mill, 373 – 375 Albert Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“My good friend Jason Kosmas is Mr. Consistent. The passion that oozes out of him is the kind of folk I want to be around; he gives his all in everything that he does. He and his team not only deliver on flavour, but the service is fun, friendly, warm and engaging. I love spending time at The Pot Luck Club!”  
Luke Lawrence Barry (Mount Nelson)

A veritable jewel in Franschhoek’s culinary crown on Leeu Estates wine farm, La Petite Colombe (sibling of superlative La Colombe in Constantia) is a relaxed yet refined and flawlessly five-star eatery helmed by chef Peter Duncan. The dazzling presentation, professional service and a smart winelist create a sense of occasion that makes dining here very special.

Rated by Luke Dale Roberts, Charné Sampson, Charlton Prins, John Norris-Rogers, Matt van den Berg, Roxie Mudie, James Gaag
Contact 021 202 3395, reservations@lapetitecolombe.com
Where to find it Leeu Estates, Dassenberg Road (off the R45), Franschhoek
Book through DinePlan

“La Petite Colombe ticks all the boxes. You really feel special as you receive beautiful dishes watching the sun set over the mountains.”
Luke Dale Roberts (Salon, Pot Luck Club)

A narrow brick-walled slip of a burger bar on Kloof Street, Zuney does farm to table in the realest sense of the phrase. Two neighbouring family farms in the Eastern Cape have been raising certified wagyu herds since 2014, grazing on pasture and leading the best possible life. Direct from the farm, these deliciously simple burgers showcase the wagyu beef in juicy hands-on style … guaranteed to give you cravings for weeks to come!

Rated by Matt van den Berg, Xavier Francis, Anlou Erasmus, Teenola Govender
Contact 076 430 7584
Where to find it 69A Kloof Street, Cape Town

“It’s still Zuney for me. I love a dirty burger!”
Xavier Francis (CW Maison)

Authentic with a capital A, He Sheng prides itself on lip-smacking food that has Sea Point locals, Chinese patrons and some of Cape Town’s top chefs coming back for more. The owners (a young couple who worked with Ma and then took over in 2023) have kept the same no-frills philosophy of cheap-and-cheerful decor and honest-to-goodness food, and pretty much the same menu of adventurous dishes that you won’t find elsewhere in the city.

Rated by Nic Charalambous, Ryan Cole, Asher Abramowitz, Vicky Gorovich, Tim Pick
Contact 021 433 0739
Where to find it 269 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

“It’s become a bit of a Sunday ritual for us. If we’re not cooking or with family, we often head there with a few friends and order a bunch of dishes to share. You have to get the Xiao Long Bao. It’s comfort food with soul.”
Nic Charalambous (Ouzeri)

Co-owned by chef Hatsushiro Muraoka (Papa San of Takumi, Minato and Tokyo fame) and chef Ben Bettendorf, this no-frills eatery on lower Long Street is where you’ll find sushi, ramen and tempura prepared the authentic way. If you’re here for lunch, order the Bento Box, or the tempura is some of the best in town – feather-light, with a flaky batter and mouth-watering dipping sauce.

Rated by James Gaag, Brendan Thorncroft, Scot Kirton, Dale Stevens, Michelle Theron
Contact 021 418 4040, info@obirestaurant.co.za
Where to find it 14 Long Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Ben has really created a special space. As soon as you step into the restaurant, you feel immediately at home. If you’re lucky you get to meet the legendary Papa San. Super fresh Japanese food.”
Dale Stevens (Faber)

Chef Ryan Cole is quietly pushing the boundaries and creating a new modern South African cuisine at Salsify, inspired by nature and the ocean, and driven by the seasons. The 10-course fine-dining menu tugs the nostalgia strings with its local flavours given surprising and brilliant culinary twists. Enhancing the experience is excellent service, two top-tier wine-pairing options, fantastic views of the Atlantic from the hillside above Camps Bay, and edgy-chic interiors.

Rated by Amori Burger, Charlton Prins, Dale Stevens, Fabio Daniel, Ivor Jones, Jason Kosmas, Justin Barker, Lara van Heeden, Serushia Naidoo, Tasmin Reed, Teenola Govender
Contact 021 010 6444, reservations@salsify.co.za
Where to find it The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, off Kloof Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town
Book Through DinePlan

“Consistently refined and inventive. Their balance of technique, beauty and storytelling makes it a standout, time after time.”
Tasmin Reed (Melfort)

This perennially buzzed-about restaurant, suspended above the famous vine-clad valley, offers a frequently-changing set menu of fine-dining-calibre shared plates delivered with glorious views and casual finesse. Chef-patron Ivor Jones (who co-owns the eatery with Liam Tomlin) concocts an array of imaginative dishes, with an emphasis on freshly harvested produce from the farm’s gardens, and adds an inspired injection of global flavours.

Rated by Ashley Moss, Cameron Smith, Cheyne Morrisby, Darren Allsopp, Franck Dangereux, Geoffrey Abrahams, James Gaag, Scot Kirton, Sebastian Stehr, Tim Pick
Contact 021 794 8632, cw@beauconstantia.com
Where to find it Off Constantia Main Road (M41), Constantia Nek, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Chef Ivor’s food is downright delicious. And he’s constantly adapting and changing his menu, so you’re always in for a unique experience.”
Sebastian Stehr (Beyond)

One of the most exciting epicurean experiences in the city, Peter Tempelhoff’s sophisticated, loft-like innercity space offers food and decor rooted in South African wilderness, drawing on the flavours, aesthetics and techniques of Japanese gastronomy. With culinary director Ashley Moss and sommelier and service director Jennifer Hugé, the team puts endless thought and care into a multi-course menu that runs the full gamut of flavours and textures, each yielding a hit of flavour so lingering and sublime, you never want it to end.

Rated by Darren Badenhorst, Drikus Brink, Gary Coetzee, Garth Bedford, Giorgio Nava, Marcus Gericke, Shaun Scrooby, Veronica Canha-Hibbert, Virgil Kahn
Contact 021 286 2733, info@fynrestaurant.com
Where to find it Church Square, 37 Parliament Street, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

“Fyn is the complete package. Peter Tempelhoff and his team have created a global experience that is still very much South African. It deserves all the accolades, and the space itself is breathtaking.”
Veronica Canha-Hibbert (The Silo)

Fine dining with its heart in Stellenbosch, Mertia is hidden away upstairs in the old Standard Bank building, its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over old oaks. Marais Kirsten-Uys and chef Matt van den Berg have evolved their own approachable fine-dining style in seasonal tasting menus of sublime elegance and precision. Delivering nostalgia and the flavours of home with plenty of delightful flourishes, expect superb wine pairings and impeccable service all around.

Rated by Anouchka Horn, Kevin Grobler, Ryan Shell, Vusi Ndlovu
Contact 076 644 8448, reservations@mertia.co.za
Where to find it 20 Bird Street, Stellenbosch (entrance off the Millstream side street)
Book through DinePlan

“Really good, they knocked it out of the park!”
Vusi Ndlovu (Edge)

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The Chef’s Best Restaurants in 2018
The Chefs’ Best Restaurants in 2017

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