With the festive summer season in full swing, nothing embodies the spirit of all things holiday and relaxation like a pristine sea view paired with a delicious meal and a refreshing drink.  

We’ve rounded up a list of exceptional restaurants that offer a breathtaking coastal backdrop. But these spots didn’t just make the list because of their views, they’ve also been lauded for their culinary flair, innovation and refinement, making them the perfect all-rounders.  

Chefs Warehouse at Tinstwalo Atlantic – 1 star
Chapmans Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Cape Town

There’s something magical about a restaurant that makes you forget you’re still in the city. Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic delivers one of Cape Town’s most spectacular dining experiences – where the drama of Chapman’s Peak meets the endless Atlantic ocean.

Under Liam Tomlin’s leadership, this coastal gem serves contemporary tapas that celebrate the Cape’s natural bounty. Chef Cameron Smith and his team craft seasonal small plates designed for sharing, sourcing everything from heirloom vegetables to sustainably caught fish from trusted local suppliers.

 

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Leeto – 1 star 
1 Mosselbank Street, Mosselbank, Paternoster

Also set in the charming West Coast fishing village of Paternoster, Leeto is located at the Strandloper Ocean Boutique Hotel. Sitting right on the beach, it offers uninterrupted ocean views across the West Coast shoreline. 

Chef Garth Almazan leads the kitchen with a focus on refined, contemporary West Coast cuisine, drawing on his background in coastal cooking and his close connection to the ocean and its surrounds. The menu leans heavily on locally sourced, organic ingredients, with a strong emphasis on fresh seafood from the nearby waters. The name Leeto, loosely derived from the Khoi San word for “journey”, reflects the culinary experience chef Garth invites diners to enjoy. 

 

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Nevermind – 1 star
Seal Point Lighthouse, St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape

Located next to the Seal Point Lighthouse in Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape is Nevermind. It’s a relaxed eatery offering a fusion tapas menu that aims to celebrate seasonal produce and open-fire cooking. The heart of this restaurant’s ethos lies in the use of hyper-locally sourced ingredients, with most meals prepared over an open fire.  

Dishing up uninterrupted views of the nearby shoreline and rocky coastal surroundings, the restaurant serves dishes such as smoked saffron socarrat and tuna tataki, which guests can savour as they listen to the sounds of the nearby crashing waves.  

 

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Pier Restaurant – 3 stars
V&A Waterfront, 9 Breakwater Boulevard, Cape Town

Pier Restaurant sits at the V&A Waterfront, so it goes without saying that it comes with ocean-side views of the surrounding docks and endless pristine waters.  

Forming part of the renowned La Colombe Group, this high-end restaurant offers a seasonal tasting menu that showcases the finest local produce, while taking inspiration from the ocean.  

Diners can look forward to dishes such as octopus and salsa matcha, snoek takoyaki, kimchi crab and more.  

 

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Tyler’s – 1 star
Shop 24A, Marine Walk Shopping Centre Salta, Jabu Ngcobo Dr, Sibaya, eMdloti

Perched above the Marine Walk Shopping Centre in the coastal suburb of Umdloti, north of Durban, Tyler’s offers sweeping views over the Indian Ocean. It’s a great spot for watching the sun set over the water with a drink in hand. 

The restaurant celebrates South Africa’s rich culinary heritage with a bold, contemporary twist. While the focus is firmly on meat — think quality cuts and confident flavours — the menu is broad enough to cater to a range of tastes. It works equally well for a casual family lunch or a relaxed dinner by the sea. 

 

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Wolfgat – 2 stars
10 Sampson Street, Paternoster

Paternoster, one of the oldest fishing towns on the West Coast of South Africa, is home to Wolfgat, it boasts an exquisite dining setting with ocean-side seating. 

A seaside escape, this restaurant is renowned for its showcase of indigenous ingredients native to the surrounding coastal area. Offering a seasonal tasting menu, the carefully curated dishes are a proud display of what the surrounding landscape has to offer. Local herbs, plants and seaweed are foraged and incorporated masterfully into the menu. 

 

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Salsify at the Roundhouse – 3 stars
Roundhouse, Round House Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town

Nestled in the surrounding natural landscape and offering picturesque 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby beachfront, Salsify at The Roundhouse is Eat Out’s Restaurant of the Year. 

This restaurant offers modern seasonal dishes inspired by nature and showcases its culinary flair with unexpected and delightful flavour combinations. The restaurant offers a reduced Chef’s menu with dishes such as beef fillet with “familie-meel” and kapokbos amadombolo. 

 

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The Waterside Restaurant – 2 stars
Pierhead Building, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

The Waterside offers unobstructed harbour views of the twinkling Atlantic Ocean.  

Forming part of the popular La Colombe Group (and just downstairs from Pier), The Waterside aims to offer a sophisticated yet casual dining experience. With balcony seating, it’s an alfresco ocean-side dining experience to add to your bucket list.  

Taking its cue from the surrounding oceanic landscape, the menu features contemporary dishes with the expected ‘La Colombe flair’. Diners can opt for either the full Chef’s menu or the reduced menu.  

 

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