It's great to enjoy local produce wherever you are in the world. A visit to
Cape Town means tasting the delights of nearby vineyards, the fruit of the orchards and meat reared on surrounding lush pastures. With an ocean setting to boot, the fruits of the sea are irresistible and include freshly caught line fish, rock lobster and abalone. All these and more are served in a myriad of restaurants that offer food styles that range from classic to exotic.
The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront is a magnet for tourists, with entertainment, shops, bars, a shopping mall, a range of excellent restaurants and the all important "Nelson Mandela Gateway". As South Africa's most visited attraction, this working harbour is well equipped to cater for all tastes.
With over 80 eateries, you will spoilt for choice. There's just about everything from Juice Bars, Coffee Bars, Burger Bars, pubs and take away shops, to the finest restaurants in town. There's even a Comedy Club where you can dine whilst being entertained and there's a Brewery which is now an institution! And lest we forget, there's McDonald's and KFC!!
Beyond the Waterfront are many more options and one of our recommendations would be to treat yourself to a sumptuous meal at The Roundhouse. It's an exquisite restaurant full of history and character. The location of this one time hunting lodge is perfect, tucked away in the valleys of "Table Mountain", with sweeping views of Camps Bay and the coastline. There are great menus to choose from and a good bet is the tasting menu. The sommelier is at hand to suggest what will be an extraordinary wine experience that pairs perfectly with your choice of cuisine.
A little less ‘upmarket' is Dog's Bollocks – no we're not joking! It is an amazing place, and fairly new to the Cape Town scene, opening in 2013. It's a trendy burger joint serving great burgers made by Nigel, who incidentally also makes the wine served here. The wine comes in cardboard tubes. It really is worth a visit and don't worry if you are a veggie, there are amazing veggie versions too. One tip is to arrive early otherwise you will miss out! Almost forgot to mention Dog's Bollocks is in a driveway.
Camps Bay is must for all visitors to the city and a perfect spot for an evening cocktail. Try Waku for cocktails and their own Asian tapas. Alternatively there's The Planet Bar at the Mount Nelson Hotel where you can sip champagne accompanied by caviar and oysters. The Mount Nelson Hotel is also good for afternoon tea!
Whilst you are in Cape Town, it's worth taking an excursion to the Winelands for a spot of tasting.
Stellenbosch is the heart of the country's wine industry and a perfect place to see amazing scenery and taste some of the finest wines. It's also the second oldest city in South Africa and a great university town – anyone interested in rugby will be keen to see this city or as I did, take in a local match at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town.