South Africa has a plethora of outstanding restaurants, and their success may be ascribed to the incredible chefs who make interesting cuisine for discerning customers. The majority of these restaurants have won a slew of medals and accolades, and it’s easy to see why when you consider the chefs’ backgrounds.
In every country, including South Africa, hospital facilities such as restaurants play an important part in tourism. The majority of vacationers enjoy spending time in restaurants and trying new cuisine. If you’re planning a trip or you are currently there, have a look at some of the best restaurants in South Africa, which serve both local and international cuisine. Some of these establishments have received awards and they are the best options for you.
Restaurants In South Africa
Pigalle Restaurant, Cape Town
Location: Somerset Square, 57 Somerset Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
What more could you want for to make your evening brilliant and memorable than elegant décor, delectable food, a live band, and a humming dance floor? Pigalle Restaurant is one of the top 15 all-inclusive restaurants in South Africa. Pigalle is a well-known name in the South African restaurant sector, with locations in Sandton, Bedfordview, and Melrose Arch in addition to Cape Town. This restaurant is well-known for its steaks and seafood, but it also serves some of the best Mediterranean and European dishes in the city.
Seven Spur Steak Ranch, Cape Town
Location: 11 Arthurs Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060, South Africa
Seven Spur Steak Ranch is a prominent South African restaurant franchise noted for its delicious burgers, ribs, and steaks. This is the most frequented spur restaurant in South Africa, and it is located in Sea Point. The restaurant has a large dining room that is ideal for family gatherings, children’s parties, private meals, and corporate events. Furthermore, they offer a specialised activity area for youngsters called The Play Canyon, which ensures that the kids will never be bored here.
The Test Kitchen, Cape Town
Location: The Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town, 7915, South Africa
The Test Kitchen is one of the greatest restaurants in Cape Town, South Africa, where you can have a sophisticated fine dining experience. Chef Dale Roberts’ idea, this restaurant opened in 2010 and features the distinctive Dark Room and Light Room design. The Light Room is for tasting menus and casual conversation, whilst the Dark Room is more formal and intended for private and intimate meals. If you want to sample delectable delicacies and dine at one of South Africa’s greatest fine dining establishments, The Test Kitchen is the place to go.
Ristorante La Trinita
Location: G1A, Kyalami Downs Shopping Centre, Kyalami Boulevard, Midrand, South Africa
This restaurant is at the top of the list of the best Italian restaurants in South Africa. Ristorante La Trinita is a clear winner when it comes to authentic and amazing Italian food, and it’s conveniently located on the ground floor of Kyalami Downs Shopping Centre. From the sumptuous menu to the elegant décor to the super prompt service, all of these features have helped it to win numerous prestigious awards and recognitions, including Zomato User’s Choice, Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor, Top Choice Restaurant in Johannesburg, and one of the 101 best places to eat in the world, as well as being one of the best pizza restaurants in South Africa.
Marble Restaurant
Location: Trumpet on Keyes, 19 Keyes Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Marble Restaurant is an elegant South African restaurant that specialises in local and contemporary cuisine. It is located in Keyes Art Mile, Johannesburg’s busy art and food area. David Higgs’ exquisite décor and environment, as well as the well-designed menu and hand-picked wine collection, will ensure that you return time and time again.
Level Four Restaurant
Location: 54 on Bath Hotel, 54 Bath Ave, Rosebank, Johannesburg, 2196, South Africa
Matthew Foxon, South Africa’s Young Chef of the Year in 2003 and 2004, offers British-inspired meals with a twist. He’s worked at five-star hotels in both Johannesburg and Pretoria, and in 2004 he came in second place in the Salon-Culinaire South Africa. Foxon spent some time in London, where he oversaw the kitchens at the Greyhound Pub in Battersea and The Rosendale in South East London. Before returning to South Africa and joining Level Four, he appeared in the BBC Masterchef season.
Camphors at Vergelegen
Location: Lourensford Rd, Golden Acre, Somerset West, 7130, South Africa
Camphors, located on the Vergelegen Wine Estate in Somerset West, offers an intriguing menu that combines international and local cuisines, all of which are paired with award-winning wines. Executive Chef Michael Cooke’s seasonally inspired dishes feature everything from dry-aged duck and coffee-roasted springbok to delectable desserts.
The ancient enormous Camphor trees planted in 1700 in front of the historic Homestead inspired the name of the main restaurant Camphors at Vergelegen. The restaurant has large lawns and lovely trees that add to the overall dining experience and create an unforgettable environment.
The Greenhouse
Location: The Cellars-Hohenort, 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, Cape Town
The Greenhouse, located within the beautiful Cellars-Hohenort Hotel on Table Mountain’s eastern slope, combines top South African food with polished European techniques. Menus are created to tell stories about local ingredients and their provenance. From the appetisers, which include heirloom aubergine, Hakurei turnip, marog (a South African spinach), and maple-pickled pumpkin from Meuse Farm, it’s evident that customers are in for a treat. Steamed blue prawns, Cape octopus, and caramel-smoked duck are just a few of the dishes that combine great cooking with unique presentation.
Chef’s Warehouse at Beau Constantia
Location: 1043 Constantia Main Road, Glen Alpine, Cape Town, 7806
Chef’s Warehouse amplifies the exquisite tapas-style food that gained its name in the original central Cape Town restaurant, literally and figuratively, with jaw-dropping vistas over the Beau Constantia boutique wine farm. The dining room, which is housed in a futuristic glass cube with an outside terrace, serves a set menu of nine tapas plates for two created by local chef Ivor Jones of La Colombe and The Test Kitchen in Cape Town. Jones looks to be capable of sorcery, from Saldanha Bay oysters laced with chilli threads to springbok with blood orange. The wines that go with it are, of course, outstanding.
Belly of the Beast
Location: 110 Harrington Street, Zonnebloem, Cape Town, 8000
Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart, the chefs, ask visitors to come along and trust them — there are no menu options or set-course tasters here, simply a selection of what they consider to be local and seasonal. Belly of the Beast is a carnivore-friendly restaurant, with all meat sourced from sustainably reared animals. Anything from pumpkin risotto to cured stumpnose fish or gemsbok (antelope) tataki could be served. Don’t miss pastry chef Horn’s baked Alaska with feuilletine and hazelnut praline.
Est Est Alea
Location: Shop 5, Parknorth Heights, 17 4th Avenue, Parktown North, Johannesburg
Some of Johannesburg’s punchiest fusion plates are served in a deceptively neutral atmosphere with cool white linen and charcoal soft furnishings. Dario De Angeli, an irreverent chef with nearly 30 years of fine-dining expertise, creates tasting menus using a single ingredient every course. ‘Corn fed egg’ is a quirky platter of cocoa soil and other curiously textured goodies, while ‘forest floor’ is a golden yolk gently coated in crispy batter.
La Colombe
Location: Silvermist Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia Nek, Cape Town
Chef Proprietor Scot Kirton has brought the cuisine of La Colombe, which is located on the Silvermist organic wine estate, to new heights. Kirton mixes Asian and French cuisine to create classic meals with straightforward flavours, all created with the freshest and most seasonal ingredients available. Guests may look forward to meals like chawanmushi (a Japanese egg custard dish), grilled quail, aubergine, gem squash, and coconut.
DW-Eleven 13
Location: Dunkeld West Shopping Centre, Jan Smuts Ave, Dunkeld West, Johannesburg
Chef Marthinus Ferreira may be best known for his appearance on TV as the ultimate braaimaster, but his realm here is gorgeous and approachable fine food in the shape of seasonal sampling plates. If you’re a wine connoisseur, the sommelier will spoil you with options from all over the world, but those who don’t drink will appreciate the non-alcoholic paring option.
9th Avenue Bistro
Location: 2 Maritime Pl, Harbour, Durban, 4001, South Africa
Graham and Gina Neilson, a dedicated husband-and-wife partnership, oversee this cornerstone of the Durban restaurant industry. To create fantastic food, seasonal and local ingredients are employed. The tasting menu is always a hit, and the prawn risotto has a devoted following.
Coobs
Location: 19 4th Ave, Parktown North, Randburg, 2193, South Africa
Chef James Diack is known for his stunning urban bistro’s ethical dining. The majority of the fruit, including the pork, is grown on his family’s farm, so you know you’re getting something fresh and nutritious. Slow-braised hog shoulder or pork confit, coupled with show-stopping sides like truffled potato bake, might be highlights on the rotating, seasonal menu. The sophisticated crowds also like homemade noodles with creative sauces.
Havana Grill
Location: 42, Suncoast Casino, Battery Beach Rd, North Beach, Durban
This is the spot to go if you like grilled cuisine and steaks. Havana Grill, one of South Africa’s best fast food restaurants, is located within the Suncoast Casino Hotel complex and serves top-notch steaks, grills, beef, and seafood. Havana Grill is a must-visit South African restaurant that should be on everyone’s bucket list. It boasts the most delectable food and wine collections, as well as unrivalled views from Bluff to Umhlanga Rocks.
Butcher Boys Florida Road
Location: 170 Florida Rd, Morningside, Durban, 4001, South Africa
Laz and Derryck wanted to open a restaurant named Butcher Boys Florida Road in South Africa in 1991. This is currently one of Durban’s greatest steakhouses, and it has grown in popularity. The meat is of excellent quality and is completely fresh. Furthermore, it becomes a magical experience when paired with in-house basting sauce and hand-picked vintage wine. This is the only prominent restaurant in South Africa with an in-house butchery where you can always customise your meat cut.
La Petite Colombe
Location: Le quartier Francais Hotel, Franschhoek, South Africa
La Petite Colombe is a must-visit when it comes to top restaurants in South Africa. This is an unique venue with a fantastic tasting menu that changes with the seasons and a fantastic wine selection. Additionally, seeing the chef and tasting his unique meals and palette cleanser are an added pleasure. Without a doubt, this is one of the top restaurants in Franschhoek, South Africa, that also serves vegan and gluten-free options, and is one of the most incredible vegan restaurants in the country.
Overture Restaurant at Hidden Valley Wines
Location: Hidden Valley Wines, Annandale Rd, Stellenbosch, 7600, South Africa
Overture Restaurant is located on the Hidden Valley Wines farm in Stellenbosch, and chef and owner Bertus Basson’s recipes are inspired by traditional South African cuisine with a modern twist. It’s no surprise that, thanks to Basson, the restaurant consistently ranks at the top of best restaurant rankings. The menu frequently features venison, as well as marine and meat dishes, and the recipes are creative. The tasting menu, which consists of six dishes, is a must-try as well as the chef’s personal favourite.
Cuisine Afrique Restaurant & Venue
Location: 20 Asquith Rd, Ravenswood, Boksburg, 1459, South Africa
It’s a half-hearted feeling to leave South Africa without sampling the local cuisine. So, if you’re looking for authentic African cuisine, look no farther than Cuisine Afrique Restaurant & Venue. This is one of the best-reviewed restaurants in Boksburg, South Africa, serving delectable African cuisine. This venue is known for social parties, bonfires, live music, open-air eating, and candle-lit meals, in addition to superb food and handcrafted beer. Cuisine Afrique Restaurant & Venue, which serves healthful breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is a South African restaurant that you should visit at least once.