Below is the list of my top Cape Town Restaurants in the Cape Peninsula region/hood.

Crofter’s Kitchen 

A shared table concept with a rock star Chef Nicky Gibbs in her gorgeous home in Noordhoek.    This is a five course fine dining tasting menu paired with teas.   Her ingredients are “croftered” and foraged from her garden, the fynbos, the forests and the coast line.   Chef Nicky introduces each course and explains each dish and its ingredients.   We loved our visit to try out Crofter’s Kitchen.   Chef Nicky is a wonderfully warm and welcoming host.   Her home is contemporary and located on the side of the mountain in Noordhoek – as such one enjoys views of the ocean in the distance.  All of her dishes are plated in front of you and you are welcome to chat to her and her chef friend as they create each dish in front of you. The menu will change often to reflect seasonal ingredients.       This is a wonderful seasonal local flavour journey!  As she does not have a liquor license – one is welcome to bring one’s own wine along.    I would advise that one needs about 2.5 hours to work through the five courses!   Lunch is restricted to 16 people maximum.  So book and settle in for the afternoon!   Cost – R765 per person excluding gratuity.   One has to book and pay in advance.   Contact Chef Nicky to book – +27-837315208 or nickygibbs247@icloud.com

Harbour House

This is an absolute favourite of mine as this restaurant boasts the best sea view.  When booking try and get a table on the small side of the restaurant (the old part)…..then ask for a table in front of the windows – if you get one of these tables – stay for the entire afternoon.  The Harbour House Restaurant is perched above the Kalk Bay community fishing harbour – so the fish of the day – is excellent and of course – extremely fresh!  Check out the chalk boards for what the catch of the day is and how the chef is preparing it.  My recommendation would be to sample what they do best – fish!      Booking required during busy times and on weekends.   Note that they book on a split seating – 12h00 or 14h30.   Tel +27-21-788-4133. Open daily for lunch & dinner. Location Kalk Bay Harbour – above Live Bait Restaurant.  Click here to view a wonderful You Tube video on the fishing harbour of Kalk Bay and Harbour House restaurant.

 Olympia Cafe 

Is one of the Cape’s best kept secrets.  If you looked through the window you would walk right on past.  Very little money has been spent on decor or on the kitchen.  It is scruffy.   The chef prepares your food on a little gas stove behind the counter.  The imaginative Mediterranean menu changes daily with offerings chalked up on the wall. Each menu is dependant on what is fresh on the day and on what the Chefs are in the mood to prepare.  Over the years a few dishes have stayed on the menu and can be found there on most days.   The mussels rock – do not leave without trying the mussels!  Fish – it is across the road from the harbour – the fish is some of the freshest in Cape Town – and they are famous for their tuna …………………and their seafood pasta is a tomato base Seafood Marinara that I dream about.   You cannot go wrong – everything is delicious on their menu!  The restaurant has its own bakery and supplies the best bread, croissants and pastries in the Cape.  Be sure to take a loaf of the ciabatta bread home with you – I am addicted! Note: No booking are allowed. If the restaurant is full on arrival, write your name on the chalk board next to the door immediately. The next table that becomes available will be given to the next person on the list next to the door.  134 Main Rd, Kalk Bay. Tel: +27-21-788-6396  Note: This is about a 45 minute drive from the city centre. NOTE- the Olympia cafe has opened a deli around the corner from the restaurant next to the car park.  It is also good to visit if you simply wish to go and have a picnic in the Kalk Bay Harbour.

The Foodbarn

Franck Dangereux split the Foodbarn into two shops – the Foodbarn Restaurant offers a fine dining experience and the Foodbarn Deli still offers the farm store produce such as delicious breads and deli items, as well as a lighter eating experience.  The deli is a fabulous spot to have coffees, eat pastries and read the weekend newspaper.  The payoff line for the FOODBARN is “100% PASSION     HANDMADE    REAL FOOD” This philosophy accurately summed up all of our eating experiences here.  The Foodbarn Deli does not take bookings.    Bookings are recommended for the fine dining restaurant, no bookings are taken for the Deli restaurant.  Franck has lived in the Cape for more then 20 years.  He is a very well respected Chef and has his fine dining restaurant is located in an old barn.   It is beautifully decorated.   It has a lovely relaxed country vibe.   Franck has a cult groupie foodie following.    This is well worth including if you find yourself in the peninsula region or include it as part of your day out exploring the Cape Point region.

Tel +27-21-789-1390. Note that the restaurant is only open for lunch on Sunday and Monday and is open for lunch & dinner from Tues to Sat.  TIP – about 100m up the road you will find Cape Point Vineyards – which is a fantastic vineyard – so stop for a tasting – and also great for picnics in summer!

Live Bait – Kalk Bay Harbour

Is located just below the Harbour House.  It is relaxed and laid back with waves crashing along the side of the restaurant.  This has rapidly become one of our favourite spots for Sushi and great bottles of white wine.  The restaurants focus is on fresh fish which comes in daily from the local harbour next to it.  It is reasonably priced and strongly recommended for an afternoon of relaxing, feasting on fresh fish, drinking champers and watching the waves with a group of friends.  Open daily from 08h30 – 22h00. Booking recommended.  Tel +27-21-788-5755 (Note that new Live Bait’s have been opened as it has been sold – however the best food is still to be found at the mother branches – which are Harbour House & Live Bait in Kalk Bay!)