Cape Town’s inner city is home to some of the country’s most innovative and celebrated restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated business lunch, an intimate dinner, or simply want to enjoy the best of what Cape Town has to offer, these Eat Out star restaurants deliver exceptional food, creative concepts, and memorable experiences right in the heart of the city. 

Belly of the Beast – 2 stars
110 Harrington Street, Cape Town

This 30-seater restaurant operates without a menu – guests simply arrive and trust the kitchen to deliver a seasonal tasting experience. Chefs use locally-sourced, sustainable ingredients with a nose-to-tail approach that utilises every part of the animal. The small space and open kitchen allow for direct interaction between chefs and guests, creating a personal dining experience that has earned the restaurant its Eat Out star. 

Ëlgr – 1 star 
75 Kloof Street, Cape Town 

Ëlgr serves globally inspired shared-plates dining under head chef Jesper Nilsson’s direction, offering both indoor and outdoor seating in the plant-filled space. The restaurant’s name means “moose” in Old Norse, reflecting Jesper’s Swedish heritage. The menu changes regularly and features a wood-fired oven producing high-quality Neapolitan-style pizzas alongside the small plates. A dedicated sommelier curates locally sourced wines to complement the food. (Look out for the ‘sommelier’s selection’ – a gem for wine lovers!)

FYN – 3 stars 
37 Parliament St 

FYN draws inspiration from local fynbos to create modern African ingredients guided by Japanese cooking methods. This approach emphasises seasonal ingredients and celebrates their flavours and textures. The restaurant’s menu thoughtfully reflects both land and sea, showcasing the natural bounty of South Africa through expertly crafted, ingredient-focused dishes. 

Galjoen – 1 star 
99 Harrington Street, Cape Town  

This sustainability-driven seafood restaurant operates under the same philosophy as Belly of the Beast – which makes sense, given they share the same owners. The eatery serves a carefully curated tasting menu grounded in their commitment to responsible sourcing. Their unwavering sustainability approach centers on serving only locally caught fish and shellfish, with a strict policy: if it’s not from South Africa, it doesn’t make it onto the menu.

Merchant Bar & Grill – 1 star
City Bowl, Cape Town

Housed in a 19th-century heritage building on Bree Street, Merchant Bar & Grill is part of the Chefs Warehouse stable and describes itself as “modern old-school.” The restaurant offers a five-course Merchant Feast experience with an optional wine pairing, built around seasonal South African produce and honest cooking techniques. A walk-in glass Larder takes centre stage in the dining room, and the space doubles as a buzzy bar — so guests can start with drinks and snacks before moving through to dinner. 

Ouzeri – 2 stars 
58 Wale Street, Cape Town  

Ouzeri is Cape Town’s first contemporary restaurant specialising in regional Greek and Cypriot cuisine. Chef-owner Nic Charalambous developed the menu by traveling across Greece and its islands, refining recipes passed down from his Cypriot grandparents. The restaurant offers multi-layered preparations like eliopita (olive and anchovy bread), and lahanadolmades (stuffed cabbage leaves with chicken and rice in truffle lemon sauce). The casual dining format allows guests to experience authentic Greek and Cypriot regional cuisine in Cape Town. 

Ongetem – 1 star
Gardens, Cape Town

Ongetem – Afrikaans for “untamed” – is chef Bertus Basson’s all-day Cape Town restaurant, open seven days a week from early morning through to dinner. It is located inside the Canopy by Hilton Hotel on Park Road in Gardens. The menu is built around fire cooking and South African flavours with, it is small, fresh, seasonal, and subject to change. 

PIER Restaurant- 3 stars 
V&A Waterfront

Pier is located on the Pierhead offering intimate views of the V & A Waterfront. The restaurant is led by chef John Norris-Rogers and serves a multi-course tasting menu inspired by the sea, taking advantage of its waterfront location and the chef’s experience in fine dining establishments.

Seebamboes – 1 star
City Bowl, Cape Town

Seebamboes is one of Cape Town’s most intimate dining experiences — a 16-seater restaurant perched on the mezzanine above Galjoen on Harrington Street. Chef Adél Hughes leads the kitchen with a surf-and-turf concept that draws on the Western Cape’s land and sea, incorporating foraged coastal ingredients alongside carefully sourced produce. The menu changes with the seasons, and the wine list is curated by Liebet Jooste with a focus on local varietals.   

The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse – 1 star 
76 Orange street, Cape Town 

The vibrant Red Room is a sexy Pan-Asian cocktail lounge and restaurant located within the iconic Mount Nelson Hotel. Created by the established Chefs Warehouse group, the venue combines Asian cuisine with cocktail service in the prestigious hotel setting. 

Terrarium
V&A Waterfront

Terrarium is chef Chris Erasmus’s intimate 30-seater restaurant at the Queen Victoria Hotel, just above the V&A Waterfront. The restaurant is built around a hyperlocal, sustainability-first ethos — with ingredients sourced from urban community gardens, local producers, and even foraged from the Cape Peninsula coastline. Guests can choose from a tasting menu or opt for the à la carte offering. Tall windows frame views of Table Mountain and the Waterfront, and a slim terrace is available for pre-dinner drinks.

The Waterside Restaurant – 2 stars 
V&A Waterfront, Cape Town

The Waterside Restaurant celebrates oceanside dining at the V& A Waterfront below Pier. The restaurant offers a multi-course menu, devised by chef Roxy Mudie combines local ingredients into inventive dishes such as pork belly with scallops, corn, peanut and Szechuan pepper, or celeriac risotto with sage and goat’s cheese.

Upper Union – 1 star
3 Upper Union Street, Cape Town

Upper Union is located in a heritage building that represents the MORE Collection’s first restaurant venture. The restaurant focuses on shared dining experiences with a globally inspired menu not tied to any single cuisine. The menu is divided into big plates and small plates, emphasising quality sourced ingredients and balanced flavours. The restaurant offers a variety of inviting spaces – including an outdoor area under the trees for al fresco dining.