Western Cape Restaurants

The continental atmosphere remains informally decorated, exuding a warm and cosy taverna ambiance. Beautiful views of Table Mountain compliment the extensive menu brimming with choice and tempting deserts. Try the fresh line fish or other seafood specials. Or indulge in a little meat or charcoal grilled steaks such as spicy trinchado or Portuguese fillet steaks. Finger licking peri-peri baby chicken or prawns remain favourites and traditional dishes such as smoked eisbein, espetada, vegetable platters & salads. Soak up the continental atmosphere and beautiful views alongside finger licking cuisine at Dias Tavern.

Warmed in shades or burned orange, golden yellow and striking floral drapes this cool restaurant tempts the palate with exotic selections of Portuguese dishes and traditional fare. Seduce the senses with a starter of Caldo Verde - a traditional soup with potatoes, kale and sliced Chorico, perfect for cold winter evenings or the Prego Frenchado - cubes of pan-fried steak served with a wine sauce mopped up with delicious bread to soak up the heavenly homemade sauce. For main course, the Bacalhau Assado - grilled salted codfish - prepared in true Portuguese fashion and served with baby potatoes, strips of green pepper and a vinaigrette sauce will explode the palate. Now into its ninth successful year, O’Pescador Restaurant knows what it takes to keep the belly satisfied – excellent food, great service and mouth-watering flavours!

Seating 300 patrons with a spacious dance floor and live band, diners enjoy sophisticated elegance contrasted by spectacular chandeliers, dramatic upholstery and opulent décor. Simple white walls display the rich décor timelessly while eye-catching light displays enhance feature walls painted in ruby red dressed in larger than life 30’s prints. The menu focuses on seafood and Portuguese specialties. From prawns, langoustines, crayfish, and seafood platters to traditional Portuguese dishes and popular starters such as pan-fried prawns. Main course specialties include the Duck mandarin with a grand Marnier Sauce and spatchcock baby chicken peri-peri style. Conclude your meal with a rich and decadent and sinfully delicious baked Cheesecake or a smooth rich Crème Brulee. An impressive bar handcrafted in rich dark wood caters with elegant cocktails to be enjoyed inside or alfresco on the terrace. Pigalle secures luxury, elegance and opulence for those who enjoy fine dining on seafood with a Portuguese twist.

For sumptuous Mozambican and Portuguese fare at a stunning location in Kalk Bay, Polana is a definite must-try. Tasty staples like fresh and tender calamari as well as prego rolls feature on the well-planned menu along with many other flavoursome choices. A great wine list provides a superb accompaniment to your meal.

Tasca de Belem is one of Cape Town’s finest Tapas restaurants. Located in the V & A Waterfront, the restaurant offers diners exquisite views of Table Mountain and Signal Hill, as well as the busy harbour. There is a truly Mediterranean feel about the restaurant, not only because of its Turkish influenced Portuguese menu, but the atmosphere is relaxed, welcoming and vibrant. Belem is the historical part of Lisbon, where centuries ago explorers set out to conquer the unknown worlds the lay beyond Europe. One of the first journeys made from here was to Turkey, so it is quite fitting that this restaurant should be a marriage between to the two cuisines. Tasca, meaning tavern, offers diners fabulous meze and tapas dishes that are the perfect fusion of these two historical cultures. The dishes on the menu represent the best of both Turkish and Portuguese cuisine with traditional favourites such as Trinchado and Espatada, as well as Shish Kebab and Ali Nazik, Tasca de Belem is a cross cultural cuisine experience for all food lovers.

This unpretentious eatery proffers hearty Portuguese cuisine and a well-priced wine list. Dine alfresco during balmy summer months on the veranda on traditional steak, egg, chips, rice and salad. Beef and chicken trinchado rests in a nice garlicky wine sauce and the prawn rissoles, crispy on the outside, explode with a rich creamy sauce and bits of prawn, fanned with some lemon juice. Winter seeks warmth and hearty dishes such as the feijoda (a traditional bean, pork, chorizo, and chicken stew) perfect for wintery evenings.