10 Top healthy eateries in Cape Town

Slimming down the choice of Cape Town's healthy eateries 

Contrary to popular belief, healthy food is not restricted to carrots and cardboard-tasting crackers. We have come a long way in the past few decades to banish the stereotype that food that’s good for you tastes bad, and these days there are plenty of Cape Town restaurants that create dishes that are both healthy and delicious.

So what does a healthy menu consist of? For one, culinary offerings that are low in fat, high in fibre and rich in nutrients and minerals. Healthy eateries are also those that often have natural, organic and whole-food products that are unprocessed, free from hormones, sweeteners and food colourings on their menus.

Furthermore, many Cape Town restaurants are devoted to providing meals that are not only healthy and fresh, but that also utilise locally sourced ingredients and that aim to accommodate those with food allergies or dietary constraints, such as lactose and nut intolerances.

HEALTHY EATERIES IN THE CAPE TOWN CITY CENTRE

Addis in Cape
With an extensive menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options, Addis in the Cape – an Ethiopian restaurant in Cape Town – is a fantastic place to share a memorable, yet healthy meal. Ethiopian cuisine is famous for its rich aromas and generous use of herbs and spices; though, it’s definitely not for the faint at heart.  Addis’s flavourful stews are served in a pancake-like sourdough base called Injera, which is gluten-free, fat-free and which is meant to be shared in a warm and communal manner. All the food on the menu is Halaal-friendly.
41 Church Street | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 424 5722

Dear Me
Dear Me is a gourmet brasserie in the Cape Town city centre that caters for vegetarians, vegans and people with any type of food intolerance. The kitchen team is passionate about fresh, seasonal produce prepared in a natural way, and aims to ensure the cuisine is still dished up with the maximum preservation of nutrients. Suppliers are handpicked, and usually share in Dear Me’s vision and commitment to create and maintain sustainable and ethical food production practices. 
165 Long Market Street | Cape Town | +27(0)21 422 4920

Myog
In the mood for something naughty, nice and guilt-free (without the extra calories)? The Myog frozen yoghurt store on Kloof Street – which has become somewhat of an institution since its opening - dishes up delicious frozen yoghurt that is 98% fat-free. With a vibrant and funky interior, the store’s décor is as fresh as its locally-sourced ingredients (all our brought in from within the Western Cape). Not to mention, the delicious dessert is high in protein and calcium, and has both live and probiotic cultures. 
103 Kloof Street | Cape Town |

Sababa Kitchen and Deli
Healthy salads and vegetarian dishes abound at this Middle Eastern-inspired deli. The Cape Town city centre eatery offers an extensive menu that will even satisfy the cravings of the carnivorously inclined. Think falafel balls, dolmades, Lebanese pastries and leek and cheese borekas with stuffed cabbage rolls. All of the food is fresh and prepared daily on the premises by the cooks. They also cater for individuals with basic food allergies and intolerances, such as lactose intolerance and Gluten intolerance. You can also purchase some goodies to take back home for a nice respite from the usual supermarket ready-to-eat alternatives.
231 Bree Street | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 21 424 7480

The Kitchen
The food produced at this Woodstock eatery is contemporary and fresh, and as much as possible, is made only from seasonal and local produce. The dishes are predominantly Mediterranean and Oriental in flavour, but they also flaunt a modern South African twist. The Kitchen is particularly well-known for its inventive salads - there are 20 to choose from on any given day - such as the lentil, black rice and coriander salad. Thus, people with food intolerances are sure to find something to suit their diet.
111 Sir Lowry Road | Woodstock | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 21 462 2201

Crush
This fresh food café in the heart of Cape Town offers healthy and nutritious meals made with exclusively seasonal ingredients. The informal, relaxed culinary hotspot prepares raw, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as freshly-squeezed juices, herbal teas and organic coffees. Crush prides itself on its support for local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally-friendly products, and it aims to provide the health conscience community with quality fare at affordable prices.
Shop no. 8 | St. George’s Mall | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 21 422 55 33

Sheff’s restaurant
Sheff’s is a small and vibrant restaurant situated in the mid-section of the Mother City’s CBD. With a healthy selection of dishes that caters for both vegans and vegetarians, the restaurant also prides itself on its ability to conjure up culinary concoctions that keeps food as close to its natural state as possible, such as lentil burgers, green salads and freshly squeezed juices. They can cater for any food intolerances or allergy – just ask the chef and he will adjust the dish accordingly. All the ingredients they use are high in fibre and complex carbohydrates, laying the framework for an energy-filled day.
Please note: Sheff’s will be closed for renovations until the end of September 2012.
4A Buiten Street | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 73 273 5104

The Wellness Warehouse
The WellCafé (situated in most Wellness Warehouse stores) offers smoothies, sandwiches, salads and other healthy snacks. The café also caters for a wide range of food intolerances in its menu selection, such as wheat and dairy intolerances. Furthermore, if you feel like taking some of these delicious and nutritious snacks back home, the foodmarket stocks health foods, organic foods and foods that are low in saturated fat, salt and sugar.
Lifestyle Centre | 50 Kloof Street | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 21 487 5440

Kauai
Kauai is, arguably, the institution most well-recognised by South Africans for convenient food options that are healthy, fresh and nutritious. The food chain uses the most wholesome ingredients, and caters for a wide variety of dietary preferences. Not to mention, the eateries can readily make substitutions for those with food intolerances: If you are lactose intolerant, Kauai’s smoothies can be made with GM free rice milk, and all of the mayonnaise used in their sandwiches and salads is egg-free for vegetarians and vegans. Lastly, all menu offerings are free from trans fats, MSG and tartazine; the breads are wheat-free and the wraps are gluten-free.
Various locations across Cape Town

Osumo
The sister chain to Kauia, Osumo and its menu offering claims the same health benefits as it’s more well-known brother. They try their best to only use free-range produce, and they will go the extra mile to cater for individuals with lactose, dairy, wheat and sugar intolerances. Also look out for their all-female staff - healthy girl power at its best.
Various locations across Cape Town

Gusto Cafeteria
The food at Gusto Cafeteria is served buffet-style and is made fresh every day from seasonal produce. Some of the options available on the menu include salads, sandwiches and freshly squeezed juices. The chef and staff are all well aware of the nutritious elements of all their dishes, and patrons can ask for dishes to be adjusted to cater for any food intolerances.
117 Hatfield Street | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 21 461 7868

Sushi in Cape Town
Most of us are aware of the immense health benefits related to eating sushi. For those of you still in the dark, fish is a lean source of low-calorie, high-quality protein. It is also low in saturated fats and cholesterol, making it a heart-healthy food choice. The thin sheets of seaweed that are wrapped around maki and hand rolls is high in iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron and folic acids, essential for proper hormone functioning. See our list of the best sushi restaurants in Cape Town.

HEALTHY EATERIES IN THE CAPE PENINSULA

Bolo bolo
Bolo bolo is a plant-based café (which means they are 100% vegan) in the heart of Muizenberg’s surfing village. They serve a variety of healthy, delicious and well-priced food and drink that is 100% animal-product free. The café prides itself on using products that are local, ethically-sourced and organic. Their menu accommodates people with gluten and wheat intolerances, but requests to the chef can also be made if a patron has any other food allergies. Apart from serving a delicious variety of vegan delights, they also source and sell unusual literature and books. 
42 Palmer Road | Muizenberg | Cape Town | + 27 (0) 82 557 3912

The Tibetan Teahouse
The Tibetan Teahouse, situated alongside the Sophea Art Gallery, affords beautiful views of False Bay. It is known for providing patrons with delicious and healthy meal options, and is loved by vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The menu offers imaginative and tasty vegetarian and vegan food that’s based on original Tibetan recipes. All meals and cakes are prepared from the finest ingredients, and organic coffees and herbal teas make a fitting accompaniment.
2 Harrington Road | Simon’s Town | + 27 (0) 21 786 1544

HEALTHY EATERIES IN THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS

Kwalapa
At Kwalapa (meaning ‘local’ in Xhosa), you can expect food that truly lives up to its name: the organic whole foods store, deli and food design centre is passionate about seasonal, local produce. Tuck into golden and delicious organic chicken pie, butternut and feta wraps or a delicious selection of healthy breakfasts. They also offer a tasty raw food platter, suitable for vegans and vegetarians, as well as gluten-free bread and buckwheat wraps. With ingredients sourced from local farmers, the scrumptious whole foods deli tells the stories of people who put their lives into growing, chopping, sorting and slicing organic produce. Every Saturday they host talkshops that feature the producers, and they also publish information regarding the producers on their website.
31 Newlands Avenue | Montebello Design Estate | Newlands | +27 (0)21 685 8708 

The Gaia food market
The Gaia food market in Constantia is a speciality Saturday food market dedicated to authentic plant-based cuisine. The weekend event caters for conscientious food lovers, those who are mindful of where their food is grown and how it is prepared. Some of the produce you can expect at the market includes organic fresh fruits and vegetables, freshly baked breads, winter soups, raw tree nuts, olives and fresh juices. Vegans, especially, enjoy the market, as they find loads of choices instead of the usual limited number of vegan offerings.
Corner of Spaanschemat River Road and Firgrove Way | Constantia | Cape Town

La Belle Café and Bakery
Situated in the leafy Constantia Valley, La Belle offers an array of light yet satisfying meals – from fresh-from-the-oven-bakes to organic salads made with herbs and vegetables from the garden. The deli caters for individuals with a gluten-intolerance, and it makes use of the best local and homemade treats, including condiments and preserves. Simply choose a dish from the deli for takeaway if you prefer to enjoy your fare at home rather than at the restaurant itself.
Alphen Hotel | Constantia | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 795 6336

The Millstone Eco-friendly Farm Stall & Cafe
Try this delightful café for tasty food, freshly squeezed juices and home-grown organic produce. Millstone grows all of its own vegetables organically, much of which is then transported to the nearby suburbs to be sold by horse and cart. The guilt-free eats can be enjoyed in an equally healthy natural setting (there’s a lovely on-site garden featuring a tree house on which the kids can have hours of fun).
Alexandra Road | Oude Molen Eco Village | Pinelands | +27 (0)21 447 8226 

HEALTHY EATERIES IN CAPE TOWN’S SURROUNDS

The Nook Eatery
The Nook Eatery in Stellenbosch offers a breakfast menu fit for an Olympian.  Choose from an extensive list of yummy smoothies, fruits with yoghurt, homemade granola and scrambled eggs. The lunchtime buffet offers an equally healthy assortment of fresh salads and homemade sandwiches and soups. The kitchen team at the Nook aims to use local and seasonal produce that is preservative free, and they even stock the vegetarian white and red wines by MANvintners. If you have any food intolerances, just ask the chef and he will try and accommodate you as much as possible.
42 Ryneveld Street | Stellenbosch | + 27 (0) 21 887 7703
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By Adri de Kock

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Read more about the Rise of the Health Food Shop in Cape Town or check out our 10 Top Super Foods.

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