Food: Cape Town

Head to the 'Mother City' for a coffee kick, street eats and spicy curries.

By Audrey Gillan
Published 8 May 2016, 09:00 BST, Updated 7 Jul 2021, 13:14 BST

Signal Restaurant, Cape Town.

Photograph by Signal

Best for food stalls
On a Saturday morning, head to the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock for the Neighbourgoods Market, which offers fresh produce and eclectic street food. In town, the V&A Waterfront at Granger Bay hosts both the V&A Food Market and Oranjezicht City Farm market day.

Best for small plates
On top of a silo in the Old Biscuit Mill is the Pot Luck Club, where chef Wesley Randles works a vibrant open kitchen in a room with views of Cape Town and Table Mountain (reserve, or risk the few walk-in slots). Downtown, Irishman Liam Tomlin follows the tapas-style path at Chef's Warehouse and Canteen with a menu that changes daily.

Best for a taste of Cape Malay
Head to colourful Bo-Kaap, home to the Cape Malay community. Try a sweet-yet-spicy curry in one of the local restaurants, then head for the Atlas Trading Company to stock up on their mother-in-law (fiery hot) and father-in-law spice mixes.

Best for coffee
Cape Town loves its coffee and perhaps the first place to sample the bean scene is pioneering Truth Coffee, a glorious roastery and cafe in steampunk style, with vintage machines, exposed pipework and quirkily-costumed staff.

The wine
The Cape Wine Experience at Cape Grace hotel on the V&A Waterfront is a complimentary tutored wine tasting, held in the bar of the Signal Restaurant by sommelier Marlvin Gwese, who offers his insights into Pinotage, Chenin Blanc and Méthode Cape Classique sparkling wines.

Published in the June 2016 issue of National Geographic Traveller (UK)

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