TOP 10 BEST Restaurants in South Africa - Updated November 2024

Zest

84/100 (1370 ratings)

Restaurants

Vegetarian Friendly

Contemporary

Vegan Options

European

Seafood

Mediterranean

Seafood

Mediterranean

European

Contemporary

Gluten Free Options

Vegetarian Friendly

Vegan Options

Gluten Free Options

Brunch

Dinner

After-hours

Lunch

Bread

Seafood Platters

Diesel & Dust Lager

Yellowtail

Cape Malayan Chicken Curry

Beetroot salad

Curry

Riebeek Pinotage Rosé

Linefish Ū Mint Yoghurt & Bloodacryle Reduction

Prawns

Gin Tonic Pink Lady

Pork Belly Salad Tapas

Fish & chips

Chef Choice Burger

Salad

Crab

Schnitzel

Calamari

Mustard

Arancini

Risotto

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Hake

Mussels

Mushroom Arancini

Cakes

Tuna

Calamares

Chocolate Fondant with Ice Cream

Sardines Tapas

Lamb

Burger

Only Wine

Fish

Crab Cake

Hamburger

Pork

Tapas

Decaf Irish Coffee

Prawns

Fillet steak

Sit down

Seafood

Mediterranean

Contemporary

European

Wheelchair Accessible

Waterfront

Serves Alcohol

Wine and Beer

Parking Available

Free off-street parking

Highchairs Available

Full Bar

Accepts Credit Cards

Outdoor Seating

Reservations

Accepts Mastercard

Accepts Visa

Street Parking

Seating

Table Service

Lunch

Brunch

Dinner

After-hours

Mid-range

"Zest - the Restaurant to relive your passion for Good Food!! Compliments to the Chef, Managing Staff & waiters for making you feel absolutely 'at..."

Dellarise Prinsloo

"I've eaten there on two previous occasions, and both times the food was excellent! The chicken ballantine we had yesterday, was really delicious...."

Colin Yon

"This little bistro is a slice of heaven. Beautiful food, great views, efficient friendly service make for a winning combination. In my opinion this..."

Kevin Pearson

"Honestly the best food and best meal I have had in years. The food is so delicious and beautifully..."

Tamsin Taylor Kloppers

"Once again, compliments to the chef for his outstanding and well presented dishes. My taste buds went crazy with joy. My hubby and I couldn't get..."

Simone Jongens

"What a Gem of a place. 2 nights in a row as we were on a long weekend In Gordon's Bay. Next level awesome food and fabulous chef and staff. Wish..."

Andrea-Lea Hendrick

"One of my favourite restaurants in the Helderberg. Exquisite food, friendly staff and child friendly whilst still stylish and modern. Love it..."

Marisa Potgieter

"Thank you for an amazing New years eve, fantastic food, live music and very friendly staff, Thank you forcan special evening, an must..."

Nathalie Elliott

"Absolutely my all time favourite. My husband arranged to take over the restaurant for my 50th Birthday. What a night! Reuben & Hermien are always so..."

Vanessa Jones Coetzer

"Some of the best food I had in ages. Salmon mouse starter was out of this world. Best potato fondant I ever tasted, and cudo’s to the chef that..."

Abri Du Plooy

"Best fish in town. Really appreciated the fact that it was cooked to perfection, moist and just melted in your mouth. Well..."

Madeline du Toit

"Our favorite place by far! Beautiful and delicious food, drinks and atmosphere!..."

Charmaine Van Der Mescht

"Thank you so much for making our anniversary dinner unforgetable! We had yummy starters and the best gourmet burgers ever...will definately be back...."

Nicki Bosch Mocke

"Amazing service, excellent food, great view, a must to all living or visiting Gordon's..."

Shane John

"My partner and I popped into Zest for an early supper. Straight off the bat, Zest has a great location facing the beach so is an ideal restuarant to..."

Aleya Banwari

"Lovely but Zomato menu 3 years out of..."

John Mc Caffery

"I had grilled hake and potato wedges and it was a great choice. The wedges were a little spicy and crispy just the way I like them. The bread served..."

Zimkhitha Sulelo

"An absolute gem! Outstanding food! Highly recommended! Wow! Cooked to perfection with love and care, beautifully plated and served. Went two nights..."

Robert Fridjhon

"A lovely little gem in Gordon's Bay - delicious and honest, down to earth food plated beautifully!We ordered a few tapas as starters - the..."

Erilene Schioedt-Heinsen

"Every time I've been to Zest the food has been cooked to perfection, hake fish, Indian chicken, and lamb. I pray a blessing over this..."

Water2Heal

"Hidden gem in Gordon's Bay. We love this place and do date night here almost once a week. Great food great setting great atmosphere and make sure..."

Johannes Van Dyk

"We had great Crab cakes, mussels and gourmet burgers during 2 visits. Food was perfect and plating is at a very high standard. Master chef Australia..."

Werna Oberholzer

"Ambiance is elegantly casual. Service was quick and spot on. The specials are all chalked up on the wall and written to boost the appetite. Family..."

Gerhard

"I have been remiss in writing about Zest in Gordons Bay but only because time has not been on my side. Today my mission is to clear my desk before we..."

Tandy Sinclair

"The most innovative and creative restaurant in the Helderberg! The chefs clearly have passion and that reflects on the plates. They have a blackboard..."

Anneme Van Berge

"The True definition of ZEST1. Noun - enthusiasm, eagerness, energy, and interest: or 2.The skin of an orange, lemon, or lime, used to..."

Mr.G Marcus Gibbons

"Situated along the beach you will find this precious family run restaurant that serves up gourmet Mediterranean dishes showcasing the chefs passion..."

Zanel

"A fantastic gem on the beautiful beachfront of Gordon’s Bay.. Beautiful views of the ocean! Zest offers a modern and new take on Mediterranean..."

Chetna Black

"An interesting little place amongst some more well known and well established eateries on the beach. A small menu that doesn't really cater for..."

Micky Dollie

"Great view, great food, definitely will return. Felt like we were on holiday in Mauritius as the weather was perfect. Menu on the blackboard was..."

Jenni Shaw Fox

"Good service, awesome position and really good food all add up to one of the best restaurants in the area. Would really recommend it to anyone in the..."

Michael

"What a treat! Great views, awesome vibe & delicious food. We had the Line Fish & it was absolutely delicious and cooked to perfection. Will def go..."

Estelle Oosthuizen

"What a delightful little gem. Good food, good service and good live music. Try the Parmesan mousse. Very affordable prices and a warm fireplace...."

Louise Retief Bruce

"It is rare to find a restaurant that has friendly service and food to match. Exquisite food. The chef tonight was Zack, everything cooked to..."

Andrew James Sutherland

"Zest has an amazing view and the food is super tasty. I will definitely come back again. This is a must during any visit to Gordans Bay Area...."

Bianca Botma

"Zest has a chilled vibe with a stunning view. Their meals was awesome. My husband had the chef's special which was the steak with potatoe salad. I..."

Megs

"One of the best restaurants I've eaten at. From starter to dessert... Every single meal was out of this world! The owner & chef is exceptionally..."

MealCheaterFoodie

"We really had the best night at Zest! We went there on Friday and had an amazing dinner. The food was presented beautifully with really good wine! We..."

Karin Coetzee

"The food was amazing. My husband and I like to make a point of it to never eat at the same place twice. We found this gem thanks to TripAdvisor and..."

Rona Stark

"What an amazing gem of a place! We had one of the best food experiences at this somewhat hidden restaurant in Gordon's Bay. From the moment we sat..."

Hans Croukamp

"The beef fillet was delicious. The lemon cream pot also hit the..."

Michael Pelser

"Wet love this place. Enjoy good quality food while enjoying a magnificent view. Sunsets are awesome to view from..."

Beverley Walker

"Best food experience I had, will absolutely go again! Our waiter recommend the line fish with lemon mayonnaise and blood orange reduction... what a..."

Gaily Thompson

"I absolutely loved this place. The food was exquisite and was beautifully prepared with great ingredients. I liked it so much I came back twice...."

Dan Hawtrey

"Great service and food. Stunning views over Gordonsbay..."

Walter Ivan Stevens

"Simple and inviting atmosphere, with a beautiful view of False Bay. Had options for my 7 and 4 year old. One had battered fried hake and chips, and..."

Rainer Küsel

"Food was great and the people are very..."

FANIE JANSE VAN RENSBURG

"B.E.A.U.TIFUL!!! Food is flavorful . The presentation of each dish was beautiful, and the flavors were exquisite. Service was Excellent, waiters..."

Nathan Thyssen

"Really great hidden gem that’s just in front of the beach. Food quality is excellent and staff are friendly too. Definitely splash out and spoil..."

Nolan Rumble

The Thirsty Oyster Tavern

74/100 (4070 ratings)

Restaurants

Pub

Vegetarian Friendly

Bar

Seafood

Pub

Seafood

Bar

Vegetarian Friendly

Brunch

Dinner

Lunch

Jack Black Craft Beer

Catfish

Fresh West Coast Oysters

Fish

Hake & Chips with Garlic Sauce

Chicken Livers

Friday Special Burger

Green salad

Calamari Strips & Chips and Mussels

seafood platter

Salad

Crayfish

Wings

Chicken Schnitzel

Bread

Oyster

Butterfish

Calamari

calimari

Sparkling Wine

Mussels

Veggies

Tuna

Fish and Calamari

Calamares

Ribs & Chips

Seafood Platters

Fish and Chips

Prawns

Burger

Tuna

Hake

Oyster Shots

Crawfish

Seafood

Bar

Pub

Seating

Accepts Credit Cards

Table Service

Outdoor Seating

Wheelchair Accessible

Takeout

Television

Live Music

Serves Alcohol

Parking Available

Full Bar

Reservations

Free Wifi

Lunch

Brunch

Dinner

Mid-range

"Beautiful service and the food is on point. Thank you to Gavin for turning us into future regulars. Lovely spot in GB. A must..."

Khaleel Arnold

"Beautiful views from top floor, fish and calamari was outstanding. One restaurant where you can order vegetables in stead of chips and get decent..."

Paula Joubert

"I love the place, the staff, the vibe, the food and meeting up with the locals. So glad the smoking areas have been reassessed. My wife and my..."

Chris Solomon

"We enjoyed a lovely lunch. My mussels were plump and fresh and the calamari was tender and tasty. Very friendly yet professional service . I was..."

Eileen Steeman

"One of my favourite places on earth! Great food, lovely staff, and often lots of fun after hours in the bar section with fabulous live..."

Carol Cox

"AMAZING food. Great service. Fab atmosphere. Can’t recommend it highly enough. Definitely will be back before we leave Gordons Bay!..."

Helen Dodds

"Probably the best restaurant/bar in the world! Great service, food, prices, entertainment and brilliant atmosphere. Keep it up guys just..."

Frank Shepley

"Was there for the first time yesterday with my daughter on a lunch date . The atmosphere was so inviting looking in from the outside. I loved the..."

Carmen Buchner

"Popped in there last night for the 1st time.Awesome experience,except for the grumpy guy at the table behind us.Our food was delicious by the..."

Anschen Smallberg

"A true hidden gem, cosy atmosphere with fireplace ideal for winter. Waiters were friendly and helpful, cost of food is reasonable. Located near the..."

Meli Sauls

"I was excited to go to the Thirsty Oyster . I have been cooped up for the past weeks, my only car rides being to the hospital and back. For my person..."

Muffin For Mayor

"I have been to the Thirsty Oyster a few times and I’ve yet to be disappointed. The menu on offer is fairly diverse, but if you find yourself here -..."

Tienie Botes

"Initially it seemed a little run down. But this is a typical Pub style eatery.The staff was friendly and the food is excellent.As we were..."

Theo Smith

"Really fresh seafood. Great vibe even for the kiddies. Looking forward to the next visit. Try the calamari tentacles they are really really..."

Louis Van Der Hoven

"My Hubby nd I popped in on Tuesday night and both had the calamari and rice. Both meals had to be sent back as it was cold. Rather disappointing the..."

Dianne Hattingh Raubenheimer

"Great food, great vibe an authentic Cape Town. The portions are big and not expensive, with a table of 7 we had only compliments to offer!! Very..."

Frikkie Du Preez

"Absolutely fantastic seafood. Fresh, melt in your mouth fish and associated shellfish! Service was great! Efficient and professional! A definite..."

Constant Grové

"I had an awesome night with friends. Super fresh food, their menu is based on what's available. The waiter made great recommendations. I would..."

Marni

"Stopped here en-route to Cape Town for a drink. Screens are plentiful, the live band brings a good vibe and packed to the rafter all add to a..."

Lucianrajah

"Consistently good food. The best in Gordon's Bay. Enough..."

Justin Coetzee

"THE BEST and only place to eat in Gordon's Bay by far! Fantastic food, super service and amazing ambiance. Great bar for watching sports as well...."

Andrea Van Straten

"Been here, ate here..... will come again! Passed here a couple of times and today tried it. Yes, maybe not the best seafood menu, but what is on the..."

Danny Calitz

"Had a great experience. Good food, and friendly faces. Nice choice of items on there menu.Will definitely be back soon. Also one stunning view...."

Chanell Brown

"Excellent place! Would definitely recommend it and would definitely go back for more. Good food, good service and good vibe! It has something for..."

Tiaan Botha

"Popped in for a basket and a beer over the weekend. Fantastic view of the GB harbour and a lekker vibe. Reasonable prices and a place you can really..."

Jonathan Houston

"Such a definite hotspot. It seems that anytime we get there the place is packed to the brim. Food is amazing especially the mussel pot. Waiters are..."

Theresa Van Rhyn

"I have had the privilege of dinning at this establishment which I have heard only good things of.. my friends and I recently had lunch at The Thirsty..."

Farad Bhamjee

"Decided to stop by with some friends after driving passed- ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!Seafood platters, crayfish, calamari...We cannot fault any..."

Ainsley Ai Stewart

"Had lunch at the thirsty oyster today. The restaurant was ridiculously busy, which meant waiting an absolute age for our meals. Our waitress was..."

Tammy Biddle

"In the harbour of Gordons Bay. The atmosphere is vibrant and the guests create the friendliness. An adjoining pub is a feature to add noise and a..."

Gerhard

"The Thirsty Oyster is a fantastic easy going restaurant. Awesome menu and great vibe. Try the butterfish espetada for something a bit..."

StGeorgeTucker

"Pub grub to the limit! Great sporting atmosphere with screens nearly all over the pub. We had one barman to like 20 people upstairs and he killed it:..."

Vera The Wine Snob

"Had the most amazing fish and calamari today. They truly never disappoint. Service was also excellent. Def a must visit for a true authentic Gordon's..."

Estelle Oosthuizen

"Mostly full of regulars and families, it is laid-back and comfortable. The food took quite a long wait, although we had a large table (luckily they..."

Talia Lee Cohen

"This is such a great place to go if you're in the area looking for a good meal. I had the mussels in creamy garlic sauce and it was fantastic! So..."

Bronwyn Coltman

"it's mother's day lunch, it's fully booked everywhere, we are lucky to have a table in smoking room (but not too many smokers) without reservation. a..."

Sibyl Wong

"Best service ever, the kitchen was closed but the manager made a plan for us and served us the most delicious hake and chips. Will always come back..."

Amanda Harrison

"Booked a table at the last minute and the staff were really helpful in accommodating us. I had the Dorado fish which was devine and perfectly cooked!..."

Adi Van Breda

"Fast and friendly service, considering how busy they can get. Awesome seafood!! (Calamari is a winner! :) Great view of the harbour. Very generous..."

Ben Kilian

"Our first honeymoon dinner was here 2 years ago and we have been enjoying their lovely platter for 2 ever since. Once again we enjoyed dinner at this..."

ML Korb

"Really pleasant restaurant and bar, beautifully located overlooking the Gordons Bay Harbour. Tasty food combines with charming service to make this..."

Andrew King

"Portions are generous. Food is very tasty. Nothing like sitting by the sea having sea food and ice cold beer. Love to go here at least once a day on..."

Dorea

"The thirsty oyster has a wonderful vibe, service is slightly slower than average and the food is very good, however they are overpriced for the..."

Devine Wolmarans

"The thirsty oyster was the first place I had dinner at on arrival in Cape Town. Definitely didn't disappoint. It has a very relaxed ambiance, the..."

Micaela Rodrigues

"The seafood rice was exelent enough for 2 people, the calamari was tender and very tasty, service was great, great vibe, will definitely be back when..."

Tony Geffen

"Situated in the beautiful old harbour of Gordons Bay this informal dining establishment offers the perfect venue to watch the sunset, catch up on the..."

Tandy Sinclair

"Do not eat steak at a seafood restaurant, was not good at all, all, mushroom sause also not nice, veggies good, oysters good. Fantastic vibe and..."

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Warwick (The Saucy Mare)