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Top African restaurants in Cape Town
Taste traditional foods from Cape to Cairo + be entertained by cultural stories
Last updated: Thursday, 17 March 2022
African food is a very broad label. Every country, and within these individual cities, has its own flavours, spice mixes and culture. Take a tour of Cape Town's restaurants and you can eat dishes from across the continent. However, African cuisine is not just about eating the food, it’s also about the music, dance, culture and unique African hospitalit. All of which is sure to make your dining experience memorable.
EXPERIENCE 14 DIFFERENT CULTURE’S FOOD
Eating at Gold Restaurant is a rich sensory experience. Malian puppets greet you at the door, there’s a rousing djembe drumming session (in which you can participate), traditional praise singing and other African songs are sung, and there are incredible dancers. The meal itself spans 14 countries on the continent and, bonus, all the halaal meat meals have vegetarian alternatives at Gold Restaurant.
Date: Monday to Sunday, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Price range: 14-dish African feast, R435 pp (children under 12 charged 50% of fee, 4 and under eat free); optional djembe drumming, R120 pp
15 Bennett St | Green Point | 021 421 4653 | Instagram: @goldrestaurantcapetown | Image: GOLD Restaurant
TASTE WILD GAME, FROM KUDU TO CROCODILE
In this vibrant orange building, you'll not only encounter authentic and down-to-earth décor, but live music and dancing too. The menu specialises in game such as springbok, kudu and ostrich – even crocodile – served with sides of pap and other staples. You’ll also find traditional dishes such as tripe and steamed ox tongue on the menu. There’s also an extensive wine list at Marco's African Place.
Date: Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 11pm
Price range: From R40
15 Rose Lane | Bo-Kaap | 021 423 5412 | Instagram: @marcosafricanplace | Image: Marcos African Place
DINE LIKE A SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY
Seven Colours Eatery is all about South African food and culture. At many South African tables, food of many different colours is served on the same plate – beetroot, yellow rice, multi-coloured veggies, brown stews etc, creating a delicious mix of flavours. Seven Colours Eatery draws on this creativity, diversity and nostalgia. Tty a local favourite like umleqhwa (a meat potjie) or veggie dishes umngqusho (samp and beans) or umfino (spinach). The chefs make a wide range of quality, home-cooked, comfort-food that will evoke wonderful childhood memories for most.
Date: Monday to Sunday, 11am to 5:30pm
Price range: R45 to R240
19 Dock Rd | Victoria & Alfred Waterfront | 083 729 7816 | Instagram: @sevencolours_eatery | Image: Seven Colours Eatery
ADVENTUROUS? TRY MOPANE WORMS + TERMITES
The idea behind Pahari’s food is to keep alive the flavours and recipes of old – Pahari is Shona for “place of pots”, and references the clay cooking pots of old. Here you’ll find mopane worms in chilli sauce, fried termites and crispy tiny fish, traditional chicken and beef stews, and vegetable sides that can become a main, such as green vegetables in peanut butter. Everything is under R110, although there are also platters to share that start from R280. Plus you can also book a 2-hour cooking class (R500pp).
Date: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 9pm; Sunday, 11am to 6pm
Price range: From R25
121 Cecil Road | Salt River | 078 107 1541 | Instagram: @pahari_african_restaurant | Image: Pahari African Restaurant
SHARE A PLATE OF ETHIOPIAN FOOD
Timbuktu Café is in Observatory and an affordable favourite when it comes to this country’s cuisine. Eat delicious shiro (a tasty chickpea stew), tibs (beef stew), doro wot (spicy chicken stew) and vegetarian dishes from fried cabbage to beetroot, and wrap them up in injera, a flatbread made with teff flour (it’s gluten-free). Best part is that the vegan and vegetarian options are good.
Date: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 10pm
Price range: R150 to R380 per person
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