The foodie scene in Cape Town has exploded over the past couple of years and visitors are flocking to the city in search of its great café culture, fine-dining restaurants (at affordable prices) and diverse nightlife scene
Coffee shops and cafes
With great coffee shops situated on just about every street corner, those in favour of the freshly ground brew will be spoilt for choice in Cape Town.
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Bread, Milk and Honey on Spin Street is a hotspot in the mornings, and besides a good cuppa, you’ll find a good breakfast buffet. Loop Street’s YoursTruly (above) is set inside a Victorian-inspired building and is surrounded by a clutch of art galleries. It’s all about steaming flat whites at this cute coffee house, which at night transforms into a buzzing eatery and bar. The team at Haas sources fine blends from Brazil and Indonesia and it’s a popular joint on bustling Buitenkant Street.
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Truth Coffee Roasting (above), located in the heart of the city, is famous for their specialities such as the Resurrection Blend Flat White. Roastery tours and tastings are available, too. There’s a roster of trendy cafes to be discovered in the city as well. Our top two include Manna Epicure which is known for its all-day breakfasts (the smoked salmon trout and avocado on coconut bread is a must-try), Scandi-chic interiors and a lovely selection of teas. And at Olympia Cafe and Deli which is situated in Kalk Bay, all sorts of baked goodies are made on a daily basis and the corn fritter breakfast special is sublime.
Fine fare
Luke Dale-Roberts is perhaps Cape Town’s most pioneering chef, and the biggest player, in the city’s fine-dining arena. Nouvelle cuisine is given a South African twist at his Test Kitchen (below) set in the Old Biscuit Mill complex. This award-winning outlet has featured on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list along with a multitude of noteworthy accolades. Sister restaurant The Pot Luck Club, which is situated just upstairs on the sixth floor of a silo, has a more casual menu with small plates designed for sharing while you take in spectacular city views.
Yuzu Kitchen & Bar (main photo) is a relatively new outlet on Kloof Street. Its presentation of Western and Eastern fusion food is innovative with well-known chef Rikku Ó’Donnchü behind the concept. The culinary team at La Colombe (below) showcases canteen-style fine dining and serious foodies will also appreciate the kitchenware, recipe books, exotic ingredients and even chef apparel which is all for sale on site.
The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel is home to Greenhouse which is a must-visit for all gastronomic gurus. Peter Tempelhoff, one of two Relais & Châteaux Grand Chefs in South Africa, designs the sumptuous dishes at this sophisticated spot.
Bars
As great as the restaurants are in Cape Town, there is a lot to be said for the equally good bars. Long Street is always the best place to start as it’s flanked by a variety of happening drinking holes. Neighbourhood Restaurant, Bar & Lounge and The Waiting Room are two of our favourites and Julep just around the corner on Vredenburg Lane makes the cut, too.
Other noteworthy hangouts include SurfaRosa (which launched this February and has a charming outdoor patio), 24-seater bar Outrage of Modesty (above) which is famed for its cocktails, The Willaston Bar at The Silo Hotel and The Gin Bar – one of the country’s only true speakeasy bars, that’s accessed through a chocolate cafe.
– TEXT BY TIFFANY ESLICK
PHOTOS: THE TEST KITCHEN FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, LA COLOMBE RESTAURANT FACEBOOK, OUTRAGE OF MODESTY FACEBOOK, YUZU KITCHEN AND BAR FACEBOOK
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
