Spending a day (or week) in the beautiful Paarl valley? Then be sure to check out these top restaurants.

This selection comprises all the Paarl restaurants that made the cut for the 2018 Eat Out 500, the list of the best restaurants in the country as rated and reviewed by our panel of critics for the 2018 edition of Eat Out magazine (on sale now). But we know there are more restaurants in this charming town. Please tell us about your favourites in the comments at the end!

Babel Restaurant (Simondium Road)

If you’re looking for a restaurants where fresh produce is the star of every dish, look no further. Try buttermilk, plum and beetroot soup with star anise and back sesame ice cream for starters. For mains, enjoy fig-leaf-spiced fish with Jerusalem artichokes and chenin blanc butter sauce, beef fillet with risotto, or slow-roasted lamb with spices, pomegranate, pear and rose-water. Also visit the shop, bakery, spa and cellar.

The stunning Babel Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Bertus Basson at Spice Route (Suid-Agter-Paarl Road)

The view here is second to none. Start with vetkoek with apricot butter and a roasted pear, spicy beef bredie samoosas and crispy Cape Malay calamari. The rest of the menu continues the theme, with dishes like bobotie and Cape Malay chicken curry. Enjoy with Spice Route wines, CBC beers and local gins and tonics.

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A dish at Bosman’s Restaurant. Photo supplied.

Bosman’s Restaurant (Plantasie Street)

Enjoy prize-winning wines with Chalmar sirloin (served with mushrooms and buttered potato mash) or the vegetarian truffle tagliatelle. The must-try dessert is the ofenschluper – a bread pudding with a berry compote, served with white chocolate ice cream.

FABER (Lustigan Road)

Chef Eric Bulpitt has created a gem of a restaurant, with much of the menu’s produce grown on-site in Avondale’s biodynamic and organic food garden. For starters, the heerenboon velouté packs a punch. For mains, the braised beef shin is rich and spicy. East Coast hake is cured in salt, sugar and kombu, coated with a flavoured herb crust. Also take advantage of specials in winter time and the chef’s menu.

A dish at FABER. Photo supplied.

Cosecha Restaurant (Klapmuts-Simondium Road)

Sit on the veranda overlooking the garden as you sip on the estate’s wines and marvel at the restaurant’s showstopper: the guacamole made at the table and served with warm tortilla chips. Also have the tacos with shredded pork, their excellent ceviche, and the irresistible serrano-wrapped prawns. Don’t miss the mains of beef enchiladas and fish tacos.

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Goatshed (Southern Paarl)

Start with a cheeseboard with artisanal bread, preserves and cheeses, or opt for an open sandwich or lamb curry. The Pastures section on the à la carte menu offers healthy, farm-style meals to tuck into before selecting a dessert. Options range from a pecan nut brownie to affogato. Enjoy with Fairview wines and CBC beers.

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Greenhouse at Babylonstoren (Klapmuts-Simondium Road)

The small menu here is prepared daily. The sandwich of the day is made with home-made bread and charcuterie or produce from the garden. Scones, served with home-made jam and cream, are what afternoons in the country are made for. Dessert features fruit or comes baked in a jar. Their fruit ice lollies are perfect for summer, enjoyed underneath the trees.

The greenhouse at night. Photo supplied.

This selection comprises all the Paarl restaurants that made the cut for the 2018 Eat Out 500, the list of best restaurants in the country as rated and reviewed by our panel of critics for the 2018 edition of Eat Out magazine (on sale now). But we know there are more restaurants in this charming town. Please tell us about your favourites in the comments at the end.