The 10 Best Restaurants on Wine Farms in the Cape

“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilised pleasures,” said Michael Broadbent, the late British wine critic and writer.

And we couldn’t agree more, particularly if you happen to be doing so on one of the Cape’s spectacular wine farms, with breathtaking views and a relaxed rural ambience completing the picture.

Our dilemma is this: with over 300 wine estates dotted in and around Cape Town – from Constantia and Durbanville to Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl – where does one even begin?

We’ve whittled down the list to the best of the best – our 10 favourite wine-farm restaurants – so that all you have to do is hop in your car, and follow the scent of nectar.

Have you enjoyed a meal at a wonderful wine-farm restaurant that you think we should know about? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below.

Franschhoek
Stellenbosch
Somerset West
Constantia

The best restaurants on wine farms in Franschhoek

La Petite Colombe

A veritable jewel in Franschhoek’s culinary crown, La Petite Colombe remains one of the most coveted dining experiences in the Cape. Situated at Leeu Estates wine farm, the sibling of Constantia’s superlative La Colombe is a relaxed yet refined and flawlessly five-star eatery helmed by chef Peter Duncan. A theatrical array of superb dishes flows out of his kitchen – from oysters and crayfish to a delectable sweets trolley. The dazzling presentation, professional service and a smart wine list create a sense of occasion that makes dining here very special. The full Chef’s Experience and the Reduced Menu (lunch-only) both offer vegetarian options.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 202 3395, reservations@lapetitecolombe.com
Where to find it Leeu Estates, Dassenberg Road (off the R45), Franschhoek
Book through DinePlan

Orangerie Restaurant

Located on Le Lude estate, Orangerie’s French-inspired interiors create a soothing and sophisticated atmosphere in which to enjoy creative cuisine. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from surrounding forests, meadows and mountains, chef-proprietor Nicolene Barrow draws on her classical French training (from Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London), adding a contemporary spin to create a varied assortment of dishes. Think duck liver parfait, apple chutney and warm toasted brioche; fresh West Coast mussels, steamed in Le Lude Brut finished with a gremolata crème; and pan-fried duck breast with braised lentils, baby spinach, smokey bacon lardons, duck jus, orange and rosemary dust.
Good to know Afternoon (or morning) tea with Le Lude’s cap classique is a real spoil. Book 24 hours in advance as the kitchen prepares the confectionaries on the morning of the tea.
Opening times Tuesday – Wednesday (+ Thursday from 6 October 2023), 10am – 3pm
Friday + Saturday, 10am – 3pm; 6pm – 8.30pm
Sunday, 12pm – 3pm
Contact 021 876 2961, info@lelude.co.za
Where to find it Le Lude, Bowling Green Avenue (Lambrechts Road), Franschhoek
Book through DinePlan

The best restaurants on wine farms in Stellenbosch

Rust en Vrede Restaurant

Rust en Vrede is one of those quintessential Winelands experiences that every discerning gourmand worth their weight in confit needs to experience at least once. Housed within the estate’s historic 1785 cellar, with its gables, thatched roof and original yellowood ceilings, the restaurant has been consistently rated by local and international chefs as one of the finest places to eat since it opened in 2007. In charge of the open-plan kitchen is chef Fabio Daniel, whose contemporary French cuisine, in frequently changing six-course set menus, is flecked with flavours from his Brazilian and Italian heritage. Sommelier Gregory Mutambe puts the finishing touches to the experience with masterly pairings of the finest Cape and international wines.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 6.30pm – 11pm
Contact 021 881 3757, dining@rustenvrede.com
Where to find it Rust en Vrede Estate, Annandale Road, Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

The Table at De Meye

It’s the stuff of Winelands fantasy and the epitome of la dolce vita: long, sybaritic lunches in the countryside with people you love, delicious home-cooked food and good stuff to drink. Husband-and-wife team Leigh Williamson and Brendan Thorncroft offer an honest-to-goodness experience on the beautiful (yet under-the-radar) De Meye wine farm. Under the trees in a charming garden, guests tuck into a set three-course sharing menu of refined, slow-cooked, comforting dishes that change often, depending on what’s in season. In cooler weather, the historic whitewashed farmhouse with conservatory addition and wood-burning stoves is an equally attractive setting. It’s the kind of place you’ll return to time and again.
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 5pm (closed Wednesdays in winter)
Contact 072 696 0530, bookings@thetablerestaurant.co.za
Where to find it De Meye Wine Farm, Muldersvlei Road, Klapmuts, Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

Gåte at Quoin Rock

On the slopes of the majestic Simonsberg lies Quoin Rock Wine Estate, home to Gåte (a Norwegian word meaning “riddle”, pronounced “gah-tay”). It’s an architecturally striking, light-filled space that seats just 40 fortunate diners. With head chef Paul Prinsloo at the reins, you can expect creative plating and complex layers of flavour; dishes not only showcase the freshest seasonal ingredients but often echo natural forms and shapes. Each is an adventure of discovery. There are three tasting menus (five-course, seven-course and vegan), with optional wine pairings that elevate the food to dizzying heights.
Opening times Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm – 2pm
Friday – Saturday, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 888 4750, gate@quoinrock.co.za
Where to find it Quoin Rock Wine Estate, Knorhoek Road (R44), Stellenbosch
Book through DinePlan

Clara’s Barn

Chef and restaurateur Bertus Basson has turned a centuries-old barn on Vergenoegd Löw wine estate into a characterful fine-dining venue. The historic Cape Dutch thatched building, complete with weathered rafters and oversized barn doors, houses a welcoming bar-lounge area and a spacious restaurant with tables flowing outside onto the verandah, two fireplaces and a carving station. Envisaged as a modern South African farm kitchen, the 5-course tasting menu riffs on nostalgic SA farm classics and sometimes obscure local and wild ingredients, which all get a refined modern tweak from chef and co-owner Drikus Brink.
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday,12pm – 4pm
Thursday – Saturday, 6pm – 10pm
Contact 021 202 4372, claras@vergenoegd.co.za
Where to find it Vergenoegd Löw Estate, Old Faure Road (M49), Stellenbosch
Book Through DinePlan

The best restaurants on wine farms in Somerset West

Idiom Restaurant

Lying on the slopes of majestic granite mountains, and cooled by winds from the Atlantic Ocean, the vineyards at Idiom Wine Estate benefit from a unique combination of climatic conditions, resulting in a spectacular and award-winning range of wines. In 2016, after 10 exceptional vintages, the Bottega family opened a restaurant on their estate – a glass-walled space that combines old-world Roman architecture and contemporary design with an outdoor terrace that boasts spectacular views. The food features a delightful mix of Italian and South African cuisine in the Idiom Signature experience, a three-course gourmet lunch with the option to wine-pair. You can also choose from the short à la carte menu of individual dishes, such as sirloin burgers and risotto. Or try the drool-worthy selection of wood-fired pizzas inspired by various regions of Italy.
Good to know There’s also a breakfast menu.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9.30am – 4.30pm
Contact 021 858 1088, reservations@idiom.co.za
Where to find it Idiom Wines, Da Capo Vineyards, Off Old Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, Somerset West
Book Through DinePlan

Chorus Restaurant

The name certainly evokes the angelic and rapturous… and the setting at Chorus truly is heavenly. High on the slopes of the Schapenberg above Somerset West, Waterkloof Estate’s famous glass-box dining space is an architectural marvel, hovering over the vineyards above the hilltop cellar with views to False Bay far below. Here Bertus Basson offers four- and six-course menus inspired by fine local ingredients and cuisine (including his famous soufflés) – what he refers to as “simple, focused, seasonal cooking”, and what should really be called a masterful symphony of flavour.
Hot tip There’s also a lounge serving Waterkloof’s superb biodynamic wines with snacks from the Chorus kitchen.
Opening times Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 2pm
Thursday – Saturday, 6.30pm – 8pm
Contact 021 858 1491, info@chorusrestaurant.com
Where to find it Waterkloof Estate, Waterkloof Drive, off Sir Lowry’s Pass Road, Somerset West
Book Through DinePlan

The best restaurants on wine farms in Constantia

Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia

This perennially buzzed-about restaurant, suspended above the famous vine-clad valley on Beau Constantia wine farm, offers a 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 celebrated restaurateur Liam Tomlin) has concocted an array of imaginative dishes with an emphasis on freshly harvested produce, and added an inspired injection of global flavours. Coupled with the open kitchen, pared-back interiors, spectacular setting and world-class wines, this is an unforgettable dining experience.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 2pm, 6pm – 8pm (last seating)
Sunday, 12pm – 2pm (closed on Mondays in winter)
Contact 021 794 8632, cw@beauconstantia.com
Where to find it Off Constantia Main Road (M41), Constantia Nek, Cape Town
Book Through DinePlan

Beyond Restaurant

Taking pride of place on Buitenverwachting wine estate, Beyond is a sophisticated dining destination where everything – from the slow food approach and use of seasonal produce to the service, views and wine – is out of the top-drawer. At Peter Tempelhoff’s second establishment (the laidback country cousin of innercity FYN) large windows frame the vineyards and remind you of nature’s bounty, so beautifully celebrated on the plates. Comfort and elegance are the draw here together with the unpretentious à la carte menu of honest, feel-good dishes elevated to fine-dining standards.
Opening times Wednesday – Saturday, 12pm – 2pm; 6pm – 8.30pm
Sunday, 12pm – 2.30pm
From 1 November 2023: Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – 2pm
Tuesday – Saturday, 6pm – 8.30pm
Contact 021 794 0306, info@beyondrestaurant.co.za
Where to find it Buitenverwachting, 37 Klein Constantia Road, Constantia
Book Through DinePlan

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