The 15 Best Restaurants at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

With its bustling working harbour and a marina backed by iconic Table Mountain views, the V&A Waterfront has an irresistible buzz year-round. And just when you think you know all the best restaurants, something new opens… There’s been a steady wave of fabulous new restaurants settling into heritage buildings around the precinct over the past few years, making the foodscape as dazzling as the waterside setting.

Le Bistrot de Jan

The newest star in the Waterfront dining scene is Le Bistrot de Jan from South African Michelin-starred chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. The younger, slightly rebellious, à la carte sibling of his Michelin-starred Jan restaurant in the south of France mingles the timeless flavours of French bistro cuisine with the soul of Cape Town. At the helm is executive chef Giles Edwards (remember La Tête?) who brings to life the nostalgic flavours of simple, honest dishes, such as Jan’s signature chicken pie with truffle sauce, beef tartare, sole meunière with capers, salad Niçoise, and steak Florentine with a wedge salad and fries, not to mention Giles’ superb madeleines. The interiors are a theatrical and engaging take on bistro style with deep blue walls, chandeliers, velvet booths, and a beguiling cheese room (an essential part of the Jan repertoire). Live music brings another layer of magic to the dining experience.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 3pm; 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 821 4180, lbdj@ictablebay.com 
Where to find it InterContinental Table Bay, 6 West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Nobu

Fresh from a serene, sophisticated redesign, the sleek, double-volume interiors at Nobu speak to a harmonious melding of cultures where Japanese wa meets African ubuntu, and the same spectacular One&Only Cape Town views over the waterways to Table Mountain. Gastronomically speaking, the Japanese-Peruvian dishes will send your tastebuds to Osaka and back, and the black cod miso is legendary (if you’re in the mood to splurge). Up for a culinary adventure? Chef Nicky King pushes boundaries, adding to the signature Nobu ethos with inspiration from South Africa’s diverse culinary heritage. Go for the omakase (chef’s choice) tasting menu to explore her unique take on local ingredients and botanicals (there are vegan and vegetarian options too). Try her yuzu-cured sea bass with orange amazu on the à la carte menu, or take a seat at the sushi counter for signature classics such as the scallop and smelt egg hand roll, the eel and cucumber maki and yellowtail sashimi. Nobu is an impressive destination for a special occasion.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 431 5888, reservations@oneandonlycapetown.com
Where to find it One&Only Cape Town, Dock Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Pier

With artful plating conjuring enchanted underwater gardens, a focus on seafood and a fabulous harbourside location, Pier delivers a fine-dining extravaganza in the inimitable style of the La Colombe group. Chef John Norris-Rogers’ tasting menu (eight or 12 dishes) meanders from opening “snacks” to the “treasure chest” (petit fours served at the end) by way of deeply delicious curried hake butter with the bread course, masala quail with langoustine and date, and sublime yellowfin tuna with tamarind and chili. The team masterfully traverses a spider-silk thread between theatrics, molecular gastronomy and classic French technique, overshadowing even the floor-to-ceiling vistas.
Good to know There is a vegetarian tasting menu too.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 1pm (last seating); 6pm – 8pm (last seating)
Contact 021 879 6328, reservations@pier.restaurant 
Where to find it Pierhead Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Coy

Chef Ryan Cole’s second venture has sparkling views over harbour, marina and Table Mountain, with a moody chiaroscuro feel inside. Head chefs Geoffrey Abrahams and Teenola Govender focus on (sustainable, ethical, local) ingredients that tell a story, looking to the ocean and Africa for inspiration. The multi-course Coy Experience (with choices, including vegan/vegetarian) follows the coastline around the continent, exploring indigenous produce, age-old techniques and forgotten ingredients, while the Coy Edit presents a short à la carte menu for a quick lunch. You’ll be wowed by the likes of fresh seared tuna with mesaka’a, sultana and Foxenburg Crottin, and melt-in-mouth chargrilled ox tongue with Yassa, olive and bay leaf. As one chef put it, it’s the kind of place that “makes you stop and think about what you’re eating”.
Good to know Park at the Portswood parking garage and walk towards the Bascule Bridge.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm; 6pm – 8pm
Contact 021 207 3278, reservations@coyrestaurant.com
Where to find it The Scherwyn Pavilion Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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The Waterside

A light, bright, stylish space right on the harbour with a deck that feels like you’re on a superyacht, Waterside is the slightly more informal sibling of the La Colombe group… still creative, sophisticated, meticulously plated and a treat for eyes and palate. Chef Roxy Mudie dreams up seasonal multi-course menus (with the option of a shorter lunch menu with choices for starter and main) from the unique milk bun bread stack and prawn toast lollipop to start, through an exquisite yellowfin tuna in thai broth, a stunning surprise palate cleanser, sumptuous lamb with celeriac, the prettiest of desserts, and a “treasure chest” of bonbons for a sweet finish.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 2pm; 6.30pm – 8.30pm (last seating)
Contact 021 879 6328, reservations@thewaterside.restaurant
Where to find it Pierhead Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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ROOI

Fire is the theme of One&Only Cape Town’s ROOI (Afrikaans for red) restaurant. The beautifully designed dining space uses exquisite decor to reflect the warmth, community, fire and conversation of our traditional braai, with a sophisticated sizzle of rich colours and local design. A fire-themed grillroom menu is based around sustainably and ethically sourced South African ingredients: various cuts of South African wagyu beef, aged mutton, Kalahari venison and masala-spiced kingklip. Then there are fire-cooked vegetables, grilled South Coast rock lobster and flame-grilled tuna, 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.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 6.30pm – 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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Terrarium

Chef-patron Chris Erasmus’ commitment to sustainable, organic food, from farm and forest to plate is legendary, and together with head chef Anlou Erasmus, he’s rethinking fine-dining at Terrarium. Set within the Queen Victoria Hotel in the historic Portswood Ridge precinct of the V&A Waterfront, Terrarium is an intimate restaurant space tucked away above the hustle and bustle of the harbour, its name reflecting the focus on regeneration, community and produce sourced from small, family-owned fisheries, butcheries, smokers and beekeepers. The strictly seasonal menus put a creative and often nostalgic South African spin on sophisticated and sustainable flavour combinations, with an à la carte menu of small plates and mains, as well as the eight-course Fauna or Flora tasting menus (meat-based or plant-based respectively).
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 427 5940, terrarium@queenvictoriahotel.co.za
Where to find it Queen Victoria Hotel, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Heirloom

Plush, sophisticated and comfortable, with mesmerising views over bobbing yachts to the distinctive silhouette of Table Mountain, the signature restaurant at Cape Grace creates an undeniable sense of occasion. Heirloom’s seasonal à la carte menu finds expression in the unhurried spirit and bountiful terroir of South Africa, and combines tradition and creativity as it changes with the seasons. Chef Wesli Jacobs brings a nostalgic charm to his new summer menu, which features dishes that tell a story of the land, the people and generations of culinary heritage. Highlights include fresher-than-fresh abalone sashimi; a 1kg Mozambican lobster served with biryani rice and homemade peri-peri sauce; and the authentic aromas of Karoo pap en vleis, laced with smoky braai flavours. Not to mention the superb desserts from inspired pastry chef Lorraine Meaney, including a mille-feuille milk tart.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 6.30pm – 9pm
Contact 021 410 7068, capegrace.info@fairmont.com
Where to find it Cape Grace Hotel, West Quay Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Willoughby & Co

Since the day it opened in 1996, there’s always been a queue of diners at Willoughby’s (despite its location in the middle of a mall), and for good reason. The sushi here is consistently fantastic, and the extensive menu has a variety of beautifully made Japanese and global seafood dishes prepared by experienced chefs under Singaporean head chef Sam Wong. It’s hard to choose; beyond the sushi, you’ll be tempted by oyster shooters (with sake and ponzu), salmon-belly skewers, sardines, clam chowder, rock-shrimp tempura and “The Colony” (12 of the best prawn dishes). The comfy padded booths shut out the passing traffic of shoppers and give the space a spritz of personality; if you’re after a quick bite, perch at the counter and watch the chefs at work.
Good to know Bookings are not accepted, but service is quick and efficient, so waiting for a table isn’t a big deal.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 418 6115
Where to find it Shop 6132, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

Baia Seafood Restaurant

When you put special occasion and seafood in the same Cape Town sentence, Baia has been the place that comes to mind for 25 years. Upstairs at the V&A Waterfront (temporarily relocated to the back of the mall while its original location is under re-construction), it’s got ocean views across Granger Bay to Robben Island, white tablecloths, comfortable chairs, polished service, and an upmarket ambience. Known for its top-quality fish and seafood dishes, there’s an almost overwhelming choice on the menu: fresh oysters, abalone, linefish sashimi, prawn and langoustine ceviche, chargrilled sardines, whole baby kingklip, Portuguese-inspired platters of prawns, calamari and langoustines, Norwegian salmon and West Coast rock lobster. Among our favourites are the black mussels in Riesling – surely one of the tastiest mussel dishes in Cape Town; and the cataplana – a Portuguese-style casserole of prawns, mussels, calamari and various linefish.
Opening times Monday – Wednesday, 6pm – 10pm
Thursday – Sunday, 12pm – 3.30pm; 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 421 0935, baiarestaurant@wol.co.za
Where to find it Shop 7226, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Den Anker

Touted as “the most frequented Belgian restaurant at the Waterfront”, Den Anker is always busy, which doesn’t surprise us given its consistently excellent unfussy food, professional service, and the absolutely fabulous views, especially from the terrace. This 31-year-old stalwart is perched on the quayside facing Table Mountain, where seagulls swoop, seals bask in the sun, and passing yachts and rowing boats enhance the nautical vibe. On the menu, you’ll find classics such as moules marinières (served with a side of moreish fries and mayo), steak au poivre, bitterballen, house waffles, and an exciting range of Belgian beers imported from small breweries in this Benelux country.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9.30am – 10.30pm
Contact 021 419 0249, reservations@denanker.co.za
Where to find it Pierhead, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Tang

The Cape Town outpost of the Joburg hotspot, Tang has a lavish modern-tropical aesthetic (pale oak, marble and pops of cherry blossom), suited to its prime waterside setting at the heart of the V&A Waterfront, with an alfresco terrace adjoining the buzzy central piazza. The food offering is inspired by Cantonese cuisine and Japanese izakayas, with contemporary takes on classic Asian dishes, from Mongolian beef and crispy peking duck to chicken gyoza, Korean fried chicken and wagyu steaks cooked on the robata grill.  Of course, seafood stars in splendid style: black cod miso, langoustine, soft shell crab, sashimi, sushi, lobster, caviar… An all-round luxury sensory experience (it was recently awarded Best Waterside Restaurant 2025 at the World Luxury Restaurant Awards), expect an explosion of Asian flavours, utterly gorgeous plating and fine attention to detail.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 11pm
Contact 076 652 8972 (also WhatsApp), reservationsva@tanghospitality.com
Where to find it Shop 153, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Tow
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Marble

For lofty views and a lofty scene, Marble has the drop-dead gorgeous destination feel wrapped. The Cape Town iteration of David Higgs’ celebration of fire, the 220-seater restaurant spreads over the entire top floor of the restored heritage Union Castle building (with an outside glass lift whisking you to the rarefied rooftop perch) with spectacular views of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront’s working harbour and the Atlantic Ocean. The wraparound balcony is the spot for glam sundowners in summer. The signature Marble fire-cooking style gets a touch of coastal Cape Town flavour with the freshest seafood catches fired over open coals (including the signature wood-oven prawns), and Marble’s celebrated wood-fired Chalmar ribeye remains a highlight.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 3pm; 5pm – 10pm
Contact 021 002 8484, capetown@marble.restaurant
Where to find it Union Castle Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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The Granary Café at The Silo Hotel

It’s hard to tear your eyes away from the eagle-eye views from this landmark of the V&A’s Silo District, with its multi-faceted goldfish-bowl glass walls revealing mesmering vignettes of swooping seagulls, yachts gliding through the Bascule Bridge, and shipyard dry dock activity. The café itself is a quirkily luxurious escape above the Waterfront bustle with an elevated bistro menu from chef Veronica Canha-Hibbert that is heartily delicious and unfussy. For lunch think classic steak frites, seafood curry, or a sandwich menu including a juicy smash burger. Dinner dives deeper into dishes such as miso-glazed sea bass with prawn dumpling and charred pak choi; lamb three ways with confit garlic and smoked aubergine; and easy classics such as beef tartare, and prawn chilli pasta.
Good to know Royal Tea is open to non-resident guests with a booking (Thursday – Sunday, 2.30pm – 4pm). You can also book for lunch at the rooftop bar (the highest point in the Waterfront), which offers a relaxed bar-snack menu of burgers, poke bowls, salads and sandwiches.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 670 0500, dining@thesilohotel.com
Where to find it The Silo Hotel, Silo District, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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Belthazar

The slick New York vibe of this renowned V&A steakhouse and wine bar is amplified when you look up at the stacking of iconically named wine boxes from the venue’s formidable wine collection. White tablecloths, Riedel stemware and exemplary service from well-informed waiters in white jackets and bow ties, and wide views of the harbour and Table Mountain from the terrace tables where you can dine alfresco, add to the elegant but down-to-earth appeal. A wine-connoisseur’s mecca (250 different wines are available by the glass and up to 600 in total), the menu spotlight is on steak, with an almost overwhelming choice of excellent-quality 28-day matured meat: grain-fed Karan beef; Karoo wagyu; and free-range, grass-fed beef from the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Seafood from the grill is another highlight, and there’s a menu of game steaks – from crocodile to wildebeest – for those wanting a taste of the wild.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 421 3753, info@slickrestaurants.com
Where to find it Shop 154, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
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