Cape Town
A tattooed mermaid in a round portrait on the wall looks down on the tattooed patrons of this slick bistro serving price-friendly comfort food – burgers,…
Must-see restaurants in South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini (Swaziland)
Eastern Cape
At the reception complex for Tsitsikamma National Park, this busy place has a wide selection of seafood and meat dishes at reasonable prices and superb…
Western Cape
Locals rave about this stylish place based in the Old Gaol building. The small menu features intricate dishes that use local ingredients such as springbok…
Cape Town
Street art decorates this cavernous space that's a shrine to the owner's beloved American muscle cars, such as the bright-orange Pontiac Firebird parked…
Indingilizi Gallery & Restaurant
eSwatini (Swaziland)
Indingilizi is that easy-to-miss 'secret spot' that locals like to recommend. This small outdoor cafe is at the back of an art gallery and offers…
Cape Town
There are just half a dozen tables at this friendly cafe in a strip mall. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and most dishes are vegan. For Indian food…
Sunshine Coast
Delicious tapas, nachos, tacos and fajitas in Grahamstown? Yes, it's possible. Not your average place to eat, Casa de Loco adds a touch of exoticism to…
KwaZulu-Natal
With a large terrace overlooking uMdloti Beach, Bel Punto attracts the weekend crowds from Durban. There's a focus on delectable seafood dining – try the…
Sunshine Coast
If satisfying pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, satisfying salads or well-prepared tramezzini (sandwiches) make your stomach quiver with excitement, slide…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Tapas here is of an international nature rather than the traditional Spanish ilk. On the menu you'll find tandoori chicken pot stickers, squid with…
Cape Town
No frills, and the service can be very slow, but the food – succulent dumplings, savoury noodles, spring rolls and home-made iced teas – is authentic and…
Johannesburg
One of the best spots to chill in the 'hood, this lively eatery inside hip Arts on Main boasts a lovely setting, with a large, festive 'garden party'…
Cape Town
Superb Neopolitan-style softer-crust pizzas with creative toppings (kimchi, pork sausage and ginger on the Lady Zaza) fly out of the brick oven at this…
Sea Point to Hout Bay
This eternally stylish restaurant, with its waiters in white jackets, has been a fixture of Sea Point’s promenade since 1969. Enjoy something from the…
Cape Town
This rustic cafe and farm stall specialises in organic produce, hand-crafted breads, preserves and jams. Kids will love the tree house in its garden and…
Port Elizabeth
A 5m long firepit to one side and fresh seafood on ice to the other – this trendy restaurant in Richmond Hill offers one of the most diverse dining…
Durban
Set in a courtyard just off Florida Rd, Mozambik has a very pleasant dining area complete with a fountain that's a great place to put away some well…
Limpopo
With a classy set-up inside and an outdoor terrace where you can keep an eye on the comings and goings in town, this is Vaalwater’s only restaurant of…
Johannesburg
This is where the hugely popular Italian cafe franchise first started – and you can easily see why it's been such a success. The corner terrace is packed…
The Wild Coast
Grab a table on the rear deck with views of the river and Mt Sullivan, then choose from a large selection of wood-fired pizzas, salads and seafood,…
Port Elizabeth
Blue Waters is popular week-long for its beachfront location and incredibly broad menu, which covers the spectrum from pasta to tapas and sushi to steaks…
Western Cape
The menu here is vast, but opt out of the sushi or pasta in favour of something a little more local. The bobotie (spiced mince with a savoury egg custard)…
Johannesburg
Fill up at this great little cafe before (or after) delving into Braamfontein. Come for delicious breakfasts, gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads and…
Durban
In a most unlikely location at the rear of a shopping centre, unpretentious Joop's Place has Durbanites flocking in for high-quality steaks – each cooked…
Limpopo
A classy set-up in the middle of the village, the Red Plate offers dishes using fresh ingredients, including crisp salads, a selection of wraps, homemade…
Cape Town
Lufefe Nomjana is the young entrepreneur behind this very green business baking bread and muffins made with spinach. It's a welcome vegetarian respite…
Port Elizabeth
The Coachman is PE's most famous steakhouse and carnivores will appreciate the menu, an orgy of meat with burgers, steaks, poultry, seafood and umpteen…
Sunshine Coast
The trendiest choice in town, this venue is part bar and part restaurant. Eclectic decor, casual service, a tempting menu focusing on seafood, burgers and…
Western Cape
It might not be in the Old Gaol any more, but the food at this empowerment venture is still just as good. There’s lots of seating outside under the trees…
Sunshine Coast
This sassy guesthouse restaurant with a charming dining room and an outdoor patio is as adept at serving up light bites as it is heartier meals. The menu…
Eastern Cape
This little gem just off Nahoon Beach (but without sea views) serves delectable light meals and superb coffee in a wonderfully relaxed environment. Bag a…
Pretoria
This highly reliable cafe has on-trend industrial-chic decor and a tempting range of breakfast and lunch dishes, all homemade, free range and organic…
Sunshine Coast
This convivial restaurant right in the centre is famous for one thing and one thing only: fresh fish (served with fries or rice), savoured in a ramshackle…
Franschhoek
In a stupendous setting overlooking Franschhoek Valley, this contemporary restaurant makes a big deal of local ingredients. Try the biltong-dusted ostrich…
Durban
This smart, modern spot serves up fabulously reliable upmarket fare. The tasting menu changes (often with venison, and the likes of smoked ostrich fillet)…
Sunshine Coast
Occupying one of Port Alfred's historic buildings, Café Reset offers a range of light meals as well as daily specials and great coffee. It's also well…
Handmade Coffee – The Bakery Grahamstown
Sunshine Coast
Just thinking about the scents wafting from this place makes us swoon. One step into this cafe and you're hooked forever. Don't miss the small bakery in…
Franschhoek
The excellent single-origin chocolate here is made at a boutique chocolatier in Paarl and used in all the cakes, pastries and ice cream on offer. There's…
Johannesburg
On the ground floor of the Reef Hotel, this large restaurant has a relaxed vibe and pleasingly kooky industrial interior. The visibly busy kitchen…
Cape Town
Come for a deliciously simple breakfast or lunch, or for late-afternoon cocktails and tapas on the veranda of this white-box cafe. The freshly baked…
