Cape Winelands Restaurants

Set in a rustic old farmhouse and with superb views from every side is the Buena Vista Social Cafe, Somerset West. Diners may also choose to eat outside in a pretty hacienda-style area. The cuisine is primarily Cuban with tantalising tapas and a wine list that perfectly accompanies the dishes. For a wonderful Cuban dining experience in cosy and welcoming surroundings, Buena Vista Social Cafe excels!

Enjoy excellent South African cuisine and a warm welcome at Topsi and Co. A brilliantly friendly and unpretentious spot in Franschhoek, diners can enjoy both classic and unique creations with South African cuisine in mind. Taditional meets modern in a delicious fusion of new and old dishes that have been expertly designed by the talented team behind the scenes. A casual and relaxed place, Topsi’s is decked out with endearing antiques, making diners feel more like they are eating at someone’s home rather than a popular restaurant.

Café Dijon is a pocket of Paris in the heart of Stellenbosch. Ideally located at the centre of town, this quaint eatery is a gem for food lovers who enjoy true French cuisine. Its indoor café is perfectly Parisian in décor and ambience while being seated outside, under ancient oak trees and umbrellas, allows for a relaxed reflection of passers-by on the street in true European style. Expect an impressive and authentic French menu. There are classic hors d’ oeuvres and salads such as Pear, Parma ham and Gorgonzola that are designed to please the palate. The main course selection and restaurant specialties are extended to include regional French dishes to the likes of South West of France Cassoulet. The multi-dimensional menu has an array of asides and desserts and caters well for those who like to round off their eating experience. The combination of true French style and food makes this bistro style establishment a delight any time of day – breakfast, lunch or dinner.

For true Mediterranean cooking in a relaxing and laid back setting on the outskirts of Somerset West, Capelands Restaurant provides. Making use of only the freshest ingredients, including herbs and vegetables from the Restaurant’s own gardens, patrons can be assured of the most flavoursome meals from the well-planned menu. With a delicious selection of vegetarian meals as well as a healthy selection of childrens’ meals, everyone has been carefully considered. A good selection of both local and international wines are on offer to perfectly accompany the dishes of choice. With spectacular views to enjoy as you sample the delicious offerings, Capelands Restaurant is the perfect spot for a relaxing dining experience.

Nestled within the Noble Hill Wine Estate, amidst working vineyards and the majestic Simonsberg Mountain, Cosecha harvests Latin delight using fresh local ingredients. Dishes embrace a mix of contemporary and traditional Latin flavours and proffers daily specials enjoyed with fine wine and idyllic scenery. Discover seasonal flavours and farm fresh flavours at Cosecha Restaurant in Paarl.

The Country Kitchen has been dubbed Tuscan and Mediterranean in style. Located in the wine tasting facility of Mont Rochelle vineyards, the restaurant offers relaxed dining, with a slant on Mediterranean fare. This is the perfect spot for an al fresco lunch or cosy dinner. The décor is rustic, from authentic wooden tables to potted herbs, huge candelabra and a cosy fireplace.It might only be a few minutes drive from town but this restaurant is a world apart when it comes to soaking up the sights and sounds of the Winelands. Wine tasting can be conducted at restaurant tables – a perfect way to see which wine goes best with dishes ordered.Alternatively for those wanting more fresh air and relaxation, pick up a picnic basket at the Country Kitchen and take a stroll through the vineyards to the dam, into the rose garden or to the shade of an oak tree and make yourself comfortable. Unpack your basket of delights, a cold bottle of wine, lay back, relax and watch the horse riders meandering along the vineyard paths on their way to enjoying a wine tasting and cellar tour at Mont Rochelle.Open daily from 10:00 to 19:00 (Last seating at 18:00)Dinner Monday and Tuesday at 19:00 (Last seating at 20:30)Closed Wednesday to Sunday for dinner.

Lafayette is perfectly placed along the oak lined Andringa Street in Stellenbosch. The restaurant is a cosy, intimate eatery that offers an Italian bistro style food with no shortage of wines to choose from. Lafayette achieves in creating an atmosphere that is warm and welcoming. One has a choice of seating. Dine indoors at winter time in the rustic Italian setting of the restaurant or outside in the courtyard around the open fire on a balmy summer’s evening, either way Lafayette’s intimate setting is all about romance. The Tuscan inspired menu calls for all foods to be home made. Expect extravagant pasta to the likes of ravioli with spinach and ricotta in a blue cheese, bacon and yoghurt sauce. Other dishes include local speciality dishes of tripe, vegetable stew with warm tabouleh, and rich Tuscan style soups. On Thursday evenings guests are treated to an outdoor fire from which the evening’s meals are cooked. The restaurant has a wide selection of wines by the glass as well per bottle.

Look through the glass wall into the kitchen and be amazed by the spectacle of owner and Chef Pierre creating stunningly beautiful 'artwork' on your plate. These creations also happen to taste great and Le Bon Vivant is known for sophisticated diners and a memorable experience.Le Bon Vivant is set an intimate converted house which is smaller than most of the purpose-built restaurants in Franschhoek. The ambience is fairly quiet, making it ideal for a more romantic evening. Despite the sophisticated surrounds, Pierre has added some unique and whimsical touches such as the lamp shades made from kitchen collanders.In addition to the full a-la-carte menu, Pierre also offers a five-course 'surprise' menu which takes the form of smaller 'tasting' courses, both complemented with a well chosen wine list. Tables are available in the shaded garden next to the restaurant for lunches or dinner on warm summer evenings.Need to know? Open 6 days a week for lunch and dinner. Closed on Wednesdays.

A ride out into the picturesque Bainskloof area near Wellington calls for a long lazy stop at Linda’s Kitchen. Here guests are promised the best country style cuisine in a cosy environment. The outdoor deck seating is all about the view. With the mountain range as backdrop and the Witte river in close proximity, the Bainskloof Corner Lodge is an ideal setting for that gourmet country meal. Head chef Linda Trautman’s signature dish is the slow cooked Lamb neck in red wine sauce served with sautéed broccoli and fine green beans and steamed basmati rice. The perfection in this dish lies in the fact that it is slow cooked over a wood burning fire. The restaurant has a local wine list that supports the Bainskloof region.

MANA restaurant forms part of MANA Guest Cottage Accommodation. The Establishment is ideally located on JC Le Roux, a working sparkling wine farm situated just on the outskirts of historic Stellenbosch. Guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner with spectacular views of the farm’s merlot, pinot noir and cabernet vineyards. The menu offers contemporary fusion cuisine. The restaurant is open Monday - Saturday for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, and on Sundays for Lunch. Be sure to book ahead for a unique sparkling wine tasting at the JC Le Roux cellar.

The interior is a Pandora’s box, filled with surprises and dining areas brimming with character and inspiration. Stylish table settings and a restored wine cellar makes for an unforgettable dining experience or alfresco in the charming garden setting. The a la carte menu offers classic choices such as Oxtail, Lamb Shanks or Bobotie, while offering cosmopolitan choices such as pizzas, pasta and salads. Decadent deserts tempt the palate with choices such as Gooseberry Cheesecake or Pistachio Crème Brulee. Discover a culinary gem on Vredenheim Estate in Stellenbosch.

Housed inside a historic Cape Dutch homestead, perched on the banks of Earste River, Spier Hotel Restaurant is a comfortable and inviting establishment flanked by garden views, sprawling lawns and the Helderberg Mountain range. The interior pampers with elegant surrounds, large white leather banquet seating and wooden tables contrasted by lime green hues. Whether sitting down for a languid lunch, or seeking relaxation in the lounge bar, or sipping sundowners on the shady terrace, Spier Hotel Restaurant will seduce and meet your expectations promising an unforgettable dining experience.

One of South Africa's top restaurants, Terroir opened its doors in 2004 and over the years has become one of the most sought-after gourmet destinations in the Cape Winelands, placing Stellenbosch prominently on the culinary map. The restaurant is located on Kleine Zalze, a family owned wine farm that has risen to prominence both in South Africa and internationally thanks in particular to its award-winning chenin blanc and shiraz. Set under historic oak trees with views over the De Zalze golf course and surrounding gardens and vineyards, the atmosphere is both refined and relaxed. It’s the perfect environment in which to enjoy a fine meal matched to excellent wines. The unpretentious ambience and dressed-down décor belie multi award-winning chef Michael Broughton’s rigorously disciplined approach to food. Classic pairings and intense depth of flavour characterize the chalkboard menu of ‘deceptively simple’ dishes influenced by what’s in season and, where possible, the use of locally grown fresh produce. Care and emphasis is placed on matching the food to specific wines produced at Kleine Zalze, in the Stellenbosch region and further afield. Terroir’s ongoing success has brought with it a string of prestigious awards, including the Eat Out Johnny Walker ‘Restaurant of the Year 2006’, Eat Out ‘Service Excellence Award 2006’, Eat Out ‘Top 10 Restaurant’ 2005 and 2006, Dine (Wine magazine) ‘Top 10 Restaurant’ in 2005, 2006 and 2007, Best of Wine Capitals of the World South African Wine Tourism Restaurant of the Year 2006 and Honours at the 2008 Prudential Eat Out Restaurant Awards.

Located on the Val die Vie Wine Estate, with expansive views of Franschhoek and Paarl Mountains, diners relish in gourmet cuisine and award winning wines from the estate. Whether seeking a intimate experience or a more casual day out with family, The Polo Club caters for all, with a child friendly menu, family dining and outside play area - equipped with a pony and all. Discover fine cuisine, award winning wines and a sophisticated dining experience at The Polo Club in Franschhoek.

Lunch might be over when the distant orange-pink mountains change hue. But that doesn't mean you have to leave.Take a seat on a sunny wooden deck that reaches right into the vines of Rickety Bridge Wine Estate. Sip a glassful of crisp estate wine and redefine the concept of a picnic in the Summer. Every gourmet parcel unwraps new delights. The Restaurant in the Vines offers a unique dining experience, sit on the deck or laze on the lawn in the heart of the vineyard and enjoy a Cape inspired gourmet picnic.In winter, the fare is hot and hearty - home-cooked soups, traditional curries and casseroles.Children also have a menu to keep them satisfied.Every creation from the team of expert chefs is given extra zest by the striking splendour of the setting.Rickety Bridge is an enchanting Franschhoek wine estate that earns its place in the Cape's cuisine capital. Taste their celebrated wines on leather fireside couches. Stay over in one of the luxurious Manor House rooms, embraced in two centuries of history, and discover one certainty. During every moment spent on this side of the bridge, you won't want to be anywhere else in the world.Need to know? Opening Times:Monday - Sunday 11:00 - 16:30.

Located on the beautiful wine estate at Rhebokskloof, The Victorian serves superb traditional cuisine as well as delights from much further afield. Enjoy sumptuous international and traditional fare like Thai fishcakes and kudu fillet whilst relaxing in tranquil surroundings. Lush lawns, grand trees and an endearing small lake can be enjoyed from the terrace when the weather is warm. The winelist features bottles from the wine estate itself and diners are welcome to have a wine-tasting session before eating to ensure that the perfect bottle is selected to accompany the meal. Relax and enjoy true country hospitality and delicious cuisine at this scenic venue.

Franschhoek, the French pocket of the Cape Winelands, has become renowned as the culinary capital of South Africa, so it’s not surprising to find oneself in a gem of an eatery like Topsi & Co. A scrawled daily menu on paper set on an easel, the antique silver salt and pepper pots, the water jugs, the fresh flowers and the open kitchen will make one feel right at home as if in a great aunt’s kitchen. And then there is food: hearty, comforting and exciting. Expect traditional fare that has been reinvented with flair. The menu changes daily to make the most of the fresh seasonal produce. Menu items include homemade Springbok sausage with chilli jelly and Warthog loin with mustard seed onion gravy with cabbage and samp. A firm, delectable favourite remains the white mold cheese and figs stuffed with walnuts, poached in red wine with citron. The restaurant does not sell wine, but visitors are invited to bring their own. Guests are encouraged to walk into the kitchen and check out what’s cooking. Alternatively, sit back and take it all in: the delightful smells from the stove, the clatter of pots and the chatter from the parrot – just like at aunty’s house.