Gourmet meals in a relaxed family atmosphere between guided horseback rides through beautiful wild life reserves can hardly be beaten, even for novices, young or old. A holiday or eating experience that is out of this world.
Horizon Horseback Adventures and Safaris, Triple B Ranch, PO Box 791, Vaalwater, 0530 , South Africa.
Tel: +27 (0) 14 755 4003
Pizzeria with a difference. Arrive early or late- it is very small and gets packed quickly. Delicious and cheap pizza by the slice in a great area for a few drinks, not far from the Nouveau Casino club and bars such as Le Café Charbon.
2 Bis Rue Neuve Popincourt, 75011 Paris
+33(0)1 43 38 12 00
Google map: bit.ly/lrRbMy
Encompassed with breathtaking views, Phantom Forest is nestled high above the picturesque coastal town of Knysna, just a few hours scenic drive east of Cape Town along the Garden Route. Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff and a cluster of luxurious yet surprisingly affordable eco-treehouse suites set amongst an enchanting 137-hectare nature reserve.
Eating here is an adventure in itself. Wander through the forest canopy trails along interlinking wooden boardwalks to the forest buma, an al-fresco fire-deck wilderness viewpoint and restaurant, where a delicious choice of breakfast is served, as well as an entertaining 5-course dinner, with a range of award-winning delights including fresh local oysters.
A highly memorable dining experience under the south african night sky - one not to be missed.
Unexpectedly good Middle-Eastern restaurant. A great combination of flavors create really super dishes. Friendly staff and good decor, but the food is really the star here. Not cheap, but definitely worth a visit.
New super-cool home of the Guthrie Theater. I hear the plays are great, but the building is something special. Architect is Jean Nouvel. An endless bridge points over the Mississippi and the building sits beautifully within this newly renovated mill-working area. Stunning and serene. (And there's a fab seafood restaurant there too.)
With a name like Razzmatazz, you might expect a menu of '80's fare; maybe some avocado and a prawn cocktail? Well, the only thing this restaurant underneath the Cabana Beach Hotel inspires from the 80's, is a name Wham would be proud of. The food and the setting, unlike the former, are simply timeless.
The calamari is so tender, one's jaw barely works out and the seating on the deck looks straight beyond Umlhanga's busy seafront onto the serene Indian Ocean.
This may be the restaurant that you encountered in the '80's, smart waiters in ironed waistcoats, caraffs of red wine and blue gingham table cloths; but with its specialism in seafood and game, the menu is far from dated. Indeed the food is far more progressive, try the crocodile kebabs or the langoustines, steamed with lemongrass for a signature taste of South Africa.
10 Lagoon Drive
Cabana Beach Hotel
Take the M4 from Durban or the M12 from Pietermaritzburg and travel towards Umhlanga.
Take the Lighthouse Road turnoff and proceed into this road. Turn left into Lagoon Drive
and proceed to the Cabana Beach Hotel.
Google map: tinyurl.com/yaxf7x4
Royale Eatery & Royale Kitchen
The best burgers and Cape Town. Buzzy, great atmosphere and perfect location where you can rub shoulders with the "who's who" in Cape Town.
273 Long Street, City Bowl, Cape Town
Phone number: 021-4224536
Google map: tinyurl.com/y9lj4a5
It's a fish and chip shop, with outdoor barbecue tables, insanely happy serving staff willing to guide you through a totally unrecognizable menu of fish names - very funny if you don't mind them laughing at your accent - huge portions, and the best chips on the continent, all eaten out of paper,serve yourself salt and proper vinegar, (but no peas). Entertainment supplied by local kids competing with the seagulls for spare chips. Awesome view of Chapmans peak and an inlet to the Atlantic, the drive from Cape Town to and over and around Chapmans peak is stunning, especially the last 20 minutes before Hout Bay, an amazingly bend filled road which will generate plenty of adrenalin to fuel the hunger required to make respectable damage to the portions. Fish on the Rocks has become a bit of a family tradition, we generally buy two meals for every three adults, and a bag of chips between two kids - after 40 minutes we are all stuffed and surrounded by equally stuffed seagulls.
Yellow building at the end of Harbour Road, Hout Bay, Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town
Tel +27 (0)21 790 0001
Attica is superb, unbelievable, different, wonderful and challenging.
In a quiet suburb, south east of the city (better known for its majestic National Trust mansion), Attica is breaking the ground rules for dining in Melbourne and gaining a very good reputation and two or three hats in local dining guides.
Attica presents food that is challenging - their after mains course called 'Terroir' consists of beetroot, limes, berries and flowers and is a prelude to various desserts, one of which blows you away - a tumbler of sauternes custard berries and toffee.
The service is exemplary and professional beyond belief. Attica hands the diner a wine list of great length with a selection of wines, local and international.
The degustation menu (on Friday and Saturday evenings) presents diners with two entrees and seven mains and a dessert dish, presented and explained over three hours of dining.
An astonishing dining experience
not cheap but absolutely worth it
Hidden in a discreet alley off Hermanus' main street - so discreet that we almost gave up and had pizza - Marimba Rhythms is a welcome opportunity to taste genuine pan-African food in authentic feeling "township chic" surroundings. Traditional food is surprisingly difficult for tourists to find.
The menu varies with the seasons - indeed there is no printed menu, it is brought to you on a big blackboard. We were able to share a "Taste of Africa" platter - Angolan feijoada, Moroccan lamb, peanut stew, Cape Malay bobotie and samosas, spicy sausage and chicken wings, rice, and South Africa's traditional staple, mealie meal.
All this at significantly lower prices than tourists in the Cape will be accustomed to. The cafe also sells locally made art and crafts. Our meal here was a highlight of our two-week stay around Cape Town.
9 Royal Lane,
The alley is hard to spot - it's opposite Vodashop on the high street.
Phone: 028 312 2115
A busy restaurant (book in advance) underneath the Bazar hotel offering a reasonably priced North African, Turkish and Iranian menu.
Plenty of bars, cafes on Witte de Withstraat to let your grilled chicken kebab and couscous settle, afterwards.
A word of warning though, tried to add 'tourist tax' of a couple of drinks we did not have. Shame, as is put a dampner on an otherwise enjoyable Bazar experience.
Kalk Bay is a picturesque little fishing town tucked away on the Cape Town coast. The Brass Bell is on the seafront with a beautiful view out to sea.
My Capetonian partner took me there a few years ago. It was one April evening and one of the clearest skies Ive seen anywhere in the world, you could see millions of stars.
Book a table by the window like we did, and you can watch the tide come in over the harbour and out again.
You can't visit Cape Town without tasting some of the fresh seafood, and The Brass Bell is a great place to do it!
We had delicious tuna steaks and fresh calamari.
In my opinion, it's the best place to have a romantic meal or even a few bottles of Stellenbosch wine with friends in South Africa.
The Brass Bell Restaurant
Telephone: +27 (21) 788 5455/6
Most people wanting a meal out in South Africa's winelands head to the tourist hotspots of Franschoek and Stellenbosch. But travel a little further down the N1, via the stunning Du Toitskloof Pass (worth a trip in its own right), and you will find this fantastic little place. The Bistro is upstairs, and spills out onto a balcony looking straight over the Slanghoek mountains and the vineyards on the valley floor. There is a wonderful sense of space, and of escaping the crowds on the Cape Town side of the mountains.
The food is wonderful (sandwiches etc or full meals, all beautifully prepared), the service always friendly and attentive, and the wines (by winemaker Ivy Du Toit) are a treat. (You can buy bottles at a fraction of the price of Franschoek vineyards). I can recommend the sparkling Rose!
This was our favourite place when we lived in and travelled around SA - for good food in peaceful, beautiful surroundings, you can't beat it.
This is a fantastic gay-friendly bistro and bar which offers hearty food in an ambient setting, in the heart of the trendy Waterkant neighbourhood. The locally-sourced fillet steak is so good we went back twice during our stay.
The resident live act, Three Tuns of Fun, is a trio of singers with, how shall I put it, fuller figures, who belt out a mixture of Motown classics and acapella numbers straight out of the townships. Makes for a memorable trip every time.
We had an absolutely fantastic meal here, and certainly the best we had in our month in South Africa. It is an Italian restaurant but with a South African twist (I tried Gemsbok).
During the summer there are tables outside, but as we were there during the winter they had a roaring open fire.
It is really popular with the locals but is quite a small place so we recommend booking before you go.
The prices were very reasonable, working out to be about £10 for a main course when we went during August 2009. There were a couple of a couple of different pasta dishes avaiable but we tried the Gemsgok which was just beautiful.
The staff were brilliant - attentive and friendly but not too pushy. They were enthusiastic about explaining the food they had on the menu.
They also have accommodation available, although we didn't stay there so can't comment.
Swellendam is a two hour drive from Cape Town.
If you like eating seafood in sight of the sea, then Enrico's is the place for you. As their T-shirt strap-line says "Any closer and you'll get wet". Enrico's is perched on the cliff-edge where you can feel the spray from the breakers while you're tucking into your crisply-fried calamari. The restaurant provides typical italian fare in its cosy interior, but when the sun's out, the outside tables in view of the surf are packed. Service is prompt and enthusiastic.
Cape Town should be re-named Sushi City - we lost count of the number of Japanese style outlets. That didn't stop us trying quite a few, but the best we tried was Balducci's 'Royal Sushi Bar' at the V&A waterfront. The sushi bar is separate from, but next to, their traditional italian restaurant, in a sort of sushi-Tardis with seating either at low tables or stools in front of the chefs where you can point out your favourite sushi rolls directly. For lunch, we tried the Royal Platter which is a mixture of sushi rolls and sashimi, washed down with a a couple of Japanese beers (me) and a glass of S African sauvignon blanc (girlfriend), all for a total of R330 (about £28). Bliss!
The ChocoPass is your passport to the endless seductions of chocolate: gianduiotti, pralines, cakes, biscuits, ice cream and hot chocolate. The taste of superb chocolate awaits you in Turin's historical cafés and patisseries. The coupons offer you 22 tastings to be savoured in three days for only € 12.
Check out Guido Gobino, Via Lagrange 1.
Butcher Boys is a steak house for people who are passionate, committed carnivores. Although they offer seafood, chicken and salad dishes, they specialise in game and beef steaks (in a variety of ages). Skip straight to "The Butcher Knows Best" section of the menu. The prices, service and taste leave the likes of Aberdeen steakhouses in the dust!
TIP: don't eat lunch if you plan to go there for dinner. Save the space for something special instead.
The whole of Franschhoek to eat! There are so many good restaurants with a variety of settings to suit a multitude of tastes. It is an extraordinary village for foodies. Here are some of the restaurants I would choose, being a regular visitor:
La Petite Ferme Restaurant – a Franschhoek Instiution. No one comes to Franschhoek without eating here. Do it on the first day because it sets the scene for your visit, and possibly a hangover. The views take your breath away and the temptation is there to lie on the grass and order one bottle after another. It is beautifully situated along the pass road, spectacular views and really good food. Recently voted top 10 in Wine Magazine - open for lunch only. email@example.com. 00 27 (0)21 876 3016 Tel Book Early!
Reuben’s – wonderful restaurant, centrally situated with modern interior, shady courtyard and trendy bar area. I love a lazy lunch in the summer under the mist spray and it's difficult to drag yourself away. Famous Reuben Riffel voted Chef of the Year 2005 and Restaurant of the Year 2005. The menu is modern French cuisine with cosmopolitan influences and a choice of a contemporary or a more classical menu. firstname.lastname@example.org 00 27 (0)21 876 3772 Book Early!
Le Quartier Francais – Famous Chef, Margot Janse (Chef of the year 2003 & 2004) Top 50 Restaurants in the World 2007. TASTING ROOM: Elegant and more formal dining – 4/6 and 8 course meal with wine carefully selected for each course. ICI – a la carte bistro restaurant with deliciously simple and fresh food. If you want the full works you must eat at The Tasting Room. I can only do it once every six months. She gets amazing flavours and Margot is just fantastic. Ask her to come to the table if you like www.lequartierfrancais.com Book Early! 00 27 (0)21 876 2151
Bouillabaisse – Camil & Ingrid’s classy Champagne and oyster bar and seafood deli on the High Street in Franschhoek . This vibrant new 'front-cooking' eatery combines freshly prepared favourites like bouillabaisse and gourmet seafood tasters with the decadence of the world’s most sought after treats, like Beluga and Fois Gras. Watch Camil and his team prepare a daily selection of seafood delights in his stylish open kitchen to be sampled as tasting portions, made a meal of or taken away to be savoured later.
The kitchen is open all day from 10am to 10pm, on offer will be a variety of fish and seafood tasters encouraging guests to create their own menu. www.bouillabaisse.co.za Book Early! 00 27 (0)21 876 4430
French Connection - bistro style venue with excellent food and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for something easy - open both lunch & dinner . 00 27 (0)21 876 4056
Haute Cabriere - elegant dining in their cellar restaurant with award winning Chef, Matthew Gordon - wines are offered per course - open both lunch and dinner. 00 27 (0)21 876 3688
Le Bon Vivant – Dutch Chef making his presence felt in Franschhoek. Excellent European cuisine with superb presentation. Portions are not too large - open both lunch and dinner. 00 27 (0)21 876 2717
Mont Rochelle – Mange Tout. Another beautifully situated hotel/restaurant. Outside dining available, formal, elegant dining - open both lunch and dinner. 00 27 (0)21 876 2770
Mont Rochelle – The Country Kitchen. One of my favourites, popping in for a glass of wine and a plate of tapas. Unpretentious simple food and one of Franschhoek’s hidden gems. Has a great view from the ‘other side’ of the valley. 00 27 (0)21 876 3000
Topsi & Co - a delightful dining experience – Topsi is a wonderful character and she and Alidi prepare simple uncomplicated meals from only the freshest produce she can get her hands on. She has two, sometimes 3 African Grey parrots that wander around and mumble away to themselves. You do have to bring your own wine – open both lunch and dinner. 00 27 (0)21 876 2952
Bread & Wine - situated on Môreson wine farm, here the chef smokes his own meats and fish, his wife bakes the best bread this side of the mountain and the wines are a compliment to the whole setting - relaxed, easy going and very casual - open lunch mainly but occasional evenings Book Early! 00 27 (0)21 876 3692
Grande Provence Restaurant – Probably the most stylish restaurant in Franschhoek. An excellent kitchen and nouvelle cuisine dining. Situated on the Grande Provence Wine Estate 3 km from the centre of the village. Open Lunch and Dinner daily. Take a browse through the beautiful art gallery just before dinner. Home of Agusta wines and the well known Angel’s Tears. Private Dining room available upon request. www.grandeprovence.co.za 00 27 (0)21 876 8600
Vineyard Brasserie – Run by La Petite Ferme team and located in a corner of Franschhoek overlooking the orchards. Lovely and quiet, but minutes walk away from the main road. Indoor and outdoor seating and lawn. Friday night in Summer comes alive with the sound of jazz. Book early as numbers often exceed 250. 00 27 (0)21 876 3420
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