The Top Restaurants In Pretoria South Africa

Pretoria is well-known for its warm hospitality and Jacaranda trees, but less appreciated for its dining. From fine dining to popular bustling eateries, Pretoria’s dining presents a fusion of local South African flavors and international dishes. Here are ten of the best restaurants in Pretoria, South Africa.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

La Pentola

Restaurant, French, Italian, Mediterranean, $$

Since 1995, La Pentola has been featuring outstanding international cuisine with French, Italian and Mediterranean roots, merged with South African flavors. This is a fusion cuisine restaurant that offers a menu marked by the creativity and savoir-faire of the renowned chef Shane Sauvage. La Pentola uses the freshest ingredients sourced from local farms to present a wide range of specialties, from soups and salads to seafood and meat dishes, including beef, chicken and duck. La Pentola has also a superior range of vegetarian dishes. Its delicacies can be accompanied by in-house desserts and award-winning wines.

Geet Indian Restaurant

Restaurant, Restaurant with Rooms, Indian, Contemporary, Vegetarian, $$
Geet is an prize-winning family-run Indian restaurant located in Pretoria’s Brooklyn neighborhood. The venue is owned by the nationally celebrated chef and restaurateur Gita Jivan, who was the first Indian woman to open and own an establishment of this caliber in South Africa. Its menu is devoted to the Indian philosophy of using natural seasonal flavors in dishes that combine classic techniques with creativity and innovation. The freshest ingredients are put together with exotic spices in delicious recipes that honor the name of this restaurant: the word ‘geet’ in Hindi means ‘melodious poem’. Geet Indian Restaurant masters all styles of Indian cuisine together with a great care and attention.

Crawdaddy’s

Restaurant, Restaurant with Rooms, North American, South African, Steakhouse, $
Famous for its steaks, seafood, chowders and nourishing curries, Crawdaddy’s comfort food is a benchmark for locals and tourists. This bustling restaurant with colorfully decorated walls presents a vast and diverse menu characterized by generous portions and unusual flavor combinations. Opened in 1995, Crawdaddy’s offers great value and excellent quality for casual dining in a trendy atmosphere. Crawdaddy’s has three venues across the city (Brooklyn, Menlyn and Centurion). Bookings for all of them are highly recommended, especially at weekends.

Hillside Tavern

Restaurant, Seafood, Steakhouse, $
Hillside Tavern opened its doors in 1989, and since then it has built a solid reputation as one of the best grill-houses in South Africa. This popular restaurant is a traditional meeting point for all those who want to enjoy an outstanding steak, the Hillside’s signature dish. With an impressive and well-selected wine list, this award-winning steakhouse presents simple and comforting food in a cozy environment. Hillside Tavern’s interior has dark lighting, with retro decor, wood ceilings and exposed panels.

De Kloof

Restaurant, European, Vegetarian, Contemporary, $$
De Kloof is committed to creating memorable dining experiences. Its menu is based in organic and locally sourced produce, from free-range meat to fresh seafood, homemade ice-creams and freshly baked breads. De Kloof’s menu changes on a monthly basis to offer the best of the season, merging local influences with classic European techniques. Its wine list embraces old favorites and new discoveries, featuring local and international wines of excellence. De Kloof is a restaurant to enjoy modern contemporary food with high quality ingredients and culinary creativity.

Kream

Restaurant, Continental, Sushi, $$
Kream, situated in the Brooklyn Bridge Complex, is a renowned restaurant that offers an outstanding menu with a wide range of continental delicacies. Traditional biltong and venison fillet are the star dishes from the a la carte menu. Kream is a gourmet restaurant with a solid reputation, a sophisticated atmosphere, an elegant flair and an impeccable service. Its extensive wine list is complemented by a rare whiskey and cognac selection, along with an impressive variety of desserts.

Zest Bistro

Bistro, Restaurant, Vegetarian
Zest Bistro specializes in fresh produce and bistro-style unpretentious, hearty food. This family-run restaurant is devoted to offering good, simple food, with a constantly changing menu and a short and well-selected wine list. Zest Bistro is a cozy, chic restaurant with a romantic atmosphere. It is famous for its friendly ambience and great cuisine. Nestled in Menlo Park, Zest Bistro has a must-try signature dessert: the burnt lemon tart.

Fumo

Restaurant, Italian, Mediterranean, European, $$
Fumo is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Italian-born chef Claudio Uccello is committed to offering classic and authentic dishes from his country of origin, using the finest and freshest ingredients. Homemade pastas, wooden-cooked pizzas and sophisticated main courses are some of the options from Fumo’s extensive menu, along with delicious desserts and a varied wine list. Fumo offers a contemporary, sophisticated yet relaxed atmosphere for an extraordinary European-style dining experience.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.