Fine Dining Restaurants in Cape Town
Written by
Ker & Downey® Africa
It is no secret that Cape Town is a feast for foodies with top fine dining restaurants popping up around every corner. The city is a cornucopia of culinary delights, drawing travelers from far and wide each year, offering them a smorgasbord of beauty, culture, adventure and, of course, food! Even after South Africa was dealt some of the harshest lockdowns, the foodie scene remained resilient, and Cape Town stands strong, holding its rank as one of the top culinary capitals in the world.
No visit to Cape Town is really complete without exploring some of the exceptional restaurants the city and surrounds has to offer. From casual fine dining to seasonal cooking, traditional dishes prepared with local South African ingredients, and bold flavours, no matter what culinary experience you prefer, you’ll find it in South Africa.
We’ve compiled a list of our top 10 fine dining restaurants in Cape Town for the discerning traveler looking to sample the most superb produce the city has to offer. If it’s the finer things in life you’re after, look no further than our guide to Cape Town’s top restaurants.
Fine dining restaurants in Cape Town
La Colombe at Silvermist Wine Estate
The award-winning La Colombe in the Constantia Valley is one of Cape Town’s most renowned restaurants. La Colombe is located on the Silvermist Wine Estate and serves up a contemporary French-meets-Asian fine dining menu by chef James Gaag with exceptional wine pairings and attentive service. Using the freshest seasonal produce, diners can look forward to menu options such as the signature tuna ‘La Colombe’ – a tinned miniature yellowfin tuna creation featuring micro herbs, avocado puree and an umami broth while overlooking the scenic Constantia wine valley, False Bay and Hout Bay.
Art stretches beyond the paintbrush to canvas at La Colombe restaurant at Silvermist, Constantia
The Pot Luck Club
Since opening its doors in 2012, Luke Dale Roberts’ The Pot Luck Club has been wowing patrons with modern global inspired tapas served up by Head Chef Jason Kosmas. It has been dubbed the coolest restaurant in Cape Town with its success based on its diverse menu and innovative cuisine, served in a relaxed yet edgy environment in the cultural hub of Woodstock.
It has been dubbed the coolest restaurant in Cape Town with its success based on innovative cuisine, served in a relaxed yet edgy environment in the cultural hub of Woodstock.
Some firm ‘Family Favorites’ at the Pot Luck Club include the Asian-style beef tartare served with hoisin dressing, coriander pesto and ponzu mayo, and the famous Pot Luck Club fish sliders with hake, mojo dressing and a delectable miso mayo offering an exceptional fine dining experience.
Head Chef Jason Kosmas plating his delicious global-inspired tapas at the Pot Luck Club
Belly of the Beast
Led by Chef Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart, Belly of the Beast offers diners an intimate nose to tail dining experience par excellence and is considered one of the best restaurants in Cape Town. The creative menu is a set-course taster option using only seasonal and local produce, as well as meat sourced from sustainable farmers – what’s available dictates the menu for the day. Diners can expect anything from mouth watering pumpkin risotto to delicious cured stumpnose fish or perfectly prepared gemsbok (antelope) tataki. All you need to do is show up and feast!
Belly of the Beast offers diners an intimate nose to tail dining experience par excellence
Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic
Chefs Warehouse is revered throughout Cape Town and the Winelands with restaurants in Cape Town, Constantia, Franschhoek and now the luxurious boutique hotel, Tintswalo Atlantic. Renowned chef and restaurateur, Liam Tomlin and chef Braam Beyers invite you to enjoy magnificent views and delicious contemporary tapas that draw inspiration from the Atlantic Ocean right on the restaurant’s doorstep.
Voted ‘Africa’s Best New Restaurant’ in the 2021 World Culinary Awards, this world-class eatery offers guests a multi-sensory dining experience with exceptional ingredients, innovative dishes, delicious wine, and natural beauty in abundance. It doesn’t get much better than this.
Few places in Cape Town offer dining so close to the wild Atlantic Ocean as Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic
Salsify at the Roundhouse
A collaboration between fine dining experts, Luke Dale-Roberts and chef Ryan Cole, Salsify at the Roundhouse takes guests on an opulent culinary journey accented by daring decor. Located in Camps Bay, the restaurant hosts guests in a space dating back to 1786 which has been reimagined by contemporary art and sculptures. The a la carte menu offers a wide variety of dining options boasting delicate, yet bold seasonal flavors. You can expect anything from a leg of lamb served with a mulberry and hazelnut pesto to caramelized pineapple with coconut cake and kefir ice.
The a la carte menu at Salsify serves delicate, yet bold seasonal flavors
PIER
Located in the vibrant V&A Waterfront, PIER Restaurant is a 40-seater multi-course modern fine-dining restaurant headed by acclaimed Chef John Norris-Roger of La Petite Colombe in Franschhoek fame.
The menu features the finest local produce with a special emphasis on inspiration from the ocean.
Situated in the Pierhead Building, PIER offers patrons an intimate multi-course dining experience overlooking the iconic V&A harbour coupled with fine wine. The menu features the finest local produce with a special emphasis on inspiration from the ocean like their confit mussels slowly cooked in chorizo oil or oysters poached tableside by the chefs.
Exciting modern fine-dining at PIER
FYN
FYN Restaurant is South Africa’s latest addition to the fine-dining scene in Cape Town. Under the expert guidance of Peter Tempelhoff, Ashley Moss and Jennifer Hugé, FYN serves exciting contemporary African and Japanese-inspired dishes in an industrial-chic space located in the heart of the city. Diners can expect a thrilling exploration of flavors, textures and cooking styles when they indulge in the five-course kaiseki-style menus. The open-plan restaurant blurs the line between kitchen and dining room, with the aim of creating a relaxed atmosphere for all guests. If you want to be in the heart of the action, be sure to ask to be seated at the counter where you can watch the skilled chefs doing what they do best!
The industrial-chic interior at FYN Restaurant – an exciting new addition to the fine dining scene in Cape Town | Photo Credit: Bruce Tuk
Homespun by Matt
With one eatery in Blouberg and a second now opened at Andros Boutique Hotel in Claremont, Michelin-star trained chef Matt Schreuder’s Homespun invites guests to indulge in a three- or five-course tasting menu with a twist inspired by Asian, local and global flavours. The cosy restaurant features a rustic and homely aesthetic and everything on the menu is home-made using quality, local ingredients.
Dishes are fun, creative, and packed with layers of flavor. Be sure to try the ‘Matt Special’ which comprises beautifully prepared beef fillet with wasabi ponzu and capers, paired with a crisp Springfield Life from Stone or rich Thokozani SMV. Open for dinner only from 5pm.
Homespun by Matt offers dishes inspired by Asian, local and global flavours
Aubergine
Aubergine Restaurant opened its doors in September 1996 with a vision of creating a gastronomic haven in an atmosphere of timeless elegance. Housed in the former 1830 home of the first Chief Justice of the Cape, Sir John Wylde, Aubergine is situated in the historic Gardens area of Cape Town. The restaurant is open all year round for dinner and during the warmer months for lunch when guests can enjoy meals on the lush terrace. Private dining areas are available for small groups.
Aubergine Restaurant combines a rich history with timeless elegance and contemporary style
The Conservatory at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel
The Conservatory at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel in Constantia Heights offers the epitome of a modern South African dining experience. From the indigenous bonsai on the table, to the explorative, locally-inspired fare dished up by Executive Chef, Tronette Dippenaar and team, the restaurant is an all-out celebration of everything South African making it a must visit destination for those in search of local flavours.
The dynamic kitchen team looks to the oceans, gardens, paddocks and orchards of sunny SA to find ingredients infused with meaning, and combine it to arrive at fun, inspiring dishes.
The pulsating restaurant scene in Cape Town is constantly evolving with exciting eateries opening up new possibilities in the foodie scene, offering culinary mastery that is guaranteed to leave you hungry for more. Be sure to contact your LuxVenture® Designer who will book a seat for you at one of Cape Town’s top fine dining restaurants today. No trip to Cape Town is complete without this unforgettable and indulgent add-on!
Aubergine Restaurant combines a rich history with timeless elegance and contemporary style
Beyond dining in Cape Town
Of course, South Africa’s mother city offers so much more than talented chefs offering some of the world’s best dining experiences. Once you’ve explored Cape Town’s vibrant dining scene, embark on an epic luxury safari experience to the nearby Kruger National Park’s Sabi Sands and witness some of Africa’s most awe-inspiring animals. Explore Table Mountain and enjoy panoramic views of Cape Town, or enjoy tasting experiences at some of the world’s most renowned wineries. Our luxury safari specialists can curate an incredible experience that combines the city, bush, and beach, for a once-in-a-lifetime getaway in South Africa. Contact our team today.
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