Stellenbosch Restaurants

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.

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.

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.