It’s that time of the year again when everyone is filled with Christmas cheer and dieting takes a back seat until January. In Cape Town, you’ll find that most restaurants and wine estates offer a special Christmas Eve dinner or Christmas Day buffet lunch. Here we’ve rounded up a host of top-notch restaurants that are offering delicious festive feasts.
Towers Restaurant
Hotel Restaurant, Vegetarian, European, South African, Sushi
Join Towers Restaurant with the entire family for an impressive dinner buffet on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Four different stations will be set up to delight the culinary senses for a memorable occasion. After receiving your welcome drink, you can enjoy favorites such as line fish, roasted leg of lamb and turkey, glazed gammon and much more. On the dessert side, mince pies, trifle and Christmas pudding are definite highlights. Vegetarian options are available on request.
Hotel Restaurant, Vegetarian, Vegan, South African
Enjoy your Christmas lunch or dinner alongside a private marina with breathtaking views of Table Bay at Tobago’s. Embrace the Christmas spirit by singing along to Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve before tucking into a sumptuous meal from the buffet. On Christmas Day, a buffet lunch will include live entertainment and a welcome drink. Santa Claus will also make an appearance to hand out gifts to good little boys and girls. If you can’t make it to Tobago’s over Christmas, they’ve planned a Boxing Day braai buffet which includes live entertainment. Kids between the ages of five and 12 pay half price and under fives eat for free at all three events.
Reverie Social Table is a proudly South Africantabled’hôte style eatery located in the quirky neighborhood of Observatory, Cape Town. With a focus on social dining, chef Julia Hattingh welcomes guests to sit around her bespoke 18-seater table to enjoy a five-course meal exclusively created for them, accompanied by carefully selected wines. The restaurant’s intimate setting is perfect for those who love food, wine and great company. For Christmas Eve dinner, something extra special has been planned to give patrons an unforgettable dining experience.
For a South African spin on your usual Christmas celebrations, join Spier for a spit braai and live jazz on Christmas Eve. Unwind and munch on a pita bursting with slices of Karoo lamb roasted to perfection. There’ll also be plenty of fresh salad and vegetables from the Spier garden. On Christmas Day, celebrate with a three-course meal in the manor house courtyard. Enjoy a welcome drink, and then head to the Harvest Table crammed with festive season favorites. Delight in the velvety sounds of the jazz trio, while the kids play in the supervised area on the bamboo lawn. Alternately, enjoy Christmas lunch in true farm style at Spier’s farm-to-table restaurant, Eight. A bountiful harvest table will offer festive-inspired dishes, all made with ingredients freshly sourced from the farm and nearby areas.
Boutique Hotel Restaurant, South African, European, Vegan, Vegetarian
If you’re looking to get away from the city, consider Christmas Eve dinner or lunch among the vineyards and plum orchards of the Grand Roche Hotel in the picturesque town of Paarl, a 45 minute drive from Cape Town. Bosman’s will be hosting a five-course gourmet dinner with live music to keep you entertained. On Christmas Day, a superb buffet will be served in the Manor House. The Mix will provide live music while children’s activities will keep the little ones entertained.
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, South African, Seafood, European
The iconic Table Bay Hotel will be offering a Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch and dinner this festive season. For under R700 per person, enjoy a variety of dishes from the buffet and entertainment at the stunning Atlantic Restaurant.
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, Seafood, South African, Gluten-free, Vegetarian
The newly revamped ON19 Restaurant is perched on the 19th floor of the Westin Hotel in the CBD. Boasting dramatic views of the city, they are offering a buffet-style lunch menu on Christmas Day. The menu includes a variety of sumptuous dishes ranging from seafood and vegetarian options to roast turkey, glazed porcetta and gnocchi.
Delight in a delicious buffet at Thirty7 on Christmas Day. The lunch will include a hot buffet, carvery, soup, finger bites, seafood, vegetarian dishes and dessert.
Situated on the Paarl wine route, Rhebokskloof Wine Estate is nestled between two valleys at the foot of the majestic Paarl Mountain. The wine estate restaurant will be hosting a traditional Christmas lunch buffet on Christmas Day. Choose from a selection of starters, salads, seafood, roasts and a delicious range of dessert. The wine estate is set amongst rolling lawns, tranquil lakes, willow trees, and vineyards, creating a perfect setting for your Christmas celebration. On arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and live music.
Further afield, Benguela Cove in the coastal town of Hermanus is celebrating Christmas Day with a four-course lunch. Chef Annie has designed a unique fine-dining menu that is sure to delight your senses. If you have children in tow, a special kids’ menu is available to order.
Celebrate in style at Reuben’s where a Christmas lunch buffet with all the trimmings will be served. Your ticket includes Christmas crackers, a glass of bubbly on arrival, live entertainment, and an extensive wine list.
Celebrate poolside with a luxury seafood braai at Isola. Enjoy local favorites such as fish on the braai or grilled crayfish tails. There will be live music to keep guests entertained throughout the day, and a welcome drink on arrival.
Hotel Restaurant, Restaurant, Mediterranean, South African, Seafood, European, Vegetarian, $$$
Harveys at Winchester Mansions | John Hickey-Fry / Flickr
Enjoy a traditional festive feast at the Winchester Mansions Hotel in Sea Point, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Their Christmas Day lunch buffet incorporates favorites such as turkey, gammon and lamb, as well as sushi, seafood, hot veggies and an enormous dessert buffet. On arrival you’ll receive a welcome drink and finger snacks, while a live band will provide entertainment.
