Must-see restaurants in South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)

  • Boschendal at Oude Bank

    Stellenbosch

    A vibrant bakery and bistro priding itself on locally sourced ingredients. The menu features salads, sandwiches and mezze-style platters, as well as fresh…

  • Hemelhuijs

    Cape Town

    A quirky yet elegantly decorated space – think deer heads with broken crockery and contemporary art – showcases the art and culinary creations of Jacques…

  • Serendipity

    Garden Route

    Readers and locals all recommend this elegant restaurant with a deck overlooking the lagoon. The South African–inspired menu changes monthly but always…

  • 101 Meade

    Garden Route

    Whether you're after freshly baked bread and good coffee to start the day, inventive tapas plates to share at lunchtime or heavier evening fare like…

  • Mundo Vida

    KwaZulu-Natal

    Enjoy seafood and bistro fare in unpretentious surroundings at this excellent coastal restaurant, where traditional recipes have a modern twist. For a…

  • Glen Carlou

    Winelands

    The food at this stylish winery is on a par with the views: magnificent. Dishes, such as pan-roasted sea bass, Parmesan mousse and lamb shoulder with…

  • Karoux

    Winelands

    Well known for its gourmet cuisine and attentive service, this is one of the Western Cape's best small-town restaurants. The menu changes regularly but…

  • Hickory Shack

    Western Cape

    This smokehouse has quickly gained a huge following for its slow-cooked and perfectly seasoned meats and Texan-inspired sides like corn salad, baked beans…

  • Kyoto Garden Sushi

    Cape Town

    Beechwood furnishings and subtle lighting lend a calm, Zen-like air to this superior Japanese restaurant with an expert chef turning out sushi and sashimi…

  • La Petite Colombe

    Franschhoek

    The award-winning Cape Town restaurant has opened a breezy sister branch here. The French-inspired menu comes in seven- or 12-course versions and you can…

  • Rust en Vrede

    Stellenbosch

    Expect innovative dishes like rabbit-leg wontons or beetroot chocolate fondant at this stylish winery restaurant. Book ahead.

  • 4Roomed eKasi Culture

    Cape Town

    As gourmet as it gets in Khayelitsha with the lovely Abigail Mbalo, a self-taught cook and former contestant on SA's MasterChef TV show, in charge. Expect…

  • No.7 Restaurant

    Lesotho

    Attached to the NGO Kick4Life and its hotel, No.7 pumps its profits back into Kick4Life’s charitable work and the team includes young locals training for…

  • eDladleni

    eSwatini (Swaziland)

    Delicious food, a serene setting and cracking views – if you’re after an authentic Swazi experience, eDladleni is hard to beat. Here you can tuck into…

  • Reverie Social Table

    Cape Town

    With just one long wooden table seating up to 18, and the charming chef and host Julia Hattingh in charge, it's easy to see why this place is called…

  • Fusion Gardens

    Northern Cape

    Specialising in traditional cuisine like oxtail, snoek (a type of mackerel), tripe and trotters and chicken's feet, Fusion offers a welcome break from…

  • Andalousse

    Cape Town

    Hiding in plain sight along a sketchy stretch of Victoria Rd is this little gem of a place. Started in 2016 by a group of friends from Morocco, this is…

  • Haricot’s Deli & Bistro

    Sunshine Coast

    Eavesdrop on faculty gossip at Grahamstown’s best place to eat, which is simultaneously a relaxed courtyard cafe and refined restaurant. The menu drips…

  • InFood Deli Bakery & Deli Restaurant

    Sunshine Coast

    The sandwiches, burgers and other food at this cafe, bakery and deli are far from ordinary. This is not surprising, considering the owner-chef’s…

  • Edge Restaurant

    Eastern Cape

    The charming garden restaurant at the Edge serves French toast with local berries and Hogsback's best coffee for breakfast, recommended wood-fired pizzas…

  • Sky Restaurant

    Lesotho

    Africa's highest restaurant (3010m) overlooks the slopes at Afriski Mountain Resort and reflects the resort's international sheen with its stylish wood…

  • Sambane Coffee Shoppe

    eSwatini (Swaziland)

    If you need to re-energise after a bout of shopping in the adjoining handicrafts outlets, there's no better place than this delightful cafe. It has a fine…

  • Nina’s

    Sunshine Coast

    Most locals recommend vibey Nina's, with its quirky decor of surfboards and coastal scenes around a paper-disc chandelier. Seafood abounds on the wide…

  • Tea Under the Trees

    Winelands

    The only downside to this fabulous tea garden is that it's only open for half the year. Based on an organic fruit farm, it's a wonderful place to sit…

  • Massimo’s

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    There's pasta and spuntini (tapas-style small plates) on offer, but the wood-fired thin-crust pizzas are Massimo’s speciality – and very good they are,…

  • Ocean Jewels

    Cape Town

    Fish straight from Kalk Bay Harbour is served at this seafood cafe and fishmonger that supports the South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI)…

  • Blindiana Barista

    Winelands

    The coffee machine here is manned by Joseph Matheatau, South Africa's first blind barista. The cafe is owned by Kaleidoscope, previously known as the…

  • Tables at Nitida

    Cape Town

    The barn-like contemporary restaurant at Nitida winery is a pleasant spot to enjoy delightful dishes ranging from burgers to pasta, as well as cheese and…

  • Blue Crane

    Pretoria

    As part of the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Blue Crane is famous to ornithologists worldwide (and anyone else who enjoys a cold Castle lager at sunset),…

  • Tauren Steak Ranch

    Northern Cape

    Meat-lovers rejoice: Tauren serves steaks weighing up to a kilogram, with a host of delectable sauces. The menu also features burgers, a few vegetarian…

  • Mzansi

    Cape Town

    As much a cultural experience as a gastronomic one, Mzansi rates highly among travellers. Food is served buffet-style and features some traditional dishes…

  • Cafe Zest

    Northern Cape

    Locals swear that Zest serves the best coffee in town. It also has one of the most appealing menus, featuring salads, seafood, a decadent chicken dish…

  • Kleinsky's Delicatessen

    Sea Point to Hout Bay

    A hip homage to classic New York Jewish delis, Kleinsky's is a great casual daytime option, offering dishes such as toasted bagels with smoked salmon or…

  • The Brewery & Two Goats Deli

    Eastern Cape

    Across a bridge from the main part of the village is this charmingly rustic farmhouse on a working dairy farm, where you can sit under the trees sampling…

  • Two Olives

    Port Elizabeth

    One of the most attractive restaurants in Richmond Hill, Two Olives serves a range of Spanish-, Portuguese- and Greek-inspired dishes in its busy dining…

  • Ferdinando's

    Cape Town

    Bookings are required for this charming 'pizza parla' that's found its natural home in Obs. Diego is the pizza maestro and Kikki the bubbly host and…

  • Willeen’s Restaurant

    Western Cape

    You can sample true local cooking at this restaurant overlooking the ocean in Kassiesbaai. It's a cheap and very cheerful place serving South African…

  • Maestro's on the Beach

    Cape Town

    This all-day dining operation has a grand beachside position with swoon-worthy views of Table Mountain. The broad menu includes plenty of seafood, steaks,…

  • Tsitrus Cafe

    Eastern Cape

    Hallelujah! Storms River finally gets the cafe it so deserves. This atmospheric place offers tasty meals, including delicious pancakes and pizzas, as well…

  • Kaai 4

    Garden Route

    Boasting one of Mossel Bay’s best locations, this low-key restaurant has picnic tables on the sand overlooking the ocean. Most of the dishes – including…

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