It’s no secret that I’m not much of a cook, and it would be fair to say that I have zero cooking skills. When I’m home, I live on sandwiches, salads, smoothies, shakes, and soups. I rely on eating out, at most, and after years of taste testing, I have finally found my favourites in and around town for a good vibe and super yummy vegetarian meals.
Gardens:
Aubergine is great for fine dining and has a wonderful selection of dinner options for when I feel for something fancy and intimate.
Ben Wei makes the best fresh vegetarian sushi, and it is conveniently situated below the gym.
Bacinis is situated at the top of Kloof Street and has an assortment of salads, pastas, and pizzas on offer. I love it in the evening and always choose to sit on the balcony where the mountains are in full view.
Cafe Paradiso is charmingly set in a Victorian house on Kloof Street and has a delicious buffet. I particularly enjoy the garden area in the afternoon when the weather is warm.
Maharajah is one of my favourite Indian options. I have been a patron since its Long Street days. The cuisine is synonymous with authenticity and presents a spicy variety. It is hard not to consume more than a usual three courses.
Narona is a lovely corner cafe situated in the heart of Buitenkant Street. I love sitting on the patio on warm evenings and eating one of the many tasty pizzas.
Bukhara is my favourite for Indian cuisine. I particularly enjoy the venue for delectable group dinners. Having a table filled with an assortment of mouthwatering dishes for everyone to choose from is the best.
Cape Town Central:
For a buzzing social vibe, Zsa Zsa is great on a weekend night when out with friends. Situated in Heritage Square amidst artistic excellence and cozy cobblestoned cafes, it exudes an inherent affluent ambience comparable to a rich historical site adorned with contemporary delights.
Foreshore:
If a modern take ontraditional Asian is what you are after, then Yu is a feast worthy choice. By challenging the conventions of Japanesecuisine through a unique style of Izakaya dishes coupled with the many sharingoptions such as dim sum, sushi and tapas; freely indulge in the multitude of flavoursome delicious delicacies.
MRKT, pronounced “market”, is set on the ground floor of the glamorous The Onyx hotel next door to Yu. MRKT serves up healthy, on-the-go, deli-style meals as well as hearty breakfasts, light lunches and the best Poke Bowl in town.
Col'Cacchio is my favourite for pasta and pizza. I’ve been a patron since inception. I adore the amazing ambience and can lounge about for hours. I am always pleasantly surprised at the creativity used in the many flavoursome Italian meals on offer.
Green Point:
Beluga is great for a dinner and serves scrumptious sushi platters. Situated at Victoria Junction, it is a comfortable environment to relax in, especially outside on a warm night.
Giovanni's Deli is an Italian institution for upmarket mediterranean delicatessen treats. It is one of my preferred options for brunch and I simply cannot get enough of their homemade olive tapenade paste on fresh ovenbaked ciabatta. Their coffee bar is outstanding and the baristas are the best in the Atlantic.
Sea Point:
La Perla is my favourite lazy afternoon option because it has a wonderful lounge and outside area. It is an awesome choice for both, brunch and dinner and sometimes, I stay on from noon to night. I feel at home, relaxed and well taken care of by these professionals.
Nü is my go-to for a brunch wrap, salad or scramble, coupled with a smoothie or real juice.
Schekter's Raw is know for green gourmet and is a cosy cafe with the best raw food options available. A fully vegan and vegetarian restaurant where I could easily eat and drink anything on offer and be content.
Simply Asia is a convenient choice for either lunch or dinner and when I feel for a noodle dish, I order the Pad Thai with tofu and extra veggies. The serving size is generous as it adequately allows for two helpings and it is one of my favourite Thai meals.
Spur’s location at the Protea Hotel is perfect and I enjoy ordering a veggie burger whilst indulging the salad bar's wide selection of fresh options. The chips and onion rings covered in island sauce is one of my guilty pleasures, I do confess.
Waterfront:
Baia for fine dining with a group of friends is superb and never disappoints.
Sevruga is intimate, warm and romantic. It’s impressive for a night out at the dock for dinner.
Camps Bay:
Cafe Caprice is good at any time - be it, day or night. This is a beach bar and restaurant that reminds me of the international greats. It is an all-round feel-good experience that I highly recommend, especially in summer.
Cod Father has a magnificent sushi bar where the chefs construct each masterpiece while you witness their creativity unfold in real time. This is so much fun to experience on an evening out with friends.
Paranga is amazing on a summer’s afternoon or evening as it is directly opposite the beach. The location evokes an unbelievable soothing ambience that is unquestionably unique and simultaneously marvelously stylish.
On the coffee shop front, there’s always a Vida e caffè in close proximity for a bite. I frequent it often for brunch on the run. I am fond of the vegetarian rolls, toasties and the quattro muffin is the best savory treat that I’ve tasted. This is my go-to for an ice coffee, called a gelado. Trust me, it can’t be beaten.
The Bootlegger Coffee Company has branched out and it’s a good option for brunch too. I often make my own real juice and there are numerous vegetarian meals on the menu to benefit from.
These are some of my preferred and appealingly appetizing spots that are easily accessible and in close proximity of where I usually am. There are many others that I shall touch on at another time and also perhaps explore other areas too. I could venture into some of the best each major city has to offer - we’ll see. I’ve also omitted to feature hotels as I’ll be covering that separately. I feel lucky (and relieved) to be flooded with so many cool culinary and charmingly convenient cuisines to choose from.
Charmingly Convenient Cuisines by EJ for EJblogtv
an Enjoyment Journal about Everything EJ
xoxo