The 10 Best Cultural Restaurants In Cape Town, South Africa

Opened in 2001, the Baia Seafood Restaurant serves some of the finest seafood and rare local vintage wines in Cape Town. From sautéed prawns and black mussels to grilled calamari and line-fish bathed in garlic butter sauce, Baia’s menu presents a large selection of tantalizing seafood dishes. The exquisite cuisine is matched by the restaurant’s immaculate service and an upmarket, spacious interior. Ideally situated at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s most popular tourist destination, Baia offers a spectacular view of the city’s bustling harbor and the magnificent flat-topped Table Mountain as its backdrop. Baia’s name originates from the Portuguese word for ‘bay’, reflecting both the restaurant’s Portuguese-inspired cuisine and harbor-side location.

Baia Restaurant, Victoria Wharf, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 021 421 0953

Tucked away in the creative inner-city suburb of Gardens, The Dog’s Bollocks is a trendy and original haunt serving the best hamburgers in Cape Town. Originally a modest driveway with wire garden furniture and shabby lampshades, the Dog’s Bollocks has since become a highly popular no-frill diner of outstanding quality, attracting burger enthusiasts both young and old. With burger toppings such as garlic black pepper sauce, light blue cheese sauce with sliced pepper-dews and homemade pickled jalapenos, it is hard to stay away. Every afternoon, an eager queue gathers outside the Dog’s Bollocks, which opens its doors at 5pm sharp and closes immediately after the 50th burger has been ordered.

Dog’s Bollocks, 6 Roodehek Street, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 083 440 7843

Situated at the foot of the majestic Table Mountain in the famous Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, Moyo is a charming and reputable restaurant serving an original assortment of pan-African platters. One of the house specialties is the Sunday lunch buffet, made up of fresh salads, homemade breads, Moyo’s famous potjies (traditional stews) and chicken and vegetable tagines, alongside other irresistible delights. Moyo’s trademark face painting and live traditional dancing and singing during the meals add to its exceptional ambiance. After a hearty meal, take a relaxed stroll through Africa’s most beautiful botanical gardens or stay till sunset and catch a live weekend concert.

Moyo, Kirstenbosch Gardens, 99 Rhodes Drive, Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 021 762 9585

Situated at the top of Long Street, Cape Town’s most vibrant and artsy street, Café Mojito is the ideal place to stop by for a cocktail after a sun-kissed day on the beach. Enjoy Mojito’s legendary happy hour cocktail menu that runs daily from 4pm to 7pm serving a fantastic selection of cocktails such as Strawberry Daiquiris, Green Iguanas and different spins on the Cuban Mojito. A Cuban-style bar with a tropical feel, Mojito’s also serves great Carribean-style dishes including nachos, house salads and jerk chicken. Find a spot next to the window or outside on the sidewalk, sip on a cool cocktail, and observe the start of Long Street’s night adventures, as crowds of local residents and tourists stream onto the popular street.

Café Mojito, 265 Long Street, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 021 422 1095

A local favorite in the suburb of Sea Point, La Boheme Wine Bar & Bistro offers an affordable gourmet experience in a cozy and friendly environment, and is within walking distance to the Atlantic seaboard. La Boheme’s eclectic menu changes daily and features hearty, elegantly served meat, fish and vegetable dishes, accompanied by home-made pasta and bread. The restaurant also has an impressive wine list of more than 60 carefully selected wines, available by the glass, and a tapas menu, perfect for sharing or as a light snack option.
La Boheme, 341 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 021 434 8797