If you’re a foodie looking for a culinary adventure, the leafy suburb of Constantia is home to some of the best upmarket restaurants in Cape Town, in addition to being the cradle of the wine industry in South Africa. From fine dining to casual eateries, Constantia restaurants offer a range of exquisite culinary experiences, making it a must-visit destination for any food lover.
Constantia is not only home to the many wineries that dot the Constantia Valley but is also known for its litany of luxury and casual eateries. Two things you won’t be without when dining at any of the restaurants listed below: beautiful surroundings and an assorted wine, coffee and food menu.
Here are 11 Constantia restaurants serving good food and views:
The Conservatory at The Cellars-Hohenort Hotel
The Conservatory offers guests a delightful dining experience with an eclectic, light and abundant menu featuring uncomplicated yet perfectly executed food, all served in an idyllic garden setting.
Three special dining areas are available to choose from: the main dining room with stunning views of the historical garden and its Camphor trees, the intimate “breakfast room,” or the terrace overlooking the garden.
Executive Chef Tronette Dippenaar and Head Chef Daniel Blignaut have created a classic menu that focuses on firm favourites, including some of the late Liz McGrath’s personal recipes.
The Conservatory incorporates fresh produce picked from their very own gardens, including local fynbos whenever possible, in perfect harmony with the natural setting.
- Times: Monday to Sunday | Breakfast: 7am – 10:30am | Lunch: 12pm to 2:30pm | Dinner: 6pm to 8:30pm
- Location: 93 Brommersvlei Road, Constantia, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: Reservations are essential 021 794 2137 | [email protected]
La Colombe
As you ascend the winding road on Silvermist estate, time seems to slow down. At each bend, as the city tilts away beneath you, you rise to new heights of quiet anticipation.’
This is the sensation you experience as you near the top of Silvermist Wine Estate on your way to dine at La Colombe, the 56th of the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ in 2022 and rated 11th in Tripadvisor’s ‘Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the World.’
Constantia restaurants are highly regarded for their exceptional cuisine and ambience, and La Colombe is no exception. Located at Silvermist Wine Estate in the heart of the Constantia Wine Valley, this restaurant offers a unique dining experience with a fusion of French-Asian flavors. Chef-proprietor Scot Kirton and head chef James Gaag forage for ingredients to create innovative dishes that are masterfully presented in the restaurant’s chic and minimalist interior. La Colombe is undoubtedly one of the top restaurants in Constantia, and a must-visit for foodies and wine lovers alike.
- Times: Monday to Sunday | Lunch: 12pm to 1:30pm (last seating) | Dinner: 6pm to 8pm (last seating)
- Location: Silvermist Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia Nek
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.8
- Contact: 021 794 2390 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
La Parada Constantia Nek
La Parada serves delectable Spanish-style tapas and has enviable views of the surrounding vineyards, sea and mountains. Prior to La Parada’s occupancy, the building housed the iconic Constantia Nek Restaurant, Cape Town’s oldest restaurant.
The renovation was handled with care, ensuring that the improvements did not detract from the beauty and timeless nature of the building.
- Times: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 12am | Friday to Sunday: 9am to 12am
- Location: 1 Main Road, Hout Bay, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.2
- Contact: 021 795 0620
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Botanicum Café and Grill
Botanicum is an all-day restaurant that serves modern European dishes made with seasonal, fresh Cape produce.
With beautifully designed finishes, it brings the leafy surrounds of High Constantia inside to complement interiors that exude simplicity and sophistication.
Botanicum is a gathering place for regulars to meet up with family and friends for casual everyday affairs or to celebrate more special occasions.
- Times: Monday to Sunday: 8am to 9pm
- Location: Shop 6 High Constantia Centre, Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.2
- Contact: 021 794 7843
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Foxcroft
Glen Foxcroft Williams’ laid-back fine-dining restaurant, which he co-owns with celebrated La Colombe chef Scot Kirton, serves inspired and sensational cuisine.
Scot is known for his meticulous attention to detail, impeccable plating and boundary-pushing dishes, while Glen, the inspiration for the restaurant’s name, is a patisserie expert. Foxcroft is one of the most sought-after Constantia restaurants, known for its exceptional food and inviting ambience.
Glen Williams cooks with the same intensity and thoughtfulness as fine dining but in a more accessible format, maintaining a commitment to quality and flavour and treating common ingredients with the same care, attention and respect as rare ingredients.
- Times: Monday to Sunday: 8am to 9pm
- Location: Shop 8, High Constantia Centre, Groot Constantia Road, Constantia
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 021 202 3304 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Blockhouse Kitchen
Blockhouse Kitchen, located on the historic Constantia Uitsig Wine Estate, is dedicated to sharing a passion for accessible and seasonal food. The restaurant’s tagline is ‘Social. Seasonal. Simple’, which is echoed in the delicious, simple comfort food it serves.
The menu adheres to the restaurant’s belief in simple and classic cooking. It strives to use only the freshest produce from sustainable and local South African growers and farmers whenever possible.
Blockhouse Kitchen is a gem among the many Constantia restaurants. Its modern and airy 250-seat space is beautifully designed, offering a chic yet child-friendly dining experience. It’s a particular favourite among parents who enjoy booking up the deck for breakfast and lunch while their kids play on the adjacent playground.
Families can easily spend a day at the estate, as it’s also home to an ice cream shop, a deli, and a bike park, among other attractions. Blockhouse Kitchen is a must-visit for families looking for a fun-filled day of great food and entertainment in Constantia.
- Times: Tuesday to Saturday: 8am to 9pm | Sunday and Monday: 8am to 5pm
- Location: Spaanschemat River Road, Fir Grove, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.3
- Contact: 021 794 3010
- Bookings: [email protected]
Simon’s Restaurant
Simon’s celebrates the riches of the Winelands by transforming the freshest ingredients into delicious, memorable meals on a 300-year-old wine estate. It’s all about Cape cuisine with an international edge.
Enjoy the summer in Cape Town by dining al fresco on a vineyard-viewed terrace while sampling the valley’s wines or a diverse selection of craft beers.
Simon’s is the ideal Winelands dining experience, located less than 20 minutes from Cape Town’s city centre.
- Times: Monday to Sunday: 8am to 9pm
- Location: Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Groot Constantia Rd, Constantia, Cape Town,
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.3
- Contact: 021 794 1143 | 021 794 7724 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
Chefs Warehouse’s current offering is a four-course set menu that changes on a regular basis, with seasonal produce inspiring new dish ideas.
Beau Constantia Farm is not only a picturesque boutique wine farm but also home to one of the top Constantia restaurants. The stunning location on the crest of Constantia Nek offers breathtaking views of the lush, rolling vineyards and the distant False Bay.
Chef Ivor Jones and his talented kitchen team incorporate locally grown produce into an ever-changing, dynamic menu that emphasizes the simple pleasure of eating and drinking well in a beautiful setting.
Dining at Beau Constantia is a unique experience that combines exceptional cuisine with unparalleled natural beauty, making it a must-visit among the top Constantia restaurants.
This contemporary eatery, located 20 minutes from the Cape Town CBD, features a sleek, open-plan layout, a spacious outdoor terrace and an elegant ten-seat private dining pod with spectacular views of the valley.
- Times: Tuesday to Sunday: 12 pm – 2 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm
- Location: Beau Constantia Wine Farm | 1043 Constantia Main Road, Constantia Neck, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 794 8632 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Constantia Glen
Among the many notable Constantia restaurants, Constantia Glen is a standout for its excellent wines and limited but scrumptious charcuterie, cheese, and salad menus.
Visitors can enjoy wine tastings while taking in the breathtaking views of the sun-drenched vineyards and picturesque mountain and valley landscapes.
The verandah is the perfect place to relax and unwind while savoring the delicious food and comfortable wicker chairs that are perfect for lazy lounging and snacking.
Constantia Glen is a must-visit for wine lovers and foodies who want to experience the best of what Constantia restaurants have to offer.
The Glass Room also has spectacular views and is probably a better bet in the winter.
- Times: Monday to Thursday: 10am to 6pm | Friday to Sunday: 10am to 9pm
- Location: Constantia Main Road, Constantia, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.0
- Contact: 021 795 5639 | [email protected]
- Bookings: [email protected]
Little Stream Tea Garden Cafe
Little Stream is one of Cape Town’s best-kept secrets, blending an elegant fusion of past and present. This small, rustic daytime venue is set on the lovely 7-acre garden estate at the foothills of Constantia.
With its picturesque garden and tranquil and magical forest setting, it has been dubbed a ‘mini Kirstenbosch garden.’
In an alfresco setting, the tea garden and café serves an artisan-style menu with timeless dishes reminiscent of childhood and home comforts.
From Tuesday through to Sunday, you can enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch and afternoon tea with cake.
- Times: Tuesday to Sunday: 9am to 4.30pm
- Location: Klein Constantia Road on the right of the cul de sac, Hope of Constantia, Cape Town
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.2
- Contact: 087 701 2771 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
Blanko
Blanko’s chic, gallery-style space – complete with Italian marble tables, a dramatically lit-up bar and textured furnishings – reflects executive chef Amber-May Deetlefs’ culinary philosophy: ‘The best food should be something sincere and uncomplicated.’
Constantia is known for its exceptional cuisine, fine wines, and stunning scenery. But what sets some of its restaurants apart is their unique way of enhancing the dining experience.
Some of the top Constantia restaurants have collaborated with renowned art galleries such as the Goodman Gallery to display works of art by some of South Africa’s most talented artists.
Guests can feast not only on delectable food and drinks but also on the beauty and cultural significance of the art on display. It’s a perfect blend of gastronomy and art that’s sure to impress and delight visitors.
- Times: Monday to Sunday: 12pm to 11pm
- Location: Blanko, Alphen Hotel, Alphen Drive, Constantia
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.4
- Contact: 021 795 6300 | [email protected]
- Bookings: dineplan.com
If you ever find yourself in Johannesburg, be sure to check out The 13 Best Maboneng Restaurants.
ALSO SEE: 10 hidden restaurant gems in Cape Town for dining off the beaten path
10 hidden restaurant gems in Cape Town for dining off the beaten path
Written by Sarah du Toit for Cape {town} Etc.
Feature image: La Colombe / Facebook
If you ever find yourself in Johannesburg, be sure to check out The 20 Best Restaurants in Midrand.
