Must-see restaurants in South Africa

  • Pata Pata

    Johannesburg

    The hip crowd may have moved on, but this Maboneng classic still delivers a winning formula of rustic-chic decor, beautifully presented cuisine and…

  • Café Riche

    Pretoria

    This historic, early-20th-century European bistro overlooking Church Sq is the ideal place to sip beer and watch the South African capital roll through…

  • Moyo

    Durban

    Housed in the uShaka complex, Moyo is more novelty than quality cuisine, and makes for a fun (if noisy) night out. The concept is great – the decor…

  • Blue Cafe

    Cape Town

    In business under various owners (and names) as a cafe and mini-deli since 1904, the Blue Cafe's latest incarnation is perhaps one of its best. It's a…

  • La Sosta

    Western Cape

    Once voted the top Italian restaurant in the country, La Sosta is something special. The beautifully presented food includes treats like butternut-and…

  • Plant

    Cape Town

    As their name suggests, Plant serves only vegan food, and it's so tasty that you may become converted to the cause. Mock cheese and egg substitutes are…

  • Thief

    Johannesburg

    Just off 11th St, this easy-to-miss restaurant and wine bar is a stylish place with exposed beams and industrial touches, serving superb bistro food like…

  • Occidental Grill Bar

    Northern Cape

    With a long bar and B&W photos of old-time prospectors, this Victorian-era saloon is a fun place to pause on a Big Hole tour. Dishes include fish and…

  • River Front Estate Restaurant

    Sunshine Coast

    This friendly, offbeat barn of a place overlooking the Sundays River serves up meat dishes such as kudu, impala or ostrich fillet as well as springbok…

  • Villa Luso

    Limpopo

    The influence of the Portuguese owner can be seen on the Villa’s menu, and it's a nice little taster if you're on your way to Mozambique: seafood, buffalo…

  • Sanook Cafe

    Eastern Cape

    It's official – the gourmet-burger and craft-beer craze has reached East London, and Sanook does it particularly well. Burgers are juicy, tasty and come…

  • Next Door

    Johannesburg

    Rub shoulders with orthodox Jewish families in this welcoming kosher restaurant, which fills up quickly most evenings. The menu is all milk and fish…

  • Restaurant Vilakazi

    Gauteng

    A seductive setting complete with a breezy terrace is the draw at this well-regarded joint up the top of Vilakazi St. The chef prepares a colourful…

  • Athletic Club & Social

    Cape Town

    There are splashes of Lebanese and Italian cooking on the menu here – the tahini cauliflower is excellent. There's a particularly cosy whisky bar in the…

  • Bambanani

    Johannesburg

    Not your average eatery, Bambanani is a concept restaurant that caters for families. Picture this: at the back is a huge deck and garden area with a…

  • The Countess

    Johannesburg

    A self-described gastropub in Melville's 27 Boxes complex, the Countess is a cavernous, steampunk-style restaurant with two floors and a large patio. It's…

  • WAM Cafe

    Johannesburg

    Attached to the Wits Art Museum, this is one of the most popular cafes in Braamfontein – a slick, modern, design-led eatery with large picture windows…

  • Macau Asian Tavern

    Cape Town

    There's lots of atmosphere at this upmarket Asian eatery, with its bare brick walls and tables tucked away in multi-level nooks and crannies. The menu is…

  • Rhodes Grill

    Northern Cape

    Wear closed shoes and smart-casual dress to eat among Rhodes memorabilia in the one-time gentlemen's club he founded, now a boutique hotel. South African…

  • Carlton Café

    Pretoria

    Since 2002, stylish Carlton Café and its associated deli Delicious (you'll find it next door) have been keeping Pretorians happy with gourmet treats. It's…

  • Eat Your Heart Out

    Johannesburg

    The best spot in Maboneng to start the day. The Israeli breakfast – omelette, toasted pita, diced salad, pickled cabbage and cottage cheese – is the…

  • Bismillah

    Johannesburg

    Over in Fordsburg you’ll find the best Indian food in Jo’burg. While it's far from fancy, Bismillah is, we reckon, the pick of the lot. The menu is…

  • Addis in Cape

    Cape Town

    Sit at a low basket-weave table and enjoy tasty Ethiopian cuisine served traditionally on plate-sized injera (sourdough pancakes), which you rip up and…

  • Fushin

    Port Elizabeth

    Set in a trendily decorated dining room, this widely acclaimed restaurant run by an experienced chef serves an exquisite selection of high-quality sushi…

  • The Wharf Street Brew Pub

    Sunshine Coast

    Try beers from the neighbouring Little Brewery on the River in this 19th-century building on the old wharf, with a handsome dining room of exposed stone…

  • Ile Maurice

    KwaZulu-Natal

    For a special seaside splurge with a Gallic touch, try this chic eatery serving a variety of French and Mauritian dishes, including a range of fish and…

  • Beefcakes

    Cape Town

    Flamingos, feather boas, fairy lights, topless barmen – yup, Beefcakes is as camp as a row of tents and a fave jol (party) for groups. There's bitchy…

  • Lenmore

    Sunshine Coast

    A wide selection of salads, steaks, chicken dishes, seafood and pasta make up the menu here, but the best bet is to opt for a wood-fired pizza. The…

  • O' Peri Peri

    Johannesburg

    Portuguese food is common in Jo'burg, but few Portuguese restaurants offer the authenticity and local charm of O' Peri Peri. Hidden in an unremarkable…

  • Schwarma Co

    Johannesburg

    This Jo'burg institution is renowned for delicious platters of shwarma (meat sliced off a spit, served in pitas with chopped tomatoes), yummy kebabs and…

  • Graze by the River

    Sunshine Coast

    This eccentric spot at the back of a curio shop serves slow food, organic veg and ethically produced meat, fish and dairy products. They also roast coffee…

  • As Greek As it Gets

    Gauteng

    Stavros Vladislavic, the larger-than-life patron of this place, sits by the door welcoming guests and keeping the staff on their toes as they dish out…

  • Holy Smoke

    Cape Town

    By day, grab a table on the balcony for a lunch special with a view of Table Mountain. By night, the singing bartenders serve classic cocktails between…

  • Karoo Kombuis

    Western Cape

    This homely restaurant has been serving the same three traditional dishes since 1998 – bobotie (a lightly spiced mince dish), chicken pie and lamb. There…

  • Die Waenhuis

    Eastern Cape

    Occupying a beautifully renovated trading post in the heart of Nieu Bethesda, this atmospheric venue specialises in well-executed South African dishes,…

  • Cremalat

    Johannesburg

    Cremalat is a delightful Italian deli and cafe in an unlikely location: inside an industrial complex on the east side of Johannesburg. Cremalat offers a…

  • Victoire Bakeries

    Cape Town

    Based on the ground floor of the Speaker's Corner building, Victoire is a charming spot from which to watch the goings on in Church Sq. Aligned with the…

  • Our Yard

    Eastern Cape

    This trendy 'roastery and culture stop' serves excellent coffees, breakfasts, light meals, fruit juices, scones and cakes in a shady courtyard. The…

  • Kitchen Windows

    Sunshine Coast

    Great sea views and white stucco walls give this airy restaurant a Mediterranean island feel. It has an informal yet upmarket atmosphere and is known for…

  • Something Good

    Port Elizabeth

    This roadhouse-cum-beach bar is an excellent spot for a sundowner, with a breezy interior and beachfront decks. Dishes include gourmet pizzas, burgers,…

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