Entree: Cape Town
Rhodes Memorial Restaurant
Groote Schuur Estate
The Rhodes Memorial Restaurant is in a quaint stone cottage in the grounds of the Groote Schuur Estate, home to a collection of wildebeest. It has a panoramic view of the city and is open for breakfast until 11.30am and lunch until 5pm. A traditional English breakfast costs R33.50 (HK$38) and the continental option or huevos rancheros are both R34.50. Lunch costs about R45 for a salad or a sandwich, while fuller fare such as pasta, smoked salmon and line fish pie or a spinach and feta tart cost R50-R60.
Den Anker Restaurant & Bar
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Sit quayside and admire Table Mountain from this Belgian restaurant by the revamped harbour. There's a large selection of beers to accompany steaming pots of Langebaan mussels (R79/kg), succulent white fish kingklip in saffron sauce (R98) or springbok steak (R115). Call a day ahead to order Belgian favourites coq au vin or waterzooi. And then nibble away as Cape fur seals frolic in the water and catamarans come in to dock.
Brass Bell Restaurant
Main Road, Kalk Bay
The Brass Bell Restaurant in Kalk Bay has great views clear across False Bay. It has been around for almost 70 years and has grown in an appealingly ramshackle way. The views are best from the upstairs terrace and restaurant and there's a pub on the ground floor that overflows at weekends. There are splash pools right in front of the restaurant that are great for cooling off. Six oysters cost R65, as does a plate of west coast black mussels. A hearty pot of Malay seafood curry is R72. There are also seasonal specials and fresh line fish every day.
Silver Tree Restaurant
In the grounds of the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Silver Tree Restaurant sits on the back slopes of Table Mountain. It offers South African fare, with the Cape Malay speciality bobotie, ostrich steaks and venison on the menu. Main courses cost about R80-R90. Take in Table Mountain's east side through the floor-to-ceiling windows or sit out on the terrace. There's a large fireplace for cold winter evenings and a casual deli next door that's open during the day.
On the Rocks
45 Stadler Road, Bloubergstrand
On the Rocks sits - surprise, surprise - on the rocks, just north of the city. It's on the long curve of a windswept beach that looks directly back across Table Bay at the city and Table Mountain. If you're lucky, you'll spot dolphins or penguins jumping through the waves just offshore. There are fresh line fish, sole, kingklip and salmon for R90-R95, or order a seafood platter with langoustines, tiger prawns and lobster (R400-R550). For landlubbers there are beef fillets (R110), lamb shanks (R130) and venison (R130).
