When your craving demands more than a burger

We know all about your taste for soccer, but whilst you’re here, we’d hate you to leave without also tasting some of our authentic local flavours. To understand South African tastebuds, you have to comprehend the concept of “Lekker”. The Afrikaans word means ‘nice’ or ‘tasty’ and it can be used to describe food, clothing, the game, a player, your holiday or just about anything else that you enjoyed.

It’s a great idea to plan your day around one or two special nosh spots, so grab some bobotie in the Bo-Kaap or another dish from our unique regional Cape Malay cuisine. The homegrown Cape Malay cuisine is strongly influenced by Malay and Indonesian slaves who were first brought to the Cape some 400 years ago; it is characterised by sweet curries and spicy stews. Among the signature dishes are bobotie, a mince dish topped with an egg custard, and waterblommetjiebredie, a meat stew made with water hyacinths. Whilst in Bo-Kaap drive or better still walk up the cobbled streets until you can go no further and enjoy the panoramic views of Cape Town and Table Mountain. Visit the restaurants and soak in the aromas and the vistas. The area is home to the first Mosque in South Africa and is known for its brightly painted homes and creative feel. Carol Boyes (South Africa’s favourite cutlery manufacturer) has her studio in Bo-Kaap as do the amazing wire and bead artists of Streetwires and Monkeybiz. Head a bit further up the hill and watch as a member of the South African Navy loads the canons with gunpowder to fire the Noon Gun. The ritual represents one of Cape Town's oldest living traditions and we believe that these are the oldest guns in daily use in the world. They fire every day at 12 noon sharp, except Sundays and public holidays.

Then there’s Long Street, famous as a bohemian hang out, jam packed full of Victorian buildings with wrought iron balconies, bookstores, ethnic restaurants, bars and backpakers. Try Long Street Café (+27 21 424 2464), a fab place for dinner or sundowners or both. For something a little more exotic, pop into Mesopotamia Kurdish Kitchen (+27 21 424 4664), Masala Dosa (+27 21 424 6772), a southern Indian restaurant bringing a touch of Bollywood to the Mother City, or Addis (+ 27 21 424 5722) for Ethiopian cuisine that features a wonderful blend of spices.

The Neighbourgoods Market (open every Saturday 9am to 2pm) in Woodstock is where warm hearted people come together at big communal tables to share fresh local produce, handmade cheeses, wood fired breads, live music and more.

South Africans are not known as meat and potato lovers for nothing and you will most probably be invited home for a braai. A braai is a backyard barbecue and it will take place whatever the weather. So you will have to go even if it’s raining like mad and hang of a cold. At the braai, you may encounter pap (boiled corn meal) Pronounced “pup”, it has the appearance, consistency and, many say, the taste of moist plaster of paris. Lots of South Africans pretend to like it. Eating pap is character building in the sense that one learns to grin and bear adversity, rather like Americans in the South who have grown spiritually by consuming grits. If you’re not so lucky to be invited to a braai, and its meat that you’re after, the Cape pantry won’t disappoint with boerewors (sausage), Karoo lamb, sirloin, ostrich, springbok and more. There are a host of establishments that specialise in carnivorous cuts, ‘inyama’ in Xhosa and other Nguni languages – see listings below.

Something fishy? If you want your fish just-caught from the sea, the best bet is to stay as close to the harbour as possible – we’ve suggested some spots near the fishing villages of Kalk Bay, and a short drive beyond Cape Town, along the West Coast to Langebaan and Paternoster where the seafood is so fresh it’s still flapping – or slurp down a world-famous Knysna oyster. These are some of the richest seas in the world lapping at the Cape’s shorelines – don’t pass up the opportunity to indulge in kreef (crayfish) or perlemoen (abalone), but be sure to ask the going price before placing your order, because these delicacies can also lighten your wallet! If you’re in a more traditional (and frugal) mood, try the snoek, a local favourite and staple – dried, smoked, braaied or in a pate, it’s eaten every way except as sushi.

Or you can take a easy ride out to Franschhoek, Paarl, Stellenbosch in the Cape Winelands - home to some of South Africa’s top restaurants and award winning wine cellars. South African wines are almost as legendary as Pele, and we’ve listed some of our favourite winelands restaurants.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget to try witblits – “white lightning” – many a Cape farmer distils their family moonshine recipe going back generations, or sample a more refined Cape Brandy, recognised as among the finest in the world.

Mingle with the locals in superb settings, eat a Gatsby (large chip roll), gossip about the games, and share in the fusion of flavours – simple and hearty or divinely refined, it’s all on the menu.


more:     who / do / eat / shop / party / connect

• Score an adrenaline hat trick [outdoor/active]
• Cheer a killer pass on and off the field [natural beauty]
• When your craving demands more than a burger [gourmet]
• Take in a bit of Cape culture as your team goes for glory [culture and heritage]
• When the sound of the vuvuzela starts getting to you [body, mind and spirit]
• Living it up when the final whistle blows [cosmopolitan vibe]