22 Best Restaurants in the Cape Winelands, Picked by a Local

It is a traditional steakhouse with a Stellenbosch feel, located in the heart of the city, with wooden floors, leather booths and a courtyard with shade at the back. Whether you’re looking for South African flavours, global influences or a first-class glass of vino to wash your meal down, one of these eateries is sure to work for you. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

La Colombe at Silvermist Wine Estate

An evening aperitif of cognac or whiskey will set your night in good stead on the lovely terrace or around the roaring fireplace. Chef Saskia Nel’s simple menu of classics matches the restaurant’s “Big Easy” nickname. Robertson’s relaxed vibe is perfect for long lunches and wine tasting without the crowds. Springfield Estate offers crisp Sauvignon Blancs, and Four Cousins Restaurant delivers generous plates of South African classics. Just 40 minutes from Cape Town, Paarl offers warm-climate wines and hearty meals. Visit Bosman Family Vineyards in nearby Wellington for ethical wines paired with seasonal dishes, or Noop for comfort food with refined technique.

Tokara Restaurant at Tokara Wine Estate

• Four- and six-course set menus, paired with wines from Tokara’s award-winning cellar, are available in the evening.
• There are many good reasons to pay a visit to the historic Vergenoegd Löw estate on the outskirts of the Stellenbosch winelands.
• Bertus and chef Kyle du Plooy’s love of South African flavours are reflected in the menu, which is an ode to the changing of the seasons and fond food memories.

Dinner excursions may begin on the patio, but once you find a seat in the cosy eatery with the best views of the past, you will see true devotion to the craft. Gauteng residents should expect unsettled weather as forecasters warn of scattered thunderstorms and cooler overnight temperatures. Wine in what is susd the Cape is a boutique tour operator, providing tours of local vineyards and estates in the Western Cape. Additionally, classic appetisers like chargrilled corn, marrow bones and steak tartare, as well as sumptuous salads and seafood, are available for those who are less interested in meat.

Expect precise cuisine with no detail left untouched, in a glorious Winelands setting. Offering elegant weekend lunches with glorious views in Stellenbosch, Chef Michelle Theron creates concise but delicious à la carte menus of seasonal cuisine with a classic spin. First on our list of 25 restaurants in Stellenbosch that you should visit is Kunjani. The best of local and seasonal ingredients are used in Kunjani’s exquisite gourmet cuisine, served both inside the contemporary-designed restaurant and al fresco on the deck. Known as the heart of South Africa’s wine industry, Stellenbosch pairs its historic Cape Dutch architecture with an exploding food scene. Delaire Graff Estate serves fine dining with vineyard views, while The Table at De Meye offers rustic communal meals that feel like you’re eating at a friend’s farmhouse.

The restaurant’s ever-evolving tasting menus are a testament to their commitment to showcasing the freshest seasonal produce, presented with creative flair and complemented by stunning flavour combinations. In a thoroughly modern setting, against the gorgeous backdrop of the Helderberg Mountains, Cavalli Restaurant easily blends contemporary style with a proudly sustainable philosophy. Sourcing biodynamic olive oil from Friesland Farm, organic produce from Genesis and Mason Farms, and seasonal gems from the pesticide-free Cavalli Gardens, this spot is serious about farm-to-fork.

FABER at Avondale Wine Estate

At Ōku he takes a step in a new direction, with a punchy menu of small plates that takes its cue from the traditions and flavours of south-east Asia. It’s all dished up in a contemporary space with subtle Asian touches awash in natural light. Chef Marthinus Ferreira has cemented Jordan as one of the standout dining destinations in the Winelands. Over lunch and dinner (Friday and Saturday only) he dishes up a fresh take on contemporary farm cuisine, with a creative collection of plates available in a choice of formats. The shortest option is a four-course outing, or set aside an afternoon or evening for the full six-course tasting experience.

• Whether you are looking for innovative fine dining experiences that push the boundaries of flavour or a more laid-back lunch with a view of the picturesque vineyards, a diverse range of restaurants cater to every palate.
• This is destination dining at its finest, where the setting, service and style of cuisine are perfectly in sync.
• Springfield Estate offers crisp Sauvignon Blancs, and Four Cousins Restaurant delivers generous plates of South African classics.
• Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).
• Located in the Old Stellenbosch Post Office, this historic building is the home of great food, done well with amazing attention to detail.

The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal

Explore the ‘Cape Idiom’ of the great wine regions of the world, while taking in architecture, views, and Italian-South African wines. Guests are able to embark on a virtual journey through the main wine regions of Italy at the Vinotria Italian Wine Library – a display of 250 wines from all over Italy distributed by Bottega Family Wines in South Africa. Chef Marthinus Ferreira has helped shape the South African food scene with his flair for gastronomy, inspired by his childhood favourites and influences from abroad. Marthinus will keep using his well-honed skills, but he will keep a strong focus on locally grown farm-to-table food, meat reared ethically by local farmers, and the freshest seasonal ingredients. Order off a refined snack menu to accompany drinks, choose from various elegant à la carte options, or be spoiled by a signature four-course tasting menu paired with boutique wines. The historic Vergenoegd Löw estate, located in the picturesque town of Stellenbosch, South Africa, is renowned for its stunning and comfortable accommodation options.

Why you should grow soursop in your garden

A dedicated commitment to traditional cooking techniques guarantees patrons an exceptional and immersive culinary journey. The Cape Winelands is filled with elegant destination-dining restaurants where celebrated chefs create culinary magic with a spuma here and an orb of molecular gel over there. For nearly 30 years this supremely laid-back winelands restaurant has been serving up its inimitable take on rustic country cooking, with just a dash of refinement. It’s a space of thatched roofs and chunky wooden furniture, of wide lawns for kids and service with a smile, but no frills. The food is reliably good, from the iconic duck and cherry pie and ‘Chef Porchia’s Bobotie’, to the more recent addition of sharing plates.

Alluvia Restaurant

It’s served on the terrace in the shade of cork oaks, or indoors in the farm’s original cellar. Good to Gather takes just 35 diners per sitting, so reservations are essential for this charming chef-led discovery of Cape winelands cuisine. There are many good reasons to pay a visit to the historic Vergenoegd Löw estate on the outskirts of the Stellenbosch winelands. And then there’s Clara’s Barn, where restaurateur Bertus Basson – together with head chef Drikus Brink – brings a modern lens to traditional South African cuisine. Set in an historic barn boasting exposed beams and uneven whitewashed walls, the six-course (plus snacks and bread course) set menu blends authentic time-honoured recipes with contemporary kitchen creativity. It’s just a 40-minute drive from central Cape Town and is open for lunch from Wednesday to Sunday.

Kunjani at Kunjani Wines

Partake in a wine tasting in the old winehouse or savour a leisurely, seasonally-inspired farm lunch at the Kraal restaurant. The seasonal menu features locally grown organic fruit and vegetables, as well as sustainably sourced seafood. A leisurely lunch at Longtable Restaurant at Haskell Vineyards features great views, international flavours and friendly service. Weekly menus created by head chef Lucas Carstens are motivated by Cavalli’s own heirloom vegetable garden, with both meat and vegetarian options that are constantly attractively presented, tempting, and fresh. Welcome to Alluvia Restaurant, where you can savour the flavours of the Cape Winelands while enjoying stunning views of the Simonsberg mountains and surrounding vineyards. Whatever the season, Sansibar is the perfect place to gather for an early evening sundowner, witnessing the sun setting over the mountains in the distance as you enjoy a gin cocktail, a crisp Chenin or slow Chardonnay.

Indulge in contemporary culinary delights while taking in the stunning vistas of Stellenbosch and False Bay at Tokara Restaurant. The restaurant prides itself on offering a menu that highlights the use of fresh, locally sourced seasonal ingredients, with a particular emphasis on capturing the rich and diverse flavours of South Africa. This culinary experience is perfectly paired with a selection of acclaimed Tokara wines, enhancing the overall dining experience.