The A To Z of food
In Cape Town, you need never eat at the same place twice. There are dozens of online listings of the newest and the best – we can’t mention them all, but here is some food for thought
‘My long-time favourites are Casareccio in Hout Bay, Four & Twenty in Chelsea Village and The View@ Chart Farm in Wynberg.’ – CaTherIne hofmeyr
A is for Asian braaiing – Korean at Chopsticks & Table in New Church Street, and Japanese (aka robata) at Tomo in Loop Street (there’s an Asian tea garden upstairs too). B is for upper Bree Street, which sparked off the CBD’s culinary craze. It has now spread into nearby Loop, Long and Buitengracht (and the side streets in between). Park your car and explore. C is for Coco Safar in Sea Point: a coffee roastery, pâtisserie and chocolatier, h is for Hout Bay,
for surprises like Nippon Sushi, Deez Mexican and The Workshop (smallest pub in Africa) and the classics: Dunes, Chapman’s Peak Hotel
and Mariner’s Wharf.
I is for our Big Five of ice cream: JB’s in Simon’s Town, Ice Dream in Hout Bay, San Marco at the Waterfront, The Creamery
microbrewery for botanical drinks, plus the most romantic tapas and a unique two-hour ‘dessert bar experience’. d is for Dunkley Square, tucked away in Gardens, home to Maria’s (opened 1955) and Roxy’s Late Night (opened 1990) which is open all day too. Plus Jessy’s Waffles. The best dinner-and-a-movie date? Nonna Lina or Societi Bistro, near the vintage Labia Theatre. (Woodstock, Newlands, Mouille Point), and soft-serve cones at Fish Hoek beach. J is for Jason Bakery, maker of marvellous ‘doughssants’ (Saturday mornings only) and more. Outlets in Bree Street, Green Point and Buitenkant Street, plus Maison J croissant café e is for the East City Precinct, around Buitenkant and Harrington streets. Don’t miss
Charly’s Bakery, Diaz Tavern, New York Bagels, Swan Café for French crêpes, Holy Smoke and Truth Coffee Cult. f is for foodhalls. Try the Eastern Bazaar in Darling Street, the Food Market at the Waterfront and
The Iron Works in Salt River. G is for gatsbys, a Cape Town speciality. The best are from Cosy Corner in Ottery Road, Wynberg (according to our designer, Achmat Booley). in Camps Bay Pick n Pay. K is for the hotspot right now: Kloof Street and Kloof Nek. New kids on the block include The Moveable Feast, EatStanbul, Dark Horse (tapas on the rooftop) and Unfiltered beerhouse. L is for Lebanese food, a rarity in Cape Town – find it at Rafael in Sea Point. L is also for lunch-only: a simple three-dishes-daily choice at Chefs (St John’s Street, Gardens), with communal tables
and no faffing or Table Seven Deli’s lunch-ofthe-day (at the Salt Orchard in Salt River). M is for markets
– start with the Friday-night favourites:
The Fort Food Truck Market (Granger Bay), Blue Bird Garage (Muizenberg) and Bay Harbour Market (Hout Bay). N is for off-the-touristtrack neighbourhoods: Woodstock’s Roodebloem Road, Harfield Village’s 2nd
Avenue, Little Mowbray’s
Durban Road are all lined with eateries. In Rondebosch,
Piri Piri does real Moz-style BBQ and Haru has authentic Korean ramen. Also seek out
O’ways Teacafe in Claremont and the Montebello Centre in Newlands. O is for Obi, sushi master Papa San’s restaurant in Long Street. Also much-loved Observatory spots: Pancho’s (the original Mexican), 1890 (for conveyer-belt sushi), Cafe Ganesh, Sticky Fingers and
The Wild Fig. P is for the Peninsula’s circular road-trip of deliciousness. Stop at Yoffi Falafel in Muizenberg, Kalk Bay icons Harbour House and Cape to Cuba, Neptune’s Galley at the Simon’s Town yacht club, Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie and Noordhoek Farm Village. Q is for joining the queue (get there early) for these no-bookings hotspots: Chefs Warehouse in Heritage Square and Thali in Gardens (both do eight-course tapas to share) or The Commissary (next to The Shortmarket Club and run by the same people). R is for The Roundhouse above Camps Bay – home to Salsify, part of star chef Luke Dale-Roberts’ stable, and The Lawns – perfect for alfresco sundowners. S is for Sea Point’s culinary scene, which is buzzing again. Start with Posticino’s (some say the best pizza in Cape Town) and the Mojo Market. (See also ‘Y’.) S is also for singing waiters at
Stardust (Sir Lowry Road). T is for splurge-worthy
tasting menus by top chefs. Book ahead for FYN, Grub & Vine, Myoga, La Mouette, La Colombe, Belly of the Beast, Janse & Co, Signal, Greenhouse, Nobu… U is for under-the-radar hidden spots: So Cal Bar, through Jarryd’s (75 Church Street) and up the stairs on weekend nights; Shio, at the Grey Hotel in De Waterkant, for astonishing modern Asian tapas; street-food-inspired
The Melting Pot above Honest Chocolate at 64 Wale Street. V is for vegan, the latest trend. Start with Lekker Vegan (in Kloof Street and Harrington Street) for fast/comfort foods, even gatsbys. Also try
Raw and Roxy and
Plant. A meal with possibly the best view?
Azure at the Twelve Apostles Hotel. W is for Woodstock/ Salt River, home of the famous Neighbourgoods Market, but do explore further to find The Kitchen, Woodstock Exchange and
Woodstock Co-Op, food trucks at Salt Circle Arcade and SA’s first Ceviche Bar (inside Corner Store). W is also for wine: 15 estates in the Constantia Valley plus
Cape Point Vineyards and urban winery Dorrance in Heritage Square. X is for the edgy X-factor: The Dog’s Bollocks
– famous for its burgers – has moved into the Yard (Roodehek Street, Gardens), joined by Mucky Mary’s and The Bitch’s Tits. Y is for yummy treats in Sea Point: Crumbs & Cream (ice-cream cookie sandwiches), My Sugar! (chocolates and milkshakes) and The Dairy Den (soft serve and donuts). Z is for zebra, the mascot of Striped Horse craft beer – its home is a quirky pub and grill of the same name in Muizenberg. Other breweries: Devil’s Peak, Brewer’s Co-Op, Stone Circle, Urban, Metal Lane.
‘My new discovery is Salt in Kalk Bay – go for calamari and the zucchini tapas. Dalebrook Café in St James does really good breakfasts, and Olympia Café for almond croissants.’ – Louise Topping