Stellenbosch Restaurants

Delheim wine farm, situated on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountain near Stellenbosch in South Africa, is home to the legendary Spatz Sperling, his family and a tribe of Jack Russells, and has been producing internationally acclaimed wines for sixty years. German gemütlichkeit is the order of the day at this garden restaurant in its stunning setting with a view clear across to Table Mountain in the distance. The restaurant offers a selection of dishes ranging from cheese platters to traditional German and South African food. Eat alfresco on the garden terraces in summer; enjoy delectable, well-prepared comfort food next to a crackling fire in winter. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and tea, and also caters for small private functions. It is child-friendly with a special kiddies menu. Restaurant booking essential, especially on weekends and holidays. Open seven days a week, Monday to Sunday, from 09h00 to 17h00. Closed on New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Situated on the Delheim Wine Farm, Knorhoek Road, off the R44 between Stellenbosch and Paarl.

Guardian Peak is essentially a winery - with a restaurant. From entering the farm, following the road through the vineyards and finding the restaurant nestled against the breathtaking backdrop of the Helderberg Mountain, one will soon buy into the “living the lifestyle” concept that drives this establishment. If it’s modernity that one seeks, then Guardian Peak will certainly meet expectations. The open plan restaurant boasts a demonstration kitchen, allowing guests to experience the energy and synergy that takes place in a professional kitchen. The menu’s contemporary interpretation of ‘wine with food’ pairing (and not the other way round) leaves no room for ignorant choices when it comes to marrying food with drink. The menu, which is seasonal, is wickedly extravagant. Besides a fare of traditional venison and lamb, patrons will be hard pressed not to succumb to temptations of Courgette & Goats cheese soufflé, Roasted Apple and Raisin Pork Belly or Quail Breast stuffed with bacon and sage. Soak up the South African sunshine on the terrace or feel right at home with the warmth of the fireplace in winter, either way Guardian Peak is a great lunch location.

Sprawling lawns and gardens invites alfresco dining under an old Oak tree and roaring log fires warm frosty limbs dining on hearty country cuisine. Nestled on the Morgenhof Wine Farm, the setting captures the senses and essence of the wine lands. The menu invites a la carte lunches and afternoon teas brimming with seasonal produce and lighter options such as salads. Dine in the garden under the age-old Oak tree or within glass walled restaurant dressed in vines, warmed by the winter sunshine and fireplace at the Morgenhof Restaurant in Stellenbosch.

A restaurant that offers Oemf: Outstanding Excellence More Frequently. This “eethuis” (eating house), located in a small business park off Dorp Street Stellenbosch, delivers genuine, wholesome food that calls for seconds. The restaurant is has a Victorian elegance with its wooden floors, solid wood furnishings and feminine touches. The sound of bird chatter in the background adds a certain homely charm to the place. It is a restaurant with many faces. Not only is it a relaxed spot for local office workers to grab a bite or a coffee, but it is also an alternative to take-away dinners. The wholesome, home-style cooked meals may be collected on pre order to be taken home and enjoyed. What a pleasure! The menu changes on a weekly basis and regular visitors are kept one step ahead by having the menu emailed to them on Mondays. Besides the regular menu items, there is also a range of snack like options to compliment after work drinks at the bar. And if what one is after is not the menu? Patrons are at liberty to request dishes to satisfy in- the- moment cravings. Thursdays are Malay inspired with curries, samoosas, and other favourites. Oemf Eethuis is a one stop, all stop spot that hits the spot every time.

A lime washed farm house is home to The Blue Orange, a popular coffee shop along the historic and scenic Dorp Street in Stellenbosch. Serving breakfast and lunch, this cup of java spot is an oasis of tranquillity in the central hub of the town. In summer, sitting in the shady front garden, watching the people on the street while sipping cappuccino and glancing at the daily newspaper is a soul satisfying experience. The inside restaurant is cosy with its wooden floors and freshly baked and coffee aromas which makes it an obvious choice in colder weather. The menu is focused on lighter meals with a great selection of breakfast and sandwich choices. The cakes and pastries are a must try. The Blue Orange also has a deli, with an array of breads, meats and cakes for purchase. The fascinating little gift shop is definitely worth a browse on the way out.

The Only One restaurant is situated at the entrance of Hartenberg Wine Estate on the Stellenbosch Bottelary wine route. This pleasant eatery is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers visitors country hospitality in a tranquil setting. Choose the cosy interior with two fire places in winter to keep warm while tucking into the restaurant’s special winter menu. Not only does The Only One provide traditional cuisine, one can also savour a glass or two of the estate’s award winning merlot or shiraz. Sunny days certainly call for an outdoor breakfast or lunch on the deck overlooking the pond. The breakfast and lunch menu deliver all the usual favourites: English Breakfasts, Burgers, Salads and the like. The deck is a particularly good spot of families with young children as the enclosed outdoor play area is near by. In the evenings the deck area is also a popular place for sipping sundowners. The restaurant also caters for small weddings and corporate functions.

Tokara Wine Estate already has a place on the map with its renowned Tokara fine dining restaurant, but now also caters for a casual eating out experience with its DeliCatEssen. The deli’s café style (and slightly cat obsessed) restaurant hosts breakfast and lunch. The wine estate is located in the Helshoogte pass between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and overlooks the splendour of False Bay, Table Mountain, and the Simonsberg Mountains. The laid back atmosphere makes it easy to unwind and with the children duly occupied with the outdoor play section and table activities like colouring in, parents really can delve into the menu and chillax. Expect traditional deli fare: Tokara’s own olive oils, artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, preserves, pastries, cakes and quiches. The breakfast menu delivers a health breakfast, coconut bread and jam, scrambled egg and bacon and baked egg and spinach. And for the kiddies? Corn flakes or scrambled egg. With the emphasis on fresh, local, organic, preservative-free farm produce one can look forward to hearty unpretentious food. The menu has a quirky element and follows through on the Cat theme with anecdotes to the likes of: Has the Cat got your tongue? The restaurant also offers a buffet lunch on Sundays.

Wijnhuis is more than just a Stellenbosch eatery, it’s an experience. True to its name, this ‘home of wine’ houses a selection of four hundred wines and, if the cultivar culture isn’t enough to soak up, the restaurant is adjoined to the well known SMAC Art Gallery. Wine, food and art roofed under a 17th century land mark on Church Street makes for a memorable eating out experience. The predominantly Mediterranean menu is not limited to dinner and the restaurant offers meals throughout the day including lighter meals and snacks. Choose to be seated under the oak trees of the Wijnhius’ Street Cafe at lunch or in the upstairs restaurant when part larger crowd. Families with children will also feel at home in the restaurant’s versatile setting and easy going atmosphere. Favourites on the menu include pastas, Kalahari Lamb and venison. A nice touch to the menu is that all Wijnhuis’ seasonal vegetable produce which is grown on the restaurant owner’s farm in Wellington. The wine lounge and shop stocks a range of rare vintage wines and offers an international freighting service for serious collectors – pure indulgence all round for the food and wine lover.