Hidden Gem Restaurants in Cape Town: 5 Local Favourites

Table of Contents

Atlas and Appetite contains affiliate links. If you click or make a purchase through an affiliate link, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Privacy Policy for details.

Cape Town is well known for fine dining, ocean views, and luxurious wine farms. But, like any popular city, it can be touristy. Having a bad meal on holiday is one of my greatest fears in life, and I’m obsessed with trying to avoid them. There’s nothing worse than going to an Instagrammable spot and realising too late that there are no locals present, and the food is a disappointment.

This post highlights five of the best hidden gem restaurants in Cape Town, loved by locals, that don’t usually make the “must-do” lists. They might be smaller, slightly out of the way, or less trendy, but these restaurants have everything that I love about my hometown – delicious food, great hospitality, and lots of character.

1. Willoughby and Co, V&A Waterfront: Iconic Cape Town Sushi

South Africa’s sushi and seafood is generally very good, and Willoughby and Co in the V&A Waterfront, affectionately known as Willoughby’s, is a veritable Cape Town institution.

Perhaps this one is not really hidden, but it often doesn’t get recommended to tourists as it is inside the shopping mall, and it seems a shame to miss out on Cape Town’s stunning views. Do yourself a favour and try it anyway, as the food more than makes up for the lack of views.

At this point, I think the shopping mall locale is actually part of the charm – the food is so good and people keep coming back, so why should anyone care that there aren’t views?

They don’t accept reservations, and there is always a queue, but it moves quite quickly (and if it doesn’t, you can order wine to enjoy while you wait). Get my desert island dish – the 4×4, which features tempura prawns in a spicy mayo sitting delicately atop your California roll. Have it with a glass of the Springfield Life from Stone Sauvignon Blanc, and thank me later.

A sushi dish from Willoughby's, a hidden gem restaurant in Cape Town, called a 4x4. Willoughby's is a hidden gem restaurant in Cape Town. — The 4×4 from Willoughby’s in Cape Town

Without wishing to be dramatic, this meal is one of the first things I eat as soon as I get home, and is one of the main reasons I would move back to Cape Town.

2. Constantia Glen: Wine Tasting and Cape Town’s Best Cheese and Charcuterie Boards

The outdoor seating area at Constantia Glen wine farm in Cape Town, which has a hidden gem restaurant. — Constantia Glen

Constantia Glen is one of the smaller wine farms in the Constantia wine region, and is sometimes overlooked in favour of bigger farms with more historical clout. But it’s actually my favourite Constantia wine farm, and often my top pick for birthdays and big lunches.

And yes, all wine farms serve cheese boards, so why am I so obsessed with Con Glen? Because their cheeseboards feature rooibos-smoked butter, which is like nothing you have ever tasted. This is a bold claim, but this butter may ruin all remaining butter for you for the rest of your life.

Paired with one of their four award-winning wines (or a tasting of all four), while enjoying the breathtaking views of the Constantia Valley, this is the perfect winelands lunch.

3. Giovanni’s Deliworld, Seapoint: Picnic Food, Sandwiches and Quick Dinners

Opened in 1989, Giovanni’s is another much-loved Cape Town institution, on Green Point’s main road. Despite how long it has been around, Giovanni’s hasn’t dated, and remains a favourite pitstop for coffee, sandwiches, or treats to take to the beach for a picnic.

Inside, Giovannai’s feels like an old-school Italian deli transported to Cape Town. They stock all kinds of imported delights, artisanal pasta, olives, cheeses, and cured meats (you can choose your own bread and build a delicious sandwich). I used to love the ready-made salads and vegetables for a quick dinner on the way home from work.

Also, it is the only place I know of in Cape Town where you can buy the greatest ever Torres Black Truffle Potato Crisps.

4. Maria’s Greek Café, Gardens: A Shady Courtyard with Comforting Classics

Maria’s is Cape Town’s stalwart Greek restaurant, and has been around since the 1950s. That said, it is often left out of “must-do” lists, as newer, shinier Greek restaurants have opened in Cape Town.

Set on Dunkley Square, I remember being surprised that there was such a calm oasis just off the city bowl’s main buzz. There is an outdoor courtyard, and sitting under the trees on a summer afternoon is a real treat. It feels like a casual neighbourhood spot, and dogs are welcome.

The food is simple, but comforting and excellently prepared, and perfect for sharing. IMHO, Greek salads are often one of life’s greatest disappointments. All they really ask of us is that we use fresh ingredients, and they will do the rest, and yet we fail them time and again. Not at Maria’s – the ingredients are fresh and the feta is generous.

5. The Cousins Trattoria: Cape Town’s Cosiest Pasta Spot

Cape Town has no shortage of trendy Italian restaurants, but the Cousins Trattoria, on a nondescript stretch of Barrack Street in the East City, is more like having your own personal Italian nonna cook your dinner. It is unassuming from the outside and easy to miss, but don’t let that put you off – this place is a delightful little Italian gem, very well loved by locals, and with excellent food.

It is run by a trio of Italian cousins, and has a very homely feeling – think traditional recipes, fresh pasta made daily, framed photos on the wall, and a handwritten specials board.

Try the signature dish, slightly mysteriously named “The Cousins Pasta”, which is very memorable (I realised when writing this post that I first had it eight years ago, and it remains a favourite).

Tagliolini is cooked in a mushroom cream sauce, and the dish is finished at your table, by being tossed in a hollowed-out wheel of Grana Padano. Slightly theatrical, yes, but it is absolutely delicious and goes down a treat on a rainy winter’s night.

The "Cousins Pasta" at the Cousins Trattoria, a hidden gem restaurant in Cape Town. It is finished at your table, by being swirled in a wheel of Grana Padano. This is one of the best hidden gem restaurants in Cape Town. — The Cousins Pasta at the Cousins Trattoria in Cape Town

They have Italian and South African wine, including Pinotage, a local varietal (try my favourite, the Diemersfontein Pinotage). I love the Cousins for a casual date night, and particularly when the weather is cold.

Your Next Delicious Adventure

Craving more local eats? See how locals spend a long weekend, or read about my Cape Town must-eats. If you’re heading into the winelands, plan your foodie escape to Franschhoek.