South Africa’s culinary scene is as diverse as its culture, offering a blend of traditional local flavours and international cuisines. If you are a foodie and enjoy exploring native cuisines, South Africa is a paradise waiting to be explored.
Here are four of the best places that provide not only exceptional food but also memorable dining experiences.
The Cape Winelands
About 40 kilometres to the east of Cape Town, lying in the shadow of a continuous belt of Cape Fold Mountains, lies a series of generous valleys known as the Cape Winelands.
The Cape Winelands encompasses towns like Paarl, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek - and there are many things to keep you busy here. From wine-tasting, authentic French food in Franschhoek, and historical tours, this region needs a good few days to be properly enjoyed.
Every year thousands of tourists from around the world flock to this amazing wine route to indulge in the latest offerings in both food and wine. Fine dining options in the Cape Winelands will not disappoint the keen foodie traveller.
Many of the wine estates offer award-winning cuisine and dining options at well-designed restaurants and bistros.
Culinary Table
The Culinary Table was born from the dream of father-daughter duo Wehrner and Daniela Gutstadt, to create a garden-to-table restaurant with all organic, wholesome produce and a dedication to sustainable restauranteering.
But the Gutstadt family is no strangers to pioneering endeavours. The family are the owners and operators of Culinary Equipment Company, suppliers to many of SA’s top chefs, and the architects of some of the most revered kitchens on the African continent.
The Lanseria showroom often served as a playground for chefs, with new equipment being demonstrated often, which led to a need to constantly stock ingredients on-site.
This, in turn, inspired them to begin providing lunch for culinary staff, and recognising the potential for the large space they had, they decided to turn what was once warehouse space and space outside, into their dream restaurant and a kitchen garden.
Inspired by fresh, seasonal produce their menu changes weekly to reflect the best available ingredients from their garden and local vendors. At their market, you will find everything from free-range beef, lamb, and chicken to spices.
Their bakery offers fresh bakes daily and their fresh produce section is full of fresh vegetables.
Victoria Street Market
The Victoria Street Market is situated in central Durban amongst many other historically significant structures.
When you step inside, the sounds, sights, and smells transport you into another world.
You will find spices, African artwork and curios, Indian clothes, bags, Indian spices, and much more, not forgetting their dedicated fish and meat market which offers a variety of the freshest and tastiest meat products; from succulent seafood to an interesting assortment of poultry and red meat products including angelfish, crabs, prawns, crayfish, calamari, trotters, sheep heads, goat meat and roosters.
Bo-Kaap
Bo-Kaap is arguably the best place to experience Cape Malay food in Cape Town. The bright, rainbow-coloured houses were home to former Cape Malay slaves in the early 19th century.
Often overlooked, Cape Malay cuisine showcases how diverse culinary traditions from countries as far-flung as Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Netherlands blend harmoniously with African flavours.
With a bold blend of spices including cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and turmeric to name a few – Cape Malay cuisine has a distinctive aromatic quality.
Cape Malay cuisine is more than food. It’s a story that continues to live in the mouths of each person who makes their way to the Mother City to taste it.
Some must-try foods include curry, half moons and koeksisters.