Chapter 1: Our Favourites
On the hunt for the perfect, last-minute lunch or dinner spot? Or just plain curious about where we like to stuff our faces? These A-listers all carry the "Rhino Recommends" stamp of approval.
Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia
Lingering and leisurely dining combine with small-plate sensationalism to make for an elite tapas-for-two experience that’s staunchly seasonal, ensuring things are always kept fresh and trendy.
Why go?
Chef Ivor Jones and Liam Tomlin’s love for what they do, paired with jaw-dropping views of Constantia Valley, sets the stage.
Small-plate sensationalism, Image Credit: Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia
Details
a: Beau Constantia Wine Estate, Constantia
w: beauconstantia.com/eat
t: +27 21 794 8632
e: cw@beauconstantia.com
h: Lunch: Monday to Sunday, 12h00 ‒ 14h00 (last seating 14h30)
h: Dinner: Monday to Saturday, 18h30 ‒ 20h00 (last seating 20h30)
Bouchon Wine Bar & Bistro
Set in a charming urban winery, Bouchon Wine Bar & Bistro is a meeting place for like-minded people who love flavoursome, down-to-earth food and are curious about the world of wine.
Why go?
Enjoy the weekly “Travel Through Your Glass” selection, discovering and enjoying spectacular wines from around the world.
Flavoursome, down-to-earth food, Image Credit: Bouchon Wine Bar & Bistro
Details
a: 95 Hout Street, Cape Town
w: bouchon.co.za
t: +27 21 422 0695
e: info@bouchon.co.za
h: Monday to Saturday, 16h00 ‒ 23h00
Kloof Street House
Equal parts dolled-up Victorian courtyard and stripped-down Parisian café, trendy Kloof Street House serves up delicious Mediterranean fare smothered in South African finesse. This grand old dame boasts a collection of interesting spaces, each bursting with a character of its own.
Why go?
Enjoy lounge music, jazz-filled lunches, decadent décor, and a long, long wine list.
Romantic candle-lit dinners, Image Credit: Kloof Street House
Details
a: 30 Kloof Street, Gardens
w: kloofstreethouse.co.za
t: +27 21 423 4413
e: info@kloofstreethouse.co.za
h: Monday, 12h00 till late; Tuesday to Sunday, 10h00 till late (kitchen closes at 00h00)
Salsify
Tradition and history are interpreted with an irreverent but affectionate graffiti-art twist at Salsify, reinvigorating the old Roundhouse building and its storied past into a menu that pushes gastronomical boundaries with delicately intense seasonal flavours.
Why go?
Chef Ryan Cole draws inspiration from the seasons, land, and sea, crafting an ever-evolving menu reflecting these elements.
Pushing gastronomical boundaries, Image Credit: Salsify
Details
a: The Roundhouse, Roundhouse Road, Camps Bay
w: salsify.co.za
t: +27 21 010 6444
e: reservations@salsify.co.za
h: Lunch: Tuesday to Saturday, 12h30 ‒ 14h00; Sunday, 12h30 ‒ 14h00 (Last lunch booking at 14h00)
h: Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 18h00 ‒ 20h30 (Last dinner booking at 20h30)
FYN
Discoveries are made when boundaries are crossed. At FYN, South Africa’s wild freedom is tempered by the rigours of contemporary cuisine to create a restaurant at the edge. Its design also challenges the separation of the kitchen and dining room, so each becomes part of the other.
Why go?
Enjoy comfort over formality, collaboration over individual feats, with depth, complexity, and deliciousness leading the way.
Tuna sashimi, hamachi tataki, binchotan grilled blue prawn, ikura, and chirizu sauce, Image Credit: FYN
Details
a: 5th Floor, Speakers Corner, 37 Parliament Street, Cape Town
w: fynrestaurant.com
t: +27 21 286 2733
e: info@fynrestaurant.com
h: Lunch: Monday to Saturday, 12h00 ‒ 14h00
h: Dinner: Monday to Saturday, 18h00 ‒ 20h30
PIER
Offering an intimate, multi-course fine-dining experience at the V&A Waterfront, PIER provides diners with the opportunity to escape to the tranquillity of waterside dining, taking in the iconic views. With Norris-Rogers as Head Chef, diners can expect the finest local produce to take centre stage.
Why go?
There's a special emphasis on inspiration from the ocean, along with the table-side theatrics that guests have come to expect.
Offering an intimate, multi-course fine-dining experience, Image Credit: PIER
Details
a: 9 Breakwater Boulevard, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
w: pier.restaurant/food
t: +27 21 879 6328
e: reservations@pier.restaurant
h: Lunch: Wednesday to Sunday, 12h00 ‒ 13h00 (last seating)
h: Dinner: Wednesday to Sunday, 18h00 ‒ 20h00 (last seating)
La Colombe
At each bend, as the city tilts away beneath you, you rise to new heights of quiet anticipation. There’s a reason you feel this way – you’re on top of a mountain and about to dine at the famous La Colombe. Here, you can look forward to contemporary French-meets-Asian fine dining that's impressed discerning foodies from all over the globe.
Why go?
One of Cape Town’s most well-loved and awarded restaurants, expect fine dining theatre at its best.
It tastes even better than it looks, Image Credit: La Colombe
Details
a: Silvermist Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia Nek, Cape Town
w: lacolombe.restaurant
t: +27 21 794 2390
e: reservations@lacolombe.co.za
h: Lunch: Monday to Sunday, 12h00 ‒ 13h30 (last seating)
h: Dinner: Monday to Sunday, 18h00 ‒ 20h30 (last seating)
ëlgr
At ëlgr, the food, drinks, music, and hospitality all work holistically to create the perfect ambience in an inspiring setting. Subtle forest elements are reflected in calm sage green and charcoal tones with abundant indoor foliage. Menus are seasonal and change often, with exceptional, original, yet uncomplicated flavours.
Why go?
Fine food, great wine, and inspiring cocktails, all served in a relaxed environment.
Delivering unexpected tastes and a memorable dining experience, Image Credit: ëlgr
Details
a: 75 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
w: elgr.co.za
t: +27 21 422 0384
e: reservations@elgr.co.za
h: Lunch: Saturday, 12h00 ‒ 15h00
h: Dinner: Wednesday to Saturday, 18h00 ‒ 23h00
The Waterside Restaurant
Tempting guests for a spot of ocean-side dining on the ground floor of the Pierhead Building is The Waterside Restaurant, offering a sophisticated but more casual menu. Guests can look forward to treats like Cape Malay crayfish salad or Asian pork belly with scallops.
Why go?
Enjoy both the indoors and outdoors deck ‒ perfect for sumptuous summer lunches after an eventful day in the V&A Waterfront.
Feast on colourful seafood, Image Credit: The Waterside Restaurant
Details
a: Pierhead Building, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
w: thewaterside.restaurant/about
t: +27 21 879 6329
e: reservations@thewaterside.restaurant
h: Lunch: Monday to Sunday, 12h00 ‒ 14h00
h: Dinner: Monday to Sunday, 18h30 ‒ 20h30
GOLD Restaurant
Taking “dinner and a show” to the highest possible level, you’ll be treated to a 14-dish culinary safari through Africa while being blown away by an eclectic mix of African performances. The beat of the djembe drum and traditional stories told through the compelling performances and tastings will transport you into a world far greater than your imagination.
Why go?
With each detail immaculately pieced together, the team at GOLD will create your favourite night out in Cape Town.
An exemplary dining-and-show experience, Image Credit: GOLD Restaurant
Details
a: 15 Bennett Street, Green Point, Cape Town
w: goldrestaurant.co.za
t: +27 21 421 4653
e: info@goldrestaurant.co.za
h: 14-Dish African Feast and Entertainment: Monday to Sunday, 19h00 ‒ 22h00
h: Interactive Djembe Drumming Session (Optional): Monday to Sunday, 18h30 ‒ 19h00
Chapter 1/14
