Restaurant File: Cape Town, South Africa's Culinary Hotspots

One of the best dinners I've ever had both for cuisine and ambience. This estate stretches over pretty scenery worthy of a Victorian novel. Arrive before dinner to walk around the property and work up an appetite. The two restaurants and a cafe serve a high-quality range of foods and some terrific local wines. The menu changes daily and is always up to the highest culinary standard. For less formal dining, Uitsig's River Cafe is recommended by a local friend. Go for afternoon tea or wines from the estate's own winery. NB: I do not recommend staying here overnight unless you are en route to another property the next morning. Leaves little to be desired. 

This award-winning restaurant, headed by Scottish chef George Jardine is considered Cape Town's finest and it's only been open less than three years! The vibe at Jardine is modern but homely and the food is out of this world. The oysters with basil and tomato foam are delicious or for something totally different, try the smoky warthog on congee. 

Up for some casual whale watching while you eat? This coastal perch is so close to the sea, you can keep your eye out for roving beasts while you eat. The focus at Black Berch is on fresh seafood. Hit it on the way back from soaking up the views and fresh air at Cape Point while you're en route to the penguin colony. The fried calamari with sweet dipping sauce really hits the spot after a long morning of sightseeing.

The perfect spot for a casual lunch (not open for dinner), this all-white eaterie has a calming, relaxed vibe. The menu is wonderfully quirky. Instead of the traditional Starters, Mains and Desserts, it's split into Savory, Hot, Bitter, Sweet, and Sour. Try the Patagonian Calamari dusted with coconut. 

Sit in the pretty garden of the Cellars-Hohenort's Greenhouse restaurant, and dine on good-looking (and tasty) food. Ask the sommelier to help you choose the perfect wine from their award-winning list.

The only restaurant in Cape Town with a view of Robben Island, the scenery alone is definitely worth a visit here. Luckily the food at Wakame doesn't disappoint either. A fusion of Asian and Western cuisine, the Tuna on Wasabi Mash is not to be missed. Great cocktails here too. Best for lunch.

Fresh seafood linguine, soft spinach polenta (oozing with Parmesan), fresh tuna with ripe tomato and olive salsa, cakes, florentines, bread croissants … this place has it all! Over the years, the Olympia Café has preserved its well-known scruffy-chic appeal. With wooden tables and disparate chairs, the mood suits the surfers' paradise that is Kalk Bay. The food however, is refined and of very high quality. Take a walk down the pier to aid your digestion after a hearty Sunday lunch.

The setting here is warehouse meets French brasserie. Head for Ginja if you're in the mood for international fusion cuisine (Head Chef Mike Bassett has won numerous awards for his food), whereas Shoga has more of a bistro/bar feel. It's great for a pre-dinner cocktail.

This eatery offers sophisticated city dining with an ambitious mix of fresh local ingredients and a vast array of imaginative combinations. Showroom is designed so you can observe the chef working his magic firsthand. Try the inventive vanilla linguine, parsley scallops and forest oysters or the twice-cooked salmon nuggets, duck confit and spring lentils.

Tank wouldn't win any awards for décor—it's a basic-looking place which serves perfectly passable sushi. The main attraction is that it sits within a charming courtyard with other restaurants and boutiques, set apart from the overrated tourist-jammed Camps Bay.

If you get stuck at the waterfront because someone told you you had to go there (I'd recommend skipping it as it's junky and over-hyped) there is only one good restaurant—Baia. Crayfish, shrimps, linefish and mussels are cooked to your specifications. There's a taste of Portugal in some of the generous, crisp servings of vegetables and the service is friendly and knowledgeable.