Top 5 Unique Food Experiences You Should Try in the Cape
Cape Town foodies in the know will be quick to tell you that there are loads of incredible places to eat in Cape Town and beyond. From laid-back hangouts to fine dining eateries that will blow your socks off – it’s all happening in the Cape. If you’ve found yourself in a bit of a restaurant rut and are bored of typical Friday night dinners at the same old restaurants then check out these 5 fabulous Cape Town foodie finds that are a little more off-the-beaten-track.
1. Reverie Social Table – Observatory
If you consider yourself a bit of a social butterfly, this is the restaurant for you. Chef Julia Hattingh’s Reverie Social Table Experience is set around a simply stunning 18-seater table that welcomes everyone to chill, put away your phones and enjoy each other’s company. Dinner is served in the form of five beautifully plated seasonal courses paired with local boutique wines – a topic of conversation itself amongst your new friends! Our favourite dish of the night was the Franschhoek Trout starter with black sesame paste, orange blossom and strawberry vinaigrette – what a delight! Read our full review here.
Reverie Social Table is open Monday to Saturday from 11:00 to 15:00, and 19:00 to 23:00. Dinner reservations are essential and can be done online.
2. Alba Floating Restaurant – V&A Waterfront
A completely unique experience, Alba is a 22m, floating fine dining restaurant, which also takes you on a little cruise around the V&A Waterfront. The restaurant offers a multi-course dining menu, but we absolutely love its High Tea Cruise! This takes place every Saturday between 16:00 and 17:00 and is R495 per person, which includes a glass of bubbly, tea, coffee, and a selection of sweet and savoury treats including gourmet sandwiches, milk tart, churros and cheesecake. Enjoy a high tea on the high seas while delighting in the wondrous views of the Cape Town skyline. You can also experience a Bubbly Brunch Cruise (Monday – Sunday from 10:00 to 11:30), Lunch Cruise (Monday – Sunday from 13:00 to 14:30), Sunset Cruise (Monday – Friday, and Sunday from 16:00 to 17:30), or Dinner Cruise (Monday – Sunday from 19:00 to 21:00).
For more information and booking visit the Alba website here.
3. Lapo’s Kitchen – Observatory
An award-winning Italian chef – Chef Lapo Magni – has opened up his home for guests to enjoy an incredible four-course meal! Chef Lapo is passionate about only cooking with sustainable, local ingredients and indulges guests with his vast knowledge about suppliers too. A traditional Italian experience you don’t want to miss, Lapo’s Kitchen is sure to wow guests with the palatable menu including dishes like crispy fried zucchini flowers with ricotta and red pepper purée and slow-roasted Karoo lamb marinated with honey, anchovy and mustard. For drinks, it’s a BYOB deal, but Chef Lapo will advise you on wine pairing options when booking.
Lapo’s Kitchen operates on a reservations-only basis. For more information, or to make a booking visit the Lapo’s Kitchen website.
4. Side Wing – Southfield
Located at a home in Ottery, this local secret spot specialises in chicken wings! With new flavours of wings constantly being created, this is the perfect place for meat-lovers. Not a fan of chicken wings? This little spot also offers things like southern fried chicken burgers and ribs on their menu and they’re absolutely delicious!
For more details, say Hi to Side Wing on Facebook.
5. 24 Stasie – Paarl
Keeping with the theme of home kitchens, Chef Mynhardt Joubert has hidden this gem in his backyard (well, in his home kitchen to be exact!). 24 Stasie provides a comfy, warm atmosphere along with delicious, home-cooked food. The dining area is intimate and seats between 10 and 30 people – the ideal place to enjoy a meal with family and friends. The 5-course experience and wine pairing is one not to be missed with a new menu to sample each time – expect delights like Fried Green Tomato Salad, Sophia Adonis’ pickled Fish Cakes and Mosbolletjies, and Roast Lamb and Figs with Gorgonzola Tagliatelle. Make sure you arrive hungry! Read our full review here.
For more information and bookings visit Chef Mynhardt’s website.