Cape Town Food: A Foodie's Guide to South Africa's Mother City

Cape Town food is a mash-up of braai smoke, Cape Malay spice, and fresh Atlantic seafood, and if you're a foodie like us, you'll eat well here every single day.

From traditional dishes at a Saturday market to a proper sit-down dinner with an ocean view, there's a Cape Town restaurant for every mood and budget.

Here's everything we ate (and loved, or didn't) across our time living in the city.

What to Eat and Drink in South Africa?

The must-try South African specialties are the Braai, Bobotie, Boerewors sausage, and the famous Cape wines.

Braai

A Braai is a traditional South African barbeque, and it is a social event that brings people together. It is an essential part of South African culture, and it involves grilling meat, sausages, and vegetables over an open fire. If you want to experience a Braai, you can head to a local park or beach and join the locals.

Two men stand by an outdoor brick grill with a fire, enjoying the spirit of Cape Town food. One man holds tongs and smiles; the other playfully puts his socked foot near the fire while holding a wooden utensil. Trees and bushes are in the background, adding to the relaxed atmosphere reminiscent of gatherings centered around South African cuisine. — *Braais are a lot of fun, until you try to be like me and roast marshmellows on it (right).*

A man in a green tank top grills food outdoors at night, holding skewers and turning them over a barbecue, savoring the flavors of authentic South African cuisine reminiscent of Cape Town food. — *Braais are a lot of fun, until you try to be like me and roast marshmellows on it (right).*

One of the first things we learned on our trip down the Garden Route was how to Braai. Once we started, we were hooked.

Bobotie

Bobotie is a spicy lamb and beef stew that is made with fragrant spices and vegetables and covered in an egg custard. It is a popular dish in South African households, and you can find it in many restaurants but even pre-made in the supermarket.

While Ryan was not so much of a fan, calling it a dessert with minced meat (comparing it to the meat-filled trifle Rachel made in that long-ago Friends episode), but I admittedly liked it a lot, picking it up a few times from the local Kwikspar.

A glass baking dish with a golden-brown baked casserole, topped with four bay leaves, sits on a rustic wooden table—a classic example of South African cuisine often enjoyed in Cape Town food circles.

Boerewors Sausage

Boerewors sausage is a traditional South African sausage that is made with beef, pork, and spices. It is often served with pap (maize meal) and chakalaka (a spicy vegetable relish). I usually love sausages but this one was way too salty for me.

A coiled grilled sausage surrounded by roasted potato wedges, cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, and green onions on a metal tray—a hearty dish that captures the vibrant flavors of South African cuisine.

Wine

South Africa is also known for its wines, especially the famous Cape wines. Some of the most popular wines include Pinotage, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc and you can find some good wineries just at the gates of the city like the boutique wine farm Beau Constantia.

For an even larger selection of wines and wineries, you can head just under an hour outside the city to the gorgeous towns of Stellenbosch and Franschoek (you must try the wine tram).

A scenic view of rolling green hills, vineyards, and winding paths under a clear blue sky, with distant trees and the ocean visible on the horizon. — *The stunning Beau Constantia winery, just outside of Cape Town.*

Where to Eat in Cape Town: Our Favorite Restaurants and Food Markets

If you're visiting Cape Town and looking for great places to eat, there are tons of options. Here's how we'd break it down by category.

Cape Town Food Markets

The Old Biscuit Mill

One of the trendiest, hippest spots now is The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock which offers a Saturday and Sunday market filled with food stalls rocking cuisines from all over the world, complete with a DJ keeping the energy up while you work through Korean, Zimbabwean, or lobster rolls. You can find food from other African countries here, making it a must-visit destination. We tried the Zimbabwean food and it was damn good (along with some oysters and bubbly)!

Two men sit at a wooden table indoors at the bustling Old Biscuit Mill, eating from trays of food. One wears a red tank top, the other a camouflage tank top. People dine and vendors serve food in the background, capturing the casual and lively atmosphere often recommended in Cape Town food guides as one of the best restaurants experiences in town. — *You'll find literally every kind of food at the Old Biscuit Mill market.*

Six oysters on the half shell with various toppings and a lemon wedge in a paper tray, next to two cups of sparkling beverage on a speckled table. — *You'll find literally every kind of food at the Old Biscuit Mill market.*

If you are only in town for a few days and are looking for a tour that will allow you to track down the best of Cape Town's food scene, check out this tour.

Oranjezicht Food Market

If you're looking for another food market (these seem to be omnipresent during Cape Town's summers), you'll definitely want to check out the Oranjezicht Food Market at the V&A Waterfront. This is the fancier version of a food market and offers a wide variety of gourmet foods from everywhere.

Best Restaurants for a Nice Dinner in Cape Town

La Perla

For a more upscale dining experience, consider visiting La Perla. This Mediterranean-style restaurant is situated on the ocean with a terrace that provides a beautiful view of the sunset. They offer a decent selection of Italian food with a ton of South African wines.

If you're in the mood for Japanese food instead, there are two great restaurants to choose from.

Best Of Asia

Our first experience at Best Of Asia Green Point during load-shedding was surreal and a bit frustrating. We didn't realize why the conveyor belt that typically brings guests endless amounts of sushi was not functioning due to the power outage, but despite that, the food was still top-notch and fresh. The best part? It's incredibly affordable! For just 12 euros, you can enjoy their buffet, and even get to choose a Chinese dish to add to your meal. Just don't go during load-shedding 🤣. We made this a typical after-gym Monday tradition.

Tjing Tjing House Rooftop Bar

Tjing Tjing House Rooftop Bar has a fancy balcony in the CBD district, but a much classier take on Japanese than Best of Asia.

Quick Bites and Casual Cape Town Eats

Rockpool

For a laid-back atmosphere, Rockpool in Sea Point is a popular spot with holiday vibes and frozen margarita beer cocktails called "coronaritas."

Three people sitting at a wooden table in a sunlit restaurant, smiling and enjoying large drinks with mini beer bottles inside. The background shows windows, other diners, and cars outside, capturing the vibrant atmosphere and sense of Cape Town’s safety for visitors. — *The very dangerous Coronitas at Rockpool.*

Breakfast, Coffee, and Brunch Spots

For breakfast or lunch, check out the Bootlegger Coffee chain of restaurants or Tiger Milk... which grills a banging burger and fries (their slogan is sickeningly Dude Food Made Real Good, though).

Two men sit at an outdoor restaurant table with burgers, sweet potato fries, and beer, smiling and making playful faces for a selfie. Black umbrellas and a building are in the background.

A breakfast plate with sausage, bacon, poached egg, sautéed mushrooms, roasted tomatoes, a slice of toast, and a small dish of butter on a wooden table.

A plate from Jason Bakery at the Old Biscuit Mill features a breakfast sandwich topped with egg, melted cheese, and bacon, served with fresh greens. A cup of coffee and condiments are visible on the black table—an inviting scene for anyone exploring a Cape Town food guide in search of the city’s best restaurants. — *The various dreamy breakfasts/brunches you'll find at Bootlegger Coffee, Tiger Milk, and Jason Bakery.*

More Cape Town Food Spots Worth Trying

Other notable mentions include Cause And Effect for fab seafood platters and cool cocktails, Blondie for a fancy cocktail bar with a Mediterranean selection of tapas, Cushty Neighbourhood Deli for fresh salads and a couple of decent work-friendly tables if you can snag one, and Empire Asian Restaurant for authentic Chinese food.

A platter with grilled shrimp, steak, rice, fries, grilled chicken, sautéed calamari, a lemon wedge, and a bowl of sauce is served alongside wine and water on a blue table. — *The seafood platter at Cause and Effect always hits right.*

If you need a place to work and chill during the day, the Nourish'd chain is popular (and super vegan and hipster), but we prefer the colonial-style open-air restaurant in the must-visit Green Point Park, Park Cafe.

Finally, don't leave Cape Town without trying KFC (no link needed... they are everywhere) after a drunken night out 🤣. It's popular here, and the chicken is kind of boiled and less fried than other KFCs I have experienced, which makes it maybe healthier (no evidence to support this claim, though)?!? They also serve the chicken with a bowl of gravy (with a small amount of mashed potatoes plopped inside), and the fries are a hit with the spicy salt!

If you are hangry for more, we mention a few other places in our A Digital Nomad's Guide to Cape Town, South Africa post and even go into our accidental fine-dining experience in Exploring South African’s Fine Cuisine Scene: Cape Town's Restaurant on the Pierhead. And for everything else worth doing between meals, our full guide to things to do in Cape Town has you covered.

FAQs: Cape Town Food

What food is Cape Town known for?

Cape Town is known for braai (South African barbecue), bobotie, boerewors sausage, and Cape wines like Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. The city also has excellent food markets serving cuisines from across Africa and beyond.

What is a Cape Town braai?

A braai is a traditional South African barbecue and social event that involves grilling meat, sausages, and vegetables over an open fire. Restaurants like The Butcher Man in Green Point offer a braai experience if you don't have access to a grill yourself.

Where are the best food markets in Cape Town?

The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock (Saturdays and Sundays) and the Oranjezicht Food Market at the V&A Waterfront are the two best-known food markets, both packed with stalls covering multiple cuisines.

Where's a good restaurant for a nice dinner in Cape Town?

La Perla is our pick for an upscale dinner, with an oceanfront terrace, sunset views, Mediterranean-style Italian food, and a strong South African wine list.

Where can I get good Japanese food in Cape Town?

Best Of Asia in Green Point is an affordable sushi buffet, while Tjing Tjing House Rooftop Bar offers a classier take on Japanese food with CBD views.