Aubergine Restaurant

Warmly sophisticated restaurant revolving round wine-pairing. A 10,000-bottle cellar (selected for food compatibility) allows chef/patron Harald Bresselschmidt’s keen palate and culinary skills full scope. Whether fish, seafood, prime aged local meat or tasty vegetarian options, dishes accent flavour, aroma and texture, with degustation menus offering taste-teasers like fish liaison with wasabi aroma and fried oysters, and fig terrine with marzipan mousse, orange tuille and elderflower sorbet. Eat Out Top 10, 2010 and 3 stars Roussouw’s Restaurants 2010 and 2011.

Auslese

Wanting to match gems from your wine collection, but can’t cook? Organising anything from corporate events to a private birthday party or wine launch? Aubergine’s elegant venue in a refurbished historic house close to the restaurant, is custom-designed for functions. Owner Harald Bresselschmidt will tailor the occasion for you, creating delectable tapas-style dishes to complement wines, either your own or from his 10,000-bottle cellar.

Bascule Whisky, Wine & Cocktail Bar

Savour the sophisticated setting on the quayside of the international yacht marina at Cape Town’s Waterfront. By day a lively destination for a cappuccino or light lunch (tapas a speciality); by night, a vibrant venue where whisky connoisseurs and social butterflies gather to enjoy a shot of Cape Town’s social energy. Over 400 whiskies and an impressive selection of the finest Cape wines on offer. See also Cape Grace on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Den Anker Restaurant

Buzzing quayside venue that opened with the waterfront and grew with it. Latest update highlights Belgian beers, including exclusive Belgian-brewed Den Anker, with tastings and menu pairing as new drawcards (there’s also a well-chosen winelist). Watch basking seals from indoors or terrace tables, where a tapas menu is a must. Evergreen best-seller is moule & frites but don’t ignore seafood platters, steaks and SA specialities.

Harveys Restaurant at Winchester Mansions

Bistro by day and restaurant by night, revamped and revitalised Harveys tempts guests with fresh and flavourful local cuisine lifted by international touches; pairing food and wine against a backdrop of local art at monthly Grapes, Gourmet & Gallery evenings. The hotel’s tranquil piazza-style courtyard, enhanced by palm trees and fountains, is a perfect setting for romantic dinners under the stars, or lively Sunday jazz brunches. Excellent winelist, winner of a Diners Club 2011 Diamond Award. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

HQ Restaurant

Steak restaurant focused on a single meal of salad, sirloin and chips, loosely based on famous Parisian restaurant, L’Entrecote, in its homage to meat. Other than deciding how they’d like their steaks cooked, carnivores can relax - which allows them to concentrate on the concise, well-chosen winelist. Sizeable bar area opening into Heritage Square courtyard offers cocktails, comfortable lounge seating and party-packed live music evenings.

Josephines Cookhouse

Relaxed eaterie in a historic mill on the banks of the Liesbeek river next to Newlands rugby stadium. Leafy patio overlooking the Liesbeek for lazy summer afternoons; inviting wood-burning fireplace for cosy winter evenings. Expect fresh Italian-inspired fare: thin-based wood-fired pizzas setting a new level in appetising toppings; moreish al dente pastas; grass-fed/free range meats: must-try favourite is free-range rib-eye, anchovy butter and hand-cut chips.

Nobu

Take your tastebuds on a fascinating taste journey from delicate to tantalisingly spice-rich dishes. Master-chef Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa’s first restaurant in Africa incorporates local seafood and spices in classically-styled Japanese dishes. Do experience the signature black cod den miso and sashimi/sushi, and note the perfection of the sushi rice. American Express Platinum Fine Dining Award 2012; Eat Out Top 10, 2011; Rossouw’s Restaurants 3 stars 2011 & 2012. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Petit Caveau

Want a break from the corporate grind, frenetic shopping - or a casual meal in lively surroundings? Strategically located in the Colosseum Building within buzzing Century City, this popular wine bar and bistro offers over 40 wines by the glass to pair with fresh, seasonal à la carte menus or daily changing tapas options. Mediterranean-inspired specialities include a generous lamb burger with tatziki, humus and fries.

Reuben’s

Celebrity chef Reuben Riffel’s first urban restaurant reflects the modesty of the man. In the sophisticated surroundings of One&Only Cape Town, his deceptively simple, bistro-style fare shows the skilled combination of freshness and flavour you’d expect from one of South Africa’s most-loved chefs. Portions are generous and choices wide: flame-grilled prime steaks, pan-seared market fish, signature chilli-salted squid and soy-braised pork belly share space on the inviting menu. American Express Platinum Fine Dining Award 2012. See also One&Only Cape Town on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Townpage.

Savoy Cabbage Restaurant & Champagne Bar

Heading for 14 years and as popular as ever, this city-centre venue boasts a string of accolades and plaudits from international critics. Expect exposed brick and high ceilings; evergreen favourites as menu fixtures; and daily-changing taste treats like ‘Three little pigs’ with pan-fried loin, smoked fillet and sticky glazed belly; or house-smoked Norwegian salmon on buckwheat crêpe, with grapefruit jelly and Keta caviar. Intelligent boutique winelist.

Signal Restaurant

Explore Cape Town’s tastes and flavours in masterly mixes of herbs, spices and sustainable local ingredients, at a table under a mirrored, chandelier-hung ceiling, with views over an international yacht marina to Table Mountain. Go wild with bobotie-spiced ostrich with almond crumble, or cardamom caramel, nyangbo ganache and banana ice-cream; or opt for tasting menus (both meat-orientated and vegetarian) offering wine-pairing from an excellent, terroir-orientated winelist. See also Cape Grace on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Societi Bistro

Societi is a neighbourhood ‘local’. More than cuisine, it’s a way of life: savouring an unhurried meal in the company of family and friends. To hospitable owners Tammy and Peter, the bistro is an extension of their home — ‘and a sanctuary for Capetonians and visitors looking for a home from home’. Flavour-packed specialities change frequently, but perennial best-sellers are fillet au poivre and dreamy cheesecake.

Sotano

Casual, Mediterranean-inspired eatery offering simple but delicious dishes from fresh seasonal produce. Enjoy sun-warmed views of the ocean and Mouille Point promenade while tucking into flatbreads, grilled linefish or lamb burgers. Smaller appetite? Nibble delicacies like squid tentacles from the inviting tapas menu. Sotano (Spanish for cellar) lives up to its name, so pair your choice with boutique or well-known labels from the well-chosen winelist.

Bistro Sixteen82

Award-winning chef Brad Ball packs flavour into contemporary bistro dishes paired with acclaimed Steenberg wines in a striking modern space overlooking vineyards, reflection pools and sensory gardens. Hearty or healthy breakfasts, inviting tasting bar and lounge, lunch treats like sticky pork belly with salted caramel, or Hermon beef fillet, truffled cauliflower purée and veal jus. The popular tapas selection encourages deliciously moreish early evening snacking. American Express Fine Dining Award 2011, Fleur du Cap Top 100 Restaurants 2011.

Buitenverwachting Restaurant

‘Flow’ is the new buzzword at Buitenverwachting: flow from the picnic lawns through the inviting new coffee roasterie/shop and deli to the winetasting centre and revitalised central courtyard. Linger over pastries and coffee; enjoy wine with deli choices, platters and tempting tapas bites - or move into the relaxed restaurant to feast on exec chef Edgar Osojnik’s flavour-fresh, superbly sauced classic and seasonal dishes. Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence 2011 & 2012.

Constantia Uitsig Restaurant

Consistency coupled with a relaxed ambience has kept this eatery on Cape Town’s culinary map for 20 years. Flavourful food, enjoyed against a mountain and vineyard backdrop, makes regulars of both locals and visitors - including names like Wilbur Smith and Heston Blumenthal. Menus blend Italian and Mediterranean influences with hints of spice; specialities range from springbok carpaccio to a signature fruit pavlova. Trip Advisor top10 restaurants 2012; 2 stars in Rossouw’s Restaurants 2012. See also Constantia Uitsig on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Jonkershuis Constantia Restaurant

Step into the past. The Jonkershuis next to the historic Groot Constantia manor house, surrounded by ancient oaks and legendary vineyards, breathes old-world charm as a bistro specialising in traditional Cape Malay dishes. Eat al fresco overlooking the Constantia Valley and False Bay; in a courtyard under vines; or choose the welcoming interior, warmed by a double-sided fireplace. And don’t miss the baked cheesecake.

La Colombe

Assurance and subtle flavours are now the hallmarks of head chef Scot Kirton’s menus. Perfectly-presented dishes retain their classic base, with creative play lifting seasonal ingredients: tasting menus titillate with delights such as aromatic Asian citrus oysters; umami broth (with steamed languiste, miso scallop and shitake sushi roll); smoked bone marrow; duck combo of confit brioche/rooibos-smoked breast, foie gras and quince ‘Swissroll’. Excellent wine-pairing. 12th in San Pellegrino 50 Best Restaurants in the World 2010 & San Pellegrino 100 Best Restaurants 2011; 3 stars in Rossouw’s Restaurants 2009 – 2011; 10th in Eat Out/DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards 2012. See also Constantia Uitsig on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Societi Brasserie

Welcoming brasserie in the successful ‘Societi’ mould, this time with an appealing French twist. Ambience is friendly and unpretentious; hearty seasonal menus and daily specials reflect the best produce available from local artisanal suppliers. Savour classic brasserie fare like croque-monsieur and soupe à l’oignon gratinée; tuck into best-selling steak au poivre, risotto and home-made pasta. Large selection of bespoke local beers and well-priced winelist..

Cassia Restaurant, Bar & Function Venue

Ideal for vistors wanting a true taste of the winelands, this welcoming wine estate eaterie, only 20 minutes from central Cape Town, is a firm favourite with locals. Portions are generous, views panoramic, décor stylish, and a sunny deck beckons. Best-selling speciality is Durbanville Wine Valley’s regional dish — lamb sosaties with cumin pumpkin stampkoring and pumpkin pickle — which pairs happily with highly rated Nitida wine.

Gordon Manuel @ The Venue

Welcoming venue amid vineyards and apple orchards, owner-run with Gordon at the stoves and his wife Emma front-of-house. The small, focused menu, highlighting produce from the Overberg region, changes every Saturday to capture variety and freshness, while specialities like slow-roasted pork belly with Calvados jus and gourmet risottos remain best-sellers. Walls are alive with paintings: the restaurant has joined forces with Red! The Gallery. See also The Guest House @ South Hill on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Bistro Allée Bleue

Expect a classic bistro menu incorporating the estate’s fresh produce, herbs and olive oil. Parma ham-wrapped goats cheese with fig chutney, veal saltimbocca with wild mushroom and the speciality crowd-puller, a generous gourmet burger, form part of the weekly changing menu. Easily accessible from Franschhoek, Stellenbosch and Paarl, Bistro Allée Bleue, with its stylish crisp blue interior, is located at the entrance to the estate. See also Kendall Cottage on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

cosecha Restaurant

Feast on traditional or contemporary Latin-inspired treats. Bringing the farm-fresh flavours of the family’s southwestern roots to Cape Town, cosecha (harvest) reflects the al fresco eatery’s location adjoining the crushing and sorting area. For breakfast, choose traditional huevos rancheros, lunch on tequila tagliatelle, beef enchiladas, or bocaditos (small plates) to share. Peppers and vegetables are grown on the farm and daily specials feature freshly picked ingredients.

Franschhoek Kitchen

Drink in the panorama of vineyards and mountains, then feast on intensely-flavoured dishes, expertly paired with Holden Manz wines. Internationally-experienced exec chef Cheyne Morrisby offers Pacific Rim food without tired fusion: here cutting-edge Asia meets Franschhoek freshness, presented in picture-perfect style. Kitchen star is pork belly, to be relished with edamame purée, anchovy dauphinoise, soy/maple and lotus-root crisps. And don’t miss the indulgent dessert trio. See also Holden Manz Country House on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Fyndraai Restaurant @ Solms-Delta

Culinary heritage meets modern innovation. Built over the foundations of the original cellar, this glass-floored restaurant pays tribute to the cultures contributing to SA cuisine, with helpful glossary to explain unfamiliar terms. Afrikaner boerekos, influenced by ‘Cape Malay’ slaves and infused with plants used by early indigenous nomads, is invitingly plated for contemporary eye and taste appeal. For an overview, order the flavour-filled tapas platter. Winner in Cape Winelands District Municipality Mayoral Tourism Awards’ Wine Tourism Destination of the Year 2011 and Great Wine Capitals’ Best of Wine Tourism Innovative Wine Tourism Experience 2012.

Grande Provence — The Restaurant

Past elegance fuses with contemporary chic in this sophisticated, girder-exposed restaurant where creative menus from new exec chef Darren Badenhorst update French inspiration with an Asian twist,

changing weekly to highlight fresh local produce. Treat your tastebuds to specialities like Cajun-spiced soft-shell crab; bone-marrow chicken ballotine with morel mushrooms and Japanese truffle in port jus; and recapture childhood memories with Grand Provence diddle daddle dessert. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Haute Cabrière Restaurant

Inviting after a glamorous makeover that includes couches and handcrafted chandeliers, and revitalised by passionate young chef Ryan Shell, this vaulted mountainside restaurant focuses on creating the perfect marriage of food and wine. Menus are influenced by the season, with dishes displaying wine-pairing at its most creative, combining diverse ingredients in flavours that complement and ‘dance with’ Haute Cabrière wines and Pierre Jourdan méthode cap classiques.

Mange Tout & Country Kitchen

Both elegant and rustic restaurants to suit your mood. Mange Tout offers spectacular valley views, varied menus with a delightfully French slant that reflect support of organic and free range farming, showcasing local produce in imaginative vegetarian options. Informal Country Kitchen specialises in tasty bistro fare, around the fire place in winter, celebrating summer on the terrace, or with a winelands picnic in the garden. Diners Club Diamond winelist award 2011; Eat Out Top 10 Tasting menu & Top 10 Best Hotel Restaurant 2010 (Mange Tout). See also Mont Rochelle Hotel & Mountain Vineyards on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Pierneef à La Motte

Savour an interactive food and wine experience in a tranquil garden setting, where innovative Cape Winelands cuisine echoes the creativity of renowned South African artist, J.H. Pierneef. Ingredients and flavours, inspired by centuries of cooking, are transformed into new favourites: try tasty, best-selling Cape bokkom salad. Whether lunching al fresco, fine dining or at a chef’s table, enjoy wine-pairing suggestions from an extensive winelist. Eat Out Top 20, 2012.

Rickety Bridge Restaurant in the Vines

Take a seat in the revamped old wine centre, overlooking vineyards. Sip crisp estate wine with a flavour-packed lunch, given extra zest by the setting and mountain views. The varied menu is Asian-influenced and strong in seafood, accenting home-made sauces, jams and pesto. Try the gourmet Franschhoek salmon trout burger: the home-made roll is beetroot-pink and the fishcake and lime aioli fresh, light and delicious. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Babel Restaurant

Table decorations in the airy, glass-walled restaurant could be a cabbage leaf; the farm-to-fork menu is based on what’s available in the garden, with local meats and cheeses. Signature dishes of garden-fresh red, green or yellow salads burst with nature’s bounty; crispy pork belly comes with best-ever hand-cut chips. New is a conservatory serving sandwiches on woodfire-oven baked bread; irresistible cakes and fresh herbal teas. Eat Out Top 20, 2011; Tatler International Travel Awards, category: Food, Glorious Food 2011. See also Babylonstoren Farm Hotel on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Backsberg Restaurant

Relaxed, child-friendly venue that makes matching food and wine (including international award winners) an everyday pleasure. Filling farm burger; seasonal à la carte dishes. Bookings essential for signature spit-roasted Karoo lamb with roast potatoes every Sunday, or by pre-arrangement. Lawns with stunning mountain views, cosy indoor setting for colder days; live music on Sundays. Go home with farm-grown preserves, fresh supplies and tempting baked goodies.

Bosman’s Restaurant

Dine finely in the gracious ambience of a magnificent manor house in the heart of the Boland winemaking region. Five-star Grande Roche Hotel is a hospitality legend boasting an array of awards and culinary accolades; Bosman’s restaurant, under award-winning executive chef Roland Gorgosilich, offers creative cuisine complemented by fine wines from a superbly stocked cellar. Indulgent specialities include subtly spiced foie-gras-baumkuchen terrine and truffle-flavoured goats cheese. Diners Club Wine List Diamond Award & Wine Spectator’s ‘Best of Award of Excellence’ 2011; SA Tourism Award No 1 Fine Dining Restaurant in SA, & Eat Out Top 10, 2010. See also Grande Roche Hotel on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Glen Carlou Restaurant

Family-friendly venue with spectacular view from the sunlit veranda, or from behind glass in winter, the stylish interior cosily lit and fire-warmed. Geared for long, lazy Sunday lunching and quick weekday business lunches. Seasonal menus offer choices from succulent venison shanks to prawn tortellini with chorizo and saffron cream, and signature Asian-glazed pork belly. Enjoy best-selling pairing: crème brûlée with their Natural Sweet Chenin Blanc.

Marc’s Mediterranean Cuisine & Garden

This relaxed, bistro-style restaurant (now with an off-licence) celebrates its 10th anniversary with greater focus on selected Paarl wineries and wine-pairing: a natural progression for patron Marc, who is both internationally qualified chef and sommelier. Regulars swear by evergreen paella, prime quality steaks and Belgian chocolate mousse, but ultra-crisp, thin-based pizzas with deliciously flavourful (even low-carb) toppings are also flying: do try Alsatian flammekueche.

Polo Club Restaurant at Val de Vie Estate

Spice Route Restaurant

Fraai Uitzicht 1798

Share the pleasures of award-winning food and the best Robertson wines on the umbrella-shaded veranda or at the dining-room fire. Seasonal menus highlight fresh vegetables and just-picked herbs from the garden: pair hand-crafted Fraai Uitzicht 1798 Merlot with best-selling grilled steak tartare (seared-on-the-base fillet topped with herb-rich tomato and pinenut salsa). Or enjoy the wine in merlot syrup with a dreamy, freshly-baked Belgian chocolate fondant. American Express Platinum Fine Dining award — 11 years consecutively, latest 2013. Rossouw’s Restaurants (highly recommended good food & more). See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Avontuur Estate Restaurant

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, this popular estate restaurant with hands-on, people-friendly chef/patrons, specialises in value-for-money, appetising food, served at shady tables with a view. Seasonal menus, centred round organic produce, add new dishes to old favourites: tender fillet and crispy duck have been joined by lighter options like preserved figs, brie and mascarpone; and smoked salmon trout with grilled prawns. End indulgently with deep-fried ice-cream. 4-star rated by the Tourism Grading Council.

Manuka Restaurant

Welcoming family restaurant in a garden setting complete with ducks and chickens. Relax under sun-umbrellas and enjoy breakfasts from croissants to hearty Manuka Full House; thin-based wood-fired pizzas with inventive toppings; steaks (go for the blockman’s choice); salads and wraps. Fully licensed, with the well-stocked wine shop offering over 300 wines at close-to cellardoor prices. Monthly wine dinners and weekly tastings every Saturday. Ample parking.

The Restaurant at Waterkloof

Here food is art, calling for unhurried appreciation; complemented by the estate’s European-style wines and seamless service. Chef Grégory Czarnecki is from a 3-star Michelin background: savour 6-course degustation menus, close your eyes, and you could be in Paris. But why close them? You’re seated in a lofty glass promontory flowing from state-of-the-art tasting lounge and cellar, overlooking the amphitheatre of Waterkloof vineyards and False Bay. Great Wine Capitals Best of Wine Tourism Awards 2012, highly scored across several categories.

96 Winery Road Restaurant

This warm, relaxing venue, opened in May 1996 in the heart of the Helderberg countryside, is still true to its goal: ‘to delight each guest with a superb dining experience’. Appetising menus, inspired by SA favourites and global flavours, centre round fresh ingredients, often organic and locally sourced. Carnivores note: meat is a speciality and best-selling signature dish is mouth-melting Hollandse pepper fillet. Excellent winelist. Top 100 winelist award 2012; Diamond Award & Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2011.

Barouche Restaurant

Family friendly, indoor-outdoor restaurant with tasty picnic barrel platters or à la carte menus with wine-matching suggestions. Special under-12 lunch treats and play area with pony rides to occupy kids while you savour palate-pleasing favourites like ostrich carpaccio with zinfandel dressing or aromatic bobotie. Be seduced by deep-fried ice cream and round-off lunch with a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Cuvée

Enjoy genuine hospitality and back-to-basics food in a quirky mix of nostalgia and Cape Dutch modernism. New exec chef Lucas Carstens sources local, farm-fresh and sustainable ingredients, and his delight in diverse flavours shows in combos like white fish, assam prawn salsa and miso-tossed noodles, and Chalmar beef with Guinness butter emulsion. Chocoholics, indulge in the bitter chocolate fondant with cognac ice-cream and chocolate coffee beans.

Delaire Graff Restaurant

A trio of attractions: the spectacular view, the striking art-rich décor that juxtaposes happily with the mountain and vineyard panorama, and signature wine-friendly ‘bistro chic’ from exec chef Christiaan Campbell. This implies beautifully presented yet simple seasonal dishes from ‘green’ farmers and organic suppliers, combined with flair and flavour. Delight in decadent dessert and end with tea. The selection’s wide and the ceremony delightful. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Delheim Restaurant

German gemütlichkeit reigns at this relaxed restaurant in a gorgeous garden setting with long-distance views of Table Mountain. Eat al fresco on the garden terraces in summer; or relish comfort food beside a winter fire. Take a hearty appetite: specialities range from German platters (with traditional onion pie) to ostrich bobotie; from merlot-marinated Karoo lambshank to traditional bratwurst. There’s even a sophisticated mini-menu for kids.

Eight

Relish the freshly picked flavours of a farm-to-table eating experience, with produce sourced from Spier or nearby farmers. As its name implies, the airy eaterie strives for balance, cycles, harmony, infinity and abundance — expressed in delicious daily choices. Start with refreshing just-squeezed juices; be tempted by tasty biodynamic vegetable dishes and pasture-fed chicken (try best-selling pie), and indulge without guilt in flour-free organic chocolate cake.

Flavours at The Devon Valley Hotel

Welcoming restaurant in a picturesque setting deep in the vineyards, celebrating classic, uncomplicated seasonal dishes with fresh, clean tastes that allow flavour priority. For maximum palate pleasure, marry the bold flavours of specialities like herb-crusted Karoo rack of lamb on potato rösti with pinotage jus, to the restaurant’s award-winning winelist. Lunch menus are light and tasty, enlivened with daily specials to ensure freshness and variety. Diners Club Wine List Diamond Award 2009 -2011. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Guardian Peak Winery & Grill

For a true Stellenbosch Winelands experience, succumb to the invitation of vineyard vistas from tables on a wide veranda. Breakfasts range from light and healthy to a hearty ‘Kalahari Lion’; lunches and dinners are wine-inspired, to match hearty, wholesome dishes and prime-quality steaks. Do try a ‘Portfolio Tasting’ with wines from Guardian Peak’s greater portfolio, sold under separate brands.

Indochine Restaurant

Asian-inspired cuisine is perfectly placed in this serene, art-studded ambience, under a flight of swallows suspended from the ceiling. Wrap-round views over Stellenbosch valley, a focused winelist and organic ingredients from the estate greenhouse, root you in the Cape. But picture-perfect, aromatic dishes like ponzu duck salad, slow-roasted pork belly, and Burmese linefish, with an array of side-dishes, waft your taste buds swiftly to the East. See also Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Joostenberg Bistro

Craving freshly prepared traditional bistro dishes? Look no further. The specialities & best-selling dishes will set you salivating: coq au vin; bouillabaisse; pork sausages from own farm-reared pork, apple sauce and mash; terrine and jambon persillée — with highly rated Joostenberg wines. The venue is relaxed, spacious and family friendly, with tables set on a vine-shaded stoep in summer and beside a huge fireplace in winter.

Makaron Restaurant

Sit back in the stylish, streamlined dining room: the meal you’ll savour will be as eye-catching and sophisticated. Exec chef Tanja Kruger sees food as fun, fresh and flavourful, combining prime local products in creative taste-treats. Try cauliflower custards, popcorn powder, popped wild rice and truffle caviar; pan-seared scallops, black pudding, pea pesto and yuzu pearls; and as dessert, asiette of chocolate, beetroot and pistachio. Eat Out Boschendal Style Award 2011; Wine Spectator 2012 Award of Excellence for winelist. See also Majeka House on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

Morgenhof Restaurant

Popular year-round venue where flavour sets seasonal menus from exec chef Siraaj Allie. Relax at garden tables in summer; under a vine canopy in winter sunshine; or banishing the chill beside log fires indoors, enjoying signature chicken salad; pan-fried calamari; seafood platters laden with grilled linefish, black tiger prawns and Patagonia squid; or opt for hearty winter lamb shank, Irish crushed potatoes and tasty jus. See also Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town.

Red Leaf Restaurant

Family-friendly indoor/outdoor eaterie where décor accents the signature logo of Beyerskloof’s best-selling brand. Here wine meets food, and not surprisingly, both focus on pinotage. This is the home of the Giant Pinotage Burger. Relax on the wooden deck, enjoy spectacular views over the vineyards, and tuck into a roll with outsize pinotage-infused pattie and extra-large chips, followed by pinotage brandy tart and pinotage-flavoured purple ice-cream.

Restaurant Barrique

Join the Barrique ‘family’. Run by hospitable Karin and Peter Brittz, this warmly welcoming restaurant, a byword for hands-on care and consistent service, ensures that patrons feel at home. Eat in the restored wine cellar, main restaurant or restful garden, feasting on traditional favourites like oxtail, butter-tender Italian-style rump, or pizzas from the wood-fired oven. And don’t leave without sampling the deliciously old-fashioned tipsy tart.

Rust en Vrede Restaurant

Stylish fine dining in the original wine cellar, where décor and custom-designed tableware enhance creative four- and six-course menus, paired with wine. Executive chef John Shuttleworth brings enticing delicacy and tantalisingly original touches to perfectly-plated dishes, while internationally-acclaimed sommelier Joakim Hansi Blackadder adds his expertise to the wine-matching experience, complementing flavour and freshness with superbly-selected, often little-known wines. The result is a world-class gourmet triumph. San Pellegrino Top 100 restaurants in the world 2009-2011; Best Chef 2010, Best Restaurant 2010, Best Service 2009-2011; Rossouw’s Restaurants 3 stars 2009-2011.

Terroir Restaurant

The terroir is decidedly Cape in flavour and setting; so are the food-friendly, highly-rated Kleine Zalze wines. Though deceptively simple dishes are French-inspired, fresh seasonal ingredients are local, showcasing chef Michael Broughton’s award-winning culinary skill and impeccably judged sauces. The come-as-you-are ambience encourages lingering over chalkboard offerings such as miso glazed salmon with smoked potato, tempura tomatoes and truffled asparagus, or pork belly with braised apples and cider sauce. Eat Out Awards’ Top 10 2006-2007, 2009-2011, 2011-2012.

The Big Easy Restaurant & Wine Bar

Relax and enjoy hearty meals in a laid-back ambience rich in history. Setting is a gracious Cape Dutch manor house with interleading rooms; service is friendly and efficient, and constantly changing menus celebrate seasonal flavours. Prime char-grilled rump, sirloin and fillet are best-sellers, sharing top spot with a speciality burger. But do try the mushroom risotto with truffle cream, and the sinful 70% chocoholic platter.

The Restaurant @ Clos Malverne

Welcoming restaurant, glass-fronted to frame the valley vista, abuzz with regulars back for best-selling grilled fillet with truffle/bone marrow jus. Order it with flagship Auret from a sophisticated four-course menu that pairs Clos Malverne wines with invitingly-presented dishes, from tempura prawns with homemade (hot) chilli sauce to duck confit rolled in crisp phyllo. End meltingly with a caramel-centered chocolate fondant and new-release Pinotage Le Café.

Wild Peacock Food Emporium

This enticing French-style brasserie-cum-deli oozes temptation, whether shopping for specialities like oysters, snails, fresh duck, quail, fish, free-range poultry, artisanal cheeses and fine wine, or sitting down to eat. Breakfasts are scrumptious; lunches deliciously light or a filling, flavoursome plat de jour (pots of Ma Baker’s mussels are a must). Excellent, well-priced wine-by-the-glass selection, plus a specialised retail wine boutique focused on the Stellenbosch area.

No. 6 @ Welbedacht Wine Estate

This gregarious venue for winelovers, sports-lovers and Springbok supporters is a favourite haunt of sporting greats (note the memorabilia on the walls: Schalk Burger Snr and Jnr were the 8th father and son Springbok combo). Integrated into the Welbedacht wine cellar, the down-to-earth restaurant is closely linked to the surrounding vineyards and the wine that complements chef John Tecklenburg’s flavourful dishes. Take a hearty appetite. See also Bradgate Manor House on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.

The Stone Kitchen

Stomp grapes during harvest. Relaxed bistro in the wine cellar, now in the care of estate owners Abbi and Lee Wallis, uses tanks and barrels as décor, allowing you a feet-on experience of winemaking. Daily-changing blackboard menus highlight fresh produce from the organic vegetable garden and surrounding farms. Enjoy farmhouse breakfasts, lingering lunches, or picnic under guava trees, surrounded by mountains. Great play area for children. See also Bovlei Valley Retreat on Accommodation in the Winelands & Cape Town page.