Food

Cape Town's cultural mix strongly affects its cuisine; various European influences blend with African ingredients and Eastern traditions brought by slaves to this South African city. Chefs also follow the latest Asian and Pacific Rim trends, with a focus on Thai and North Indian cuisine as well, making it possible to try food from a different culture every night.

It's important to try truly local delicacies, such as biltong (dried meat), which you can get at specialty shops or even the supermarket. Much of the local street food is Indian-based since there is a sizeable Indian population in Cape Town. Curry dishes like bunny chow and routi are a must, and if you can find a place that makes them, you should try a gatsby (French loaf stuffed with hot chips, French polony, and a salad dressing) which is to Cape Town what the hot dog is to NY.

More traditional dishes found in restaurants include bobotie (kind of like Shepherd's pie, but spicy – of Malay origin), boerewors (sausage -- from the Afrikaaner kitchen), bredie (meat-based stew -- Cape Malay), and briyani (rice dish -- Cape Malay/Indian).

Food in Cape Town is generally of high quality. The wines are much celebrated, but the surrounding region is also a major fruit producer, and the Karoo lamb is widely regarded. Seafood caught locally is superlative, but ironically much of it goes internationally (e.g., tuna for sushi) because of the prices that can be gotten. Ask about the local linefish -- yellowtail, cape salmon, kingklip, kabeljou and others are great eating. Oysters in season are also exceptional, farmed and wild from Knysna or wild flown in from Namibia.

As one of the main tourist spots is the V&A waterfront, you will find a broad range of restaurants, but they are often crowded and expensive. Another highlight is the area around Long Street with its many cafés and restaurants (frequented by a multi-ethnic clientele), while the trendy area of De Waterkant between Bo Kaap and Green Point above Somerset Road also boasts good food and a great vibe. Dine with supermodels and other beautiful people in Camps Bay, which has many hip eateries and nightspots overlooking the beach along Victoria Road.