Where To Try Traditional South African Food In Cape Town

Trying a city or country’s traditional food is one of the best cultural experiences you could ask for. In Cape Town, there are plenty of African-themed restaurants offering delicious Cape Malay and South African dishes, from braai meat to curry. Many of them also offer excellent African music and entertainment for you to party the night away. Here are the best African restaurants to visit in the Mother City.

1. Bo-Kaap Kombuis

Restaurant

Bo-Kaap Kombuis

For a taste of authentic Cape Malay cuisine, visit the Bo-Kaap Kombuis nestled on the slopes of Signal Hill in the former Cape Malay quarter. The restaurant is lovingly run by residents, Yusuf and Nazli Larney, who warmly invite locals and tourists to experience not only their delicious food, but the culture, heritage and beauty of the area. Taste the exotic flavors and wholesome goodness of Cape Malay cuisine in an array of traditional dishes such as bobotie, butter chicken, lamb penang curry and denning vleis, to name a few. The restaurant is situated at the top of the neighborhood and offers breathtaking views of the city and Table Mountain.

7 August St, Cape Tow n, South Africa, +27 21 422 5446

A dish from Bo-Kaap Kombuis © Meraj Chhaya/Flickr

2. Gold Restaurant

Restaurant, African

Gold Restaurant offers a one-of-a-kind African experience through a diverse 14-course set menu accompanied by traditional entertainment. Diners can expect a cornucopia of taste sensations with dishes ranging from South African tomato bredie and Tanzanian fried fish, to Mozambican chili chicken wings and Xhosa pot bread. A range of performances by traditional dancers, Mali puppets, drummers and singers ensure guests are thoroughly entertained throughout the evening.

3. The Africa Café

Cafe, Restaurant, African

The family-run Africa Caféwas one of the first African-inspired restaurants to open in South Africa. The eatery offers a journey of culinary delights from across the African continent, accompanied by unique traditional entertainment in the form of dancing, singing and drumming. The restaurant is beautifully decorated with colorful African murals and artefacts, and the staff are friendly and welcoming in their traditional African dress. Their seasonal menu offers a variety of delicious traditional food. Stand out dishes include Ethiopian Sik Sik Wat, beef in bere-bere paprika sauce, and African vegetable stew consisting of aubergine, red pepper and marrow stewed in thick tomato gravy.

5. aMadoda Braai and Restaurant

Bar, Restaurant, Pub Grub

Patrons at aMadoda Braai and Restaurant, Cape Town

aMadoda Braai and Restaurant is a township-inspired shisa nyama based in the bohemian neighborhood of Woodstock. The ambiance is vibey, loud and laidback attracting people of all nationalities and walks of life. Sit inside or outside while the resident DJ warms up the dancefloor with kwaito beats and house music. Food wise, platters of delicious braai meat are served with Xhosa bread or pap and chakalaka, and a variety of beers and hard liquor can be ordered at the bar. You eat with your hands, chat, dance, drink and have fun!

6. Mama Africa

Mama Africa

Mama Africa offers diners a unique African experience in a rustic, laidback setting. The staff are friendly and attentive while entertainment in the form of live African music will have you tapping your feet. For starters, try a platter of Mozambican chicken livers, game kebabs, East Coast mussels and homemade veggie samoosas. For mains, the lamb curry, Moroccan lamb pot roast and the game potjie are popular choices. If you’re an adventurous eater, try Mama’s Wild Game Mixed Grill which consists of ostrich, crocodile, springbok, kudu and venison, and don’t forget to sample their delicious vetkoek and sweetcorn bread. At 8pm each evening, a live Marimba band takes to the stage to perform a variety of music until late.

178 Long St, Cape Town, South Africa, +27 21 426 1017

Mama Africa, Cape Town © Marco Zanferrari/Flickr

7. Marco’s African Place

Bar, Restaurant, African

Situated in the Bo-Kaap, Marco’s African Place is a large restaurant and bar that offers indigenous African cuisine and live music. From 8pm each evening, the restaurant plays host to live bands from around Africa. Marco’s offers a variety of fragrant African and Cape dishes from their à la carte, buffet and set menus. For mains, try one of chef Marco Radebe’s specialties such as the Pan African platter consisting of pan-grilled fillets of springbok, kudu and ostrich, or the oxtail curry cooked in a thick, delicious sauce.

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.