Welcome back to your number one website for all things Cape Town. Whether you’re a local looking for a new adventure or you’re planning your first trip to Cape Town. I am Liv, your local Cape Town bestie, and I’m here to give you all the best recommendations for this beautiful city I am lucky enough to call home. This is my 4th annual Cape Town Foodie Guide, and as always it is jam-packed with my favourite restaurants in Cape Town. This list is far from exhaustive but includes the restaurants I think need to be on your reservation list for 2026. These have all received my foodie stamp of approval and are well worth your time and money. If you are looking for even more recommendations (including some firm favourites from previous years) then make sure you check out my previous Cape Town Foodie Guides for some of my other top picks: my Cape Town Foodie Guide and Cape Town Foodie Guide 2024, and Cape Town Foodie Guide 2025.
Best restaurants in Cape Town 2026: Cape Town Foodie Guide
2026 Cape Town Foodie Guide: Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Cape Town
The Foodbarn, Noordhoek
The Foodbarn made it on my Best Restaurants in Cape Town: 2025 Cape Town Foodie Guide for their small plates dinner experience. While it still remains one of my favourite restaurants for a special occasion, I also wanted to highlight their breakfast/brunch menu. It is such a gorgeous spot to go and sit in the sunshine and enjoy the people watching offered by Noordhoek Farm Village. I absolutely loved their Turkish Eggs. They also have the most deluxe sounding Eggs Benny Royale with prawns, salmon trout, truffle hollandaise and salmon caviar!!! View the full breakfast menu here.
Trading hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 8am-9:30pm
Sunday-Monday 8am-3pm
Contact: 021 789 1390
Sonnekus, St James
Sonnekus is a boutique hotel in the sleepy seaside town of St James in the Deep South. They’re open Monday to Sunday for Breakfast and Lunch with an A La Carte Menu. It is located on the main road and has gorgeous views of the sea from the windows. The interiors are beautifully curated and it is a true oasis. Come here for a moment of zen and start your day the right way. They also offer a high tea for R475 pp which I would love to try! This looks like such a gorgeous place to stay so if you are wanting to spend a few days in the St James/Kalk Bay area then definitely book your stay here.
Trading hours:
Monday – Sunday | 8am – 5pm
Contact 021 140 7854
Bob’s Bagels, Kalk Bay
Bob’s Bagels is a humble and wonderful local spot tucked away in the back streets of Kalk Bay. The bagels have the perfect level of chewiness you want in a bagel and their prices are nice and friendly on your pocket. Make sure you check them out after your next Dalebrook dip!
Trading hours:
Monday-Friday 7:15am-3pm
Saturday & Sunday 7:15am-4pm
Contact 074 230 1738
The Stranger’s Club, Green Point
The Stranger’s Club is a delightful cafe in a beautiful old Green Point home. They serve up excellent coffee, all the classics you’re after on a breakfast menu and their space is beautiful. They also have all sorts of local products for sale in different corners of the house making it a lovely boutique-cum-restaurant.
Trading Hours
Monday – Friday:
9am – 4pm
Saturday (and public holidays):
9am – 2pm
Ohana Cafe, Kalk Bay
Ohana Cafe in Kalk Bay is an oldie but a goodie. It’s located right next to the ocean with tables and chairs on the beach sand and they serve up some amazing breakfasts. Their eggs benny is incredible and I also loved the vegetarian brekkie with added halloumi.
Trading Hours:
Monday-Sunday 7:30am-3pm
Contact 021 054 6340
Tryn, Steenberg Estate
Tryn is a gorgeous high-end restaurant located at Steenberg Estate. It is set amidst the beautiful gardens and offers a terrace seating with vineyard and mountain views. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner options. We opted for the more affordable breakfast and loved it. It was a lovely morning spent in the tranquility of the Constantia winelands. They also have a 3 course summer menu for R695 per person.
Trading hours:
Monday – Sunday 8am-10pm
Contact: 021 713 7178
2026 Cape Town Foodie Guide: Best Lunch Spots in Cape Town
Chelsea Deli, Wynberg
Chelsea Deli has been on my list of spots to try FOREVER and I am so glad I finally checked out this hidden gem. Located in the charming Chelsea Village of Upper Wynberg, Chelsea Deli is a suburban sanctuary. They serve up 14 different bagels with their top pick being the ‘The Boss Bagel’ with cream cheese, pastrami, bacon, brie, pickles, tomato, greens & jalapeno relish. They also have the classics like salmon & cream cheese or a pickle, mustard & pastrami bagel. Their seating is in a lovely green garden and it is very peaceful and quiet. Check out their full menu here.
Trading hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30am-4:30pm
Saturday 8:30am-2:30pm
Contact: 069 620 8898
Bennett’s Deli, Constantia
Bennett’s Deli is a hidden gem in Constantia Village. They serve up the most delicious focaccia sandwiches that you just have to try! My favourites are the Bennett with Smoked free-range beef brisket, homemade mustard, pickles, caramelised onion, lemony rocket, parmesan, and cracked pepper and The Trout. They also have a Friday smash burger & beer special which is worth checking out. Check out the full menu here.
Trading hours:
Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5pm
Saturday 8am – 5pm
Sunday 8am – 5pm
Contact: 066 268 6116
Tintswalo Summer House Eatery, Glencairn
Tintswalo Summer House is the new additon to the Tintswalo collection. Decorated in ‘Tintswalo pink’, the newly refurbished hotel is absolutely exquisite! The designer, Camlyn Johnson, has been bold with colours, patterns and unique pieces, bringing together the most gorgeous space with incredible ‘dopamine decor’. Ahead of the hotel’s opening in April 2026, the Summer House Eatery launched in December 2025. With the same feel-good design and a beautiful menu, Summer House Eatery is the perfect spot for a special occasion. Their house wine is made by Lomond Estate and they have a lovely selection of cocktails and mocktails. The menu is filled with Mediterranean flavours with a focus on fresh seafood and high quality meat and fresh salads. Some of my favourite dishes include the burrata salad, fire-cooked prawns, whole fish with lemon, caper & dill butter, garlic & rosemary lamb and halloumi with hot honey & sesame. The dark chocolate mousse with extra virgin olive oil and sea salt flakes was absolutely to-die-for! All the dishes are designed to be shared. Ordering a few dishes for the table is the perfect way to celebrate this beautiful food with friends and family. Explore the full menu here.
Book your table here.
Trading hours:
Monday – Sunday 12pm – 9pm
Contact: 021 773 0220
The Kraal at Joostenberg
The Kraal at Joostenberg offers the most stunning seasonal farm-to-table lunch in the winelands. They have a menu that changes every week depending on what’s in season. The restaurant tables are nestled in between old stone walls, fruit trees and olive trees. Currently the menu cost is R565 per adult, R200 per child 5-12 years old and no charge 4 years & under. They are only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for lunch with bookings essential as they only cater for the number of pre-booked guests. The dining style is family feast where dishes are brought for the table to share. Our menu included fresh bread, whole baked aubergine with feta and chimchurri, a pancetta salad, olive tapenade, slow roasted lamb, potato wedges and roasted greens. We ended off with a strawberry pavlova, chantilly cream and raspberry sorbet. They also have a beautiful accompanying wine list. I personally loved the Joostenberg Estate Fairhead 2024 which you can also buy by the glass.
You can book your table on Dineplan.
Trading hours
Friday-Sunday 12pm – 2:30pm
Contact: 079 641 1320
2026 Cape Town Foodie Guide: Best Dinner Spots in Cape Town
Mexicola Locale, Hout Bay
Mexicola Locale is the most gorgeous Mexican restaurant in Hout Bay. The restaurant is colourful and characterful with stunning views of Chapman’s Peak from the outdoor seating area. They have a wide variety of margaritas on offer including a spicy marg, pineapple marg and raspberry marg. Our favourite menu item was the cordero quesobirria which are slow cooked lamb & mozzarella tortillas with a lamb jus dipping sauce. The Baja fish tacos were incredible and the carne locale nachos were also a hit. I think Mexicola strikes the perfect balance between authentic Mexican flavours and a smaller-plate style of dining, allowing you to sample a range of dishes rather than committing to just one large main – all while not being too fiddly or overpriced. They also have a branch in Woodstock but we loved visiting the original in Hout Bay and all the charm that came with it.
Trading hours:
Monday – Thursday 5pm-10pm
Friday & Saturday 1pm-11pm
Sunday 12pm-10pm
Contact: 066 152 9757
Book your table here.
The Melting Pot, De Waterkant
The Melting Pot always used to have a restaurant in Elgin. For the longest time it was on my foodie bucket list but we just never quite got there. And then the unimaginable happened – they closed down! So you can imagine my relief and joy when I heard they were reopening, this time much closer to home in De Waterkant. The Melting Pot is run by a couple of travellers with a big focus on street food inspired dishes from around the world. It’s relaxed and casual but the flavours are bold and well worth the hype. Their menu changes seasonally, shaped by the freshest produce available, but you can always look forward to something local and lekker. My highlights were the West Coast Mussels and the Crack Fried Chicken Wings – next level yummy! The setting is equally gorgeous, spilling onto the cobbled sidewalk of De Waterkant beneath tree canopies strung with twinkling lights. This spot has to be on your Cape Town Foodie bucketlist for 2026!
Trading hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 12pm-2:30pm and 6pm-9:30pm
Contact [email protected]
Book your table here.
Maru Korean Steakhouse, Bree Street
Maru is the latest addition to the PAN Collection of restaurants. Opening in December 2025, they are the hottest new restaurant in Cape Town. With a definite fusion twist on traditional Korean cuisine, their menu is bursting with flavour. They offer both Korean Fried Chicken buckets and the Butcher’s Experience which is a take on Korean BBQ. Both of these feast experiences are accompanied by a range of Korean sides including consumme, scallion salad, savoury egg souffle, noodle salad and signature sauces. I would recommend doing a half and half butcher’s experience & by the bucket fried chicken to share with someone as you get an amazing variety of different dishes to try and it comes in at R1000 for two people. The vibe is trendy, transporting you to the modern city of Soeul. They offer champagne and oyster specials and have an extensive cocktail menu. Check out their full menu here.
Book your table here.
Trading hours:
Monday – Sunday 12pm – 10:30pm
Contact:
021 109 0039
Aegir Project, Noordhoek
Aegir Project in Noordhoek returns a second year in a row as a firm favourite for Luke and I. They serve up some of the finest craft beers in Cape Town, have gorgeous sunset views of the beach and have a ‘that slaps’ menu. Their burgers are all incredible on Hokkaido-style milk buns, freshly baked in-house. My favourites are the Abalobi fish burger and the KFC burger. Their pizzas are Neapolitan-style, sourdough bases with bold and trendy flavours. Luke loved his Salami Hot Pot pizza with hot honey, salami and ricotta.
Definitely pull through for a taste of the laid-back Noordhoek vibe and a crisp craft beer. Check out their menu here and my review reel here.
Trading hours:
9am – 11pm, every day
Contact:
+27 66 587 9324
Travelling to Cape Town? Make sure you purchase an e-sim for your trip. Use my code OLIVIA7947 for 3$ off
The Deli Social, Hout Bay
I reviewed The Deli Social last year when they first opened and they quickly became my new favourite brunch spot in Cape Town. They have an all day breakfast menu as well as bagels and foccacia sandwiches. They recently expanded their offering to include a wine bar and small plate dining on Thursday to Sunday evenings. We tasted their new menu and absolutely loved how each dish heroed the vegetables with our favourite Mediterranean flavours. We particularly loved the whipped feta with hot honey, pistachios and sourdough and the Crema Catalania dessert. They have also recently started their Courtyard Sessions with live music. This spot is lovely for a laid back date night.
Trading hours:
Monday- Wednesday 8am-5pm
Thursday – Sunday 8am – 9:30pm
Contact: 063 702 7119
Book your table here.
Mai Thai Sushi, Gardens
Mai Thai first featured on my Cape Town Foodie Guide in 2022 and I decided it needed a reiteration because it honestly is the best sushi at the best prices. We always go for the all-you-can-eat sushi buffet. For R259 per person you can eat as much sushi as your heart desires every Wednesday and Saturday 12:30- 21:20. The deal includes 8 salmon roses per person (!!!), all their sushi from the kitchen and conveyor belt and a selection of dim sum, springrolls and starters. Their sushi is really delicious and the setting is atmospheric.
Trading hours:
Mon- Sun 12:30-9:30
021 465 5846
Make sure you check out the rest of my site for top Cape Town recommendations.
Planning a trip to Cape Town and need a place to stay? For budget travellers check out Never at Home, Kloof Street. Book a stay at Gorgeous George for beautiful interiors and a funky rooftop bar. Or stay at or Kloof Street Hotel to be in the heart of the city.
Browse Booking.com for countless accommodation options:
