Chef-Recommended Restaurants in Camps Bay and Beyond
Cape Town’s food scene has long been one of its greatest draws. From relaxed seaside cafés to innovative fine-dining rooms, the city’s chefs celebrate local produce and bold ideas.
Recently, The Inside Guide asked some of South Africa’s top chefs to share their favourite places to eat — many recommendations are within easy reach of The Oyster Collection’s Cape Town stays, POD Camps Bay and Blackheath Lodge in Sea Point.
If you’re exploring from one of our luxury boutique hotels in Cape Town, you’ll find yourself perfectly placed to enjoy some of the best restaurants in Camps Bay, alongside award-winning dining in the city centre and beyond. From ocean-view seafood to bold, chef-driven menus, here’s where Cape Town’s leading chefs are eating — and where you’ll want to book your next table.
Fine Dining with a View
Set high above the Atlantic, Salsify at The Roundhouse is widely regarded as one of the best restaurants in Camps Bay, and indeed, in South Africa. Chef Ryan Cole’s fine-dining restaurant was named Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Eat Out Woolworths Awards and ranked #88 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025.
Cole’s menu draws inspiration from the sea and the seasons, creating dishes that balance familiarity with imagination. The ten-course tasting experience celebrates local ingredients, from foraged herbs to line-caught fish, presented with precision and quiet confidence.
Guests can enjoy panoramic views, two wine-pairing options, and attentive service. It’s a memorable dining experience minutes from POD Camps Bay, and an easy fifteen-minute drive from Blackheath Lodge.
Authentic Favourites in Sea Point and Green Point
A few minutes’ drive from Camps Bay brings you to Sea Point and Green Point, two neighbourhoods packed with local favourites.
He Sheng in Sea Point is a no-frills gem beloved by chefs for its authentic Chinese cooking. The couple who now own it worked under the original chef before taking over, keeping the menu of adventurous, flavour-rich dishes that regulars adore. It’s where you’ll find local foodies and visiting chefs at the same table, happily comparing notes over handmade dumplings and spicy noodles.
For something more contemporary, Bao Down in Green Point draws crowds for its Asian small plates. Chef Graham Oldfield’s concise menu features bao buns as the hero, including a dessert version, alongside Korean fried chicken, gochujang sweet potato, and spicy prawns. With calm interiors and friendly energy, it’s perfect for a casual night out after a day by the beach.
Waterfront Dining
Down at the Waterfront, chef Ryan Cole’s second restaurant, Coy, opened in 2024 and quickly became one of the city’s most talked-about new addresses. Set in the Scheryn Pavilion Building, Coy looks out over the yacht basin towards Table Mountain. Inside, the atmosphere is moodier and more relaxed than Salsify, with a focus on sustainability and storytelling.
Head chefs Geoffrey Abrahams and Teenola Govender focus on sustainable ingredients and bold flavours drawn from along Africa’s coastline. Dishes might include dry-aged fish, fermented vegetables, and spices sourced from across the continent.
The atmosphere is warm and unpretentious. It’s where attention to detail shows up on the plate rather than in ceremony. Both POD Camps Bay and Blackheath Lodge guests can reach Coy in under fifteen minutes.
City Bowl Highlights: Gardens & the Inner City
Just ten to fifteen minutes from Camps Bay, the city centre offers several restaurants that chefs rate most highly.
Ongetem, meaning “untamed” in Afrikaans, is Bertus Basson’s first inner-city restaurant — and it’s anything but conventional. Set within the Canopy by Hilton Longkloof Hotel, it’s bold, creative, and full of personality. It feels more like an independent, chef-driven dining destination than a typical hotel restaurant.
Expect South African-inspired small plates, wood-fired flatbreads, and inventive cocktails served in a lively space that draws both locals and visitors.
A few steps away is Thali, opened by Liam Tomlin and Dimo Papachristodoulou, which reimagines Indian food through a South African lens. Here, sharing is part of the experience. The popular Tapas for Two menu unfolds in three courses of ever-richer dishes — from light starters to fragrant curries served with fresh breads and condiments. It’s convivial, colourful and consistently delicious.
For classic fine dining, Aubergine in Gardens remains a Cape Town institution. Chef-patron Harald Bresselschmidt has built his reputation on refined, seasonal cooking and meticulous wine pairings. Set in a historic building on Barnet Street, the restaurant is elegant yet never intimidating, and it remains a favourite among chefs who appreciate its precision and quiet confidence.
If you’re in the mood for something relaxed, Zuney Wagyu Burgers on Kloof Street serves what might be the best burgers in the city. The wagyu beef comes directly from the owners’ family farms in the Eastern Cape, where cattle graze on pasture. The menu is short, the flavours are big, and the approach is refreshingly simple.
Top Restaurants in Camps Bay
You don’t need to leave the neighbourhood to eat well. Camps Bay itself has long been home to restaurants that pair good food with exceptional views.
Codfather Seafood & Sushi remains a local favourite for its choose-your-own seafood counter and sushi bar, while Bilboa brings Mediterranean flair to the beachfront with light, fresh flavours and excellent cocktails. Paranga is another long-standing highlight — stylish, buzzy, and perfectly positioned to catch the sunset.
For daytime dining, Mantra Café is ideal for breakfast or a casual lunch, offering everything from smoothie bowls to steak and chips with one of the best sea views in town.
Mediterranean Inspiration
Just over ten minutes from POD Camps Bay or Blackheath Lodge, Ouzeri on Wale Street has earned praise from Cape Town’s top chefs in The Inside Guide’s annual restaurant awards, recognised as both a Best Casual Restaurant and for Specialty Cuisine.
Owner-chef Nic Charalambous and head chef Aidan Zieff draw on Cypriot and Greek traditions to create a menu of small plates that balance heritage and innovation. Think grilled halloumi with honey, octopus with lentils, and slow-cooked lamb with bright Mediterranean herbs.
Praised for its honest cooking and lively atmosphere, Ouzeri stands out for turning simple regional dishes into something extraordinary. It’s often cited by local chefs as one of the most inspiring places to eat in the city right now.
Cape Town’s Best Tables, Minutes Away
From POD Camps Bay’s ocean views to Blackheath Lodge’s leafy Sea Point streets, The Oyster Collection’s Cape Town stays place guests within easy reach of the city’s most celebrated dining.
Whether you’re enjoying seafood at one of the best restaurants in Camps Bay or exploring award-winning kitchens across the city, Cape Town offers remarkable food experiences wherever you stay.
Afterward, retreat to the quiet of your luxury accommodation in Cape Town, where good food, good company, and genuine hospitality come together, a reflection of The Oyster Collection’s warm, personal approach to hosting and care that turns every stay into something memorable.
Plan your Cape Town escape — book directly with The Oyster Collection and experience fine dining and heartfelt hospitality in one unforgettable stay.