The vegetarian and vegan meals scene in Cape Town is blossoming with tasty, thrilling and distinctive meals accessible all around the metropolis. As you would possibly anticipate from a cultured capital metropolis, there’s no scarcity of vegetarian and vegan choices within the metropolis’s eating places, regardless of the historically meaty focus of Afrikaner tradition.
Learn on to be taught extra about our favorite locations to eat veggie meals in Cape City:
- Oranjezicht City Farm Market (Cape Malay, and so forth. Waterfront)
- Seven Colours (South African, Waterfront)
- Addis at Cape Town (Ethiopian, CBD)
- Faeeza’s (Cape Malay, Bo-Kaap)
- GOLD Restaurant (African, CBD)
- The Conscious Kitchen (Vegetarian, CBD)
- Nish Nush SA (Falafel, CBD)
- Obi Japanese Restaurant (Sushi, CBD)
- Leo’s Wine Bar (& Max Bagels) (CBD)
- Unframed (Vegan-friendly ice cream, CBD)
- Moro Gelato (Ice lotions and vegan sorbets, CBD)
- Skotnes Restaurant (Vegetarian-friendly, Tokai)
- SALT (Vegetarian-friendly small plates, Kalk Bay)
- Minari Korean Kitchen (Vegetarian-friendly, Simon’s City)
- Caprice Cafe (Vegan-friendly, Camps Bay)
- Beau Constantia (Vegetarian-friendly, Constancia)
The Finest Locations to Eat Vegetarian African Meals in Cape City
One among my favorite issues about travelling is making an attempt new meals from the native cultures. I had been warned that African delicacies doesn’t cater a lot to vegetarians, however I used to be pleasantly shocked to seek out loads of vegetarian and vegan choices.
Cape Malay delicacies, which is a wealthy mixture of African, Malaysian and Indonesian influences, is filled with vegetarian and vegan dishes that we loved at Faeeza’s and Oranjezicht Market. We tried conventional (vegan) South African chakalaka at Seven Colors. Ethiopian delicacies, which is historically vegan two days per week, is available all through Cape City. Listed here are our favorite locations to eat vegetarian and vegan African meals:
Deal with Your Tastebuds at Oranjezicht Metropolis Farm Market (Waterfront)
In addition to being an amazing place to choose up contemporary greens and artisan merchandise, the Oranjezicht Metropolis Farm Market has a incredible collection of meals stalls serving mouthwatering meals. The one disadvantage is selecting only one place to eat!
We determined to go for a vegan Cape Malay meal (ZAR 120) that included spiced chickpeas, cauliflowers, potatoes, rice, salad and contemporary roti. The meal was spectacular and we purchased a Cape Malay spice combine to take dwelling with us! If Cape Malay doesn’t take your fancy, vegetarians and vegans can take pleasure in Indian meals, falafels, mushroom kebabs and rather more!
The Oranjezicht Metropolis Farm Market is open Saturday and Sundays till 2 PM, and on Wednesdays from 5PM-9PM.
Discover South African Delicacies at Seven Colors (Waterfront)
If you wish to strive genuine South African cooking, Seven Colors Eatery is the place to be.
We had been drawn right here as a result of I seen they had been promoting chakalaka, which one native had described to us as a life-changing African dish that doesn’t comprise any meat. One style and I can verify: chakalaka is scrumptious and I’ll be making it at dwelling.
Our lunch (ZAR 125) included both samp and beans or steamed mealie bread, chakalaka, coleslaw, spinach and mushrooms. Chakalaka is a mix of beans, carrots and veggies with spices.
This isn’t a vegetarian restaurant and the meal we had wasn’t on the menu, however the pleasant ready workers had been pleased to cook dinner a vegetarian lunch for us and it felt as if they had been used to doing so.
Seven Colors Eatery has two places, one on the Watershed and one at Battery Park. Our assessment right here relies on the sit-down location at Battery park.
A closing notice, the one that really helpful we strive chakalaka initially was from Zimbabwe and claimed it as a Zimbabwean dish. I don’t plan to start out off any culinary battle, so I’ll simply say that the chakalaka I attempted in South Africa was nice and I stay up for making an attempt the Zimbabwean model too.
Strive Ethiopian Meals at Addis in Cape (CBD)
Addis in Cape is an Ethiopian restaurant with an in depth vegan choice. Do you know that orthodox Ethiopians eat vegan for 180 days per 12 months, as a part of their fasting routine? Which means Ethiopian delicacies has lots of glorious vegan and vegetarian dishes!
Our combo meal for 2 (ZAR 390) included crimson lentils, mushrooms, chickpeas, yellow break up peas and blended greens all cooked in feisty, Berbere spices and served on injera (a flat, springy bread constituted of teff grain). Ethiopian meals is historically eaten by hand, utilizing the injera to scoop up your meals. You may sub your teff injera for a rice injera, at further value, for a gluten-free possibility.
I like to recommend reserving a desk by means of both Google Maps or Dineplan. One of the best seats are all upstairs and there’s additionally balcony seating accessible.
Faeeza’s Residence Kitchen Serves Genuine Cape Malay Residence Cooking! (Bo-Kaap)
Don’t they at all times say that the perfect meals are cooked at dwelling?
Faeeza’s Home Kitchen. Because the identify suggests, it’s a kitchen run out of a beautiful woman’s dwelling and it specialises in home-cooked Cape Malay dishes. I had a scrumptious butter bean curry with roti and sambal that was amongst the very tastiest issues I ate in South Africa!
Faeeza’s Residence Kitchen is in Bo-Kaap, which is a vibrant Cape Malay neighbourhood that’s value seeing in its personal proper. You may prepare cooking classes at Faeeza’s, which cater to vegetarians and vegans on request.
Take heed to African Drumming with Your Dinner at GOLD Restaurant (CBD)
Consuming at GOLD Restaurant is a full-on expertise, full with African drumming, dancing and a “14-course meal” (ZAR 455) that may be totally vegetarian. Many (however not all) of the dishes will also be made vegan or gluten-free.
The meals comes from throughout Africa, together with Ethiopian iab (cheese curds), Tunisian briouats (carrot and potato muffins) and Cape Malay lentil bobotie.
In case you’re much less within the participatory drumming (which we thought was a bit too touristy) and extra into the consuming, you possibly can sit away from the stage and within the regular restaurant space.
The Finest Vegetarian and Vegan Meals within the CBD
The CBD is Cape City’s beating coronary heart, so it’s no shock that a lot of the perfect vegetarian and vegan meals could be discovered right here. Under is a collection of our favorite vegetarian-friendly eating places and eateries within the CBD.
Eat Clear at The Aware Kitchen (CBD, Kloof Road)
Within the temper to select from a big menu of veggie classics? The Aware Kitchen on Kloof Road is a totally vegetarian kitchen. I had some wholesome Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls (ZAR 105) while Charlie had the Buddha Bowl (ZAR 105). I used to be notably impressed with the falafel, which had been made with a contact of turmeric for further color and flavour.
The vibe is someplace between hippy and yoga studio — assume white partitions, picket counters, digital nomads at work and vials of mysterious superfoods. If I had one small criticism, it’s that my Vietnamese rolls got here with a vegan mayo, quite than the peanut satay marketed (I discover vegan mayo a bit hit or miss, however every to their very own).
Take pleasure in Falafel and Hummus at Nish Nush SA (CBD, Bree Road)
Falafel is a type of meals that I get severe cravings for if I’m going with out for too lengthy, so naturally Nish Nush SA was one of many first eateries that I checked out in Cape City. This isn’t a totally vegetarian kitchen, however there are many each vegan and vegetarian choices.
Nish Nush is an informal and cheap, hole-in-the-wall place with steel chairs on the road. It’s on Bree Road, which makes it a handy place to choose up a chew after a couple of wines at Leo’s. If I had been to return, I’d select the falafel plate over the pita possibility, as I wasn’t in love with the pita, however judging from the place’s glorious opinions I’m comfortably in a minority.
Take pleasure in Cape City’s Finest Japanese meals at Obi Restaurant (CBD)
Obi Restaurant is an unassuming and really genuine Japanese ramen and sushi spot on Lengthy Road. Strolling into this low-lot, picket floored restaurant, you recognize it’s going to be good. Rows of rice wine line the wall, the kitchen is flanked by noren (conventional Japanese cloth dividers hung in doorways) and the tables are set with neatly lined chopsticks and Kikkoman soy sauce.
There’s a scrumptious vary of Japanese delicacies on the menu, together with edamame, agedashi tofu and pickled daikon sushi. There are plentiful vegetarian choices, and we opted for a variety of starters and sushi. Don’t miss the nasu miso (sticky glazed miso aubergine) which was melt-in-the-mouth perfection.
A meal for 2 folks, with an alcoholic drink every, got here to ZAR 750.
Eat Bagels and Drink Wine at Leo’s Wine Bar (Max Bagels) (CBD, Bree Road)
Wine and bagels, why did I by no means consider placing the 2 collectively?
Max Bagels is a well-liked bagel joint that has a few respectable vegetarian choices. What makes this place particular, nonetheless, is when the bagel store closes at 5PM, it converts into Leo’s Wine Bar on the identical premises!
Leo’s Wine Bar, which spills out onto Bree Road, is a stylish spot to take pleasure in a glass (or maybe bottle) of wine. That they had a pleasant collection of wines from native vineyards. In case you’re peckish, they serve toasted bagel ‘pizzas’, that are made by toasting the bagels made earlier that day.
After we visited one Friday night, the place was filled with pals chatting after work and {couples} on nervy first dates. We had been fortunate to get a seat!
Style the World’s Finest Ice Cream at Unframed (CBD, Kloof Road)
It isn’t on a regular basis you get to strive ice cream declared the perfect on this planet, so if time permits be sure you cease at Unframed Ice Cream to choose up a scoop (or three). We tried the lychee ice cream which was scrumptious and likewise occurred to be vegan – it’s the creamiest vegan ice cream we’ve ever had. Different engaging flavours included white chocolate lemon-infused olive oil and classics like honeycomb and vanilla.
Unframed is on Kloof Road, which is one thing of a hipster playground. It’s the fashionable place to purchase not solely ice cream but in addition cease for a drink, get a chew to eat or have your trainers repaired on the Sneaker Shack.
Deal with Your self to Hand-made, Italian-style Gelato at Moro (CBD)
Moro Gelato is the perfect ice cream store in Cape City, in line with Charlie, although we cherished Unframed too. The gelato is made by hand and flavours are based mostly on seasonal substances.
Their gelato is saved in a conventional “pozzetti,” a sunken counter defending the gelato from air, mild and temperature modifications. We loved a double scoop of peanut and vanilla, which had been each superbly mild and refined in flavour. Additionally on the menu is rooibos gelato. For vegans, strive a refreshing sorbetto!
The Finest Vegetarian and Vegan Meals outdoors the CBD
A lot of Cape City’s finest sights are discovered outdoors the CBD, from the vineyards of Constancia to the penguins of Boulders Bay. Listed here are our favorite locations to eat vegetarian meals outdoors the CBD!
Take pleasure in Haute Delicacies in a Sculpture Backyard at Skotnes Restaurant (Tokai)
The Skotnes Restaurant gives high quality eating and a view of the Norval Basis’s stunning sculpture backyard. There’s an upmarket menu with vegetarian choices. In case you’re after one thing vegan, I believe it will be doable however I’d name forward to substantiate (there are vegan choices on the menu, however they generally run out).
I loved my home made pappardelle pasta with tomato sauce and goat’s cheese (175 ZAR) with a beetroot, carrot and apple juice (45 ZAR). You may entry the Skotnes Restaurant with out paying the admission payment for the Norval Basis.
Pattern Small Plates on the Seafront at SALT (Kalk’s Bay)
For some severe trip vibes, you possibly can’t do a lot better than SALT in Kalk Bay. This hipsterish cafe/bar/restaurant is pleasingly positioned simply over the street from the seashore and has an impressively massive menu written on the wall as you are available in. They do serve meat, however additionally they have each vegetarian and vegan choices clearly marked.
We stopped for a superb oat milk cortado then determined to remain for a lunch of handmade butternut squash ravioli, pan-fried courgette with kale pesto and flash-fried sugar snap peas in a mint and chilli dressing. The workers had been heat and welcoming.
Savour Korean cooking at Minari Korean Kitchen (Simon’s City)
Hankering for some gochujang? Minari Korean Kitchen (rated 4.9 on Google Critiques) is a relaxed street-side eatery that does Korean meals in addition to different fashionable Asian dishes. The restaurant does serve meat, however there’s variety of each veggie and vegan choices to select from, together with Korean ramyun (veggie instantaneous noodles with spicy sauce and eggs), gimbap (Korean vegan sushi) and each veggie and kimchi dim sum.
It’s in Simon’s City, which makes it an amazing place to catch an early dinner (closes at 18:30) after seeing the penguins. The costs are very affordable however the parts are small, so I’d suggest an honest variety of sides should you’re feeling hungry! Ask which dishes comprise fish sauce should you’re a strict vegetarian (the pleasant waitress we spoke to was additionally veggie and pleased to assist!)
Watch the sundown from Cafe Caprice (Camps Bay)
Watching the sundown from Camps Bay is a gorgeous solution to take pleasure in a South African night. Whereas it may be loved from the seashore, it’s higher nonetheless with a drink in your hand and a meal on the best way.
We determined to eat at Cafe Caprice as a result of it was one of many few locations on the seashore with vegan choices and we had been pleasantly shocked by the standard of the vegan meze board that got here full with olives, hummus, falafel and freshly baked breads.
Cafe Caprice is a stylish place with cool folks and funky (additionally loud) music, on a major beachfront location, so anticipate excessive however not prohibitive costs and a party-ready crowd.
Drink domestically grown wine along with your meal at Beau Constantia winery (Constantia)
The vineyards had been amongst our favorite issues to do in South Africa and Beau Constantia is each one of the vital stunning and handy, being solely a 20-minute drive from the centre of Cape City.
In case you’ve by no means been to a winery and don’t know what to anticipate, I extremely suggest visiting this one. You don’t want a reservation, you don’t have to know your merlot out of your chenin blanc, and also you don’t want all the cash on this planet. You may merely rock up, benefit from the views, and order glorious wine by the glass, bottle or tasting set.
We ate twice at Beau Constantia: the primary time we had the very good vegan bao buns with crispy-fried oyster mushrooms and vegan mayo from How Bao Now. It is a extra informal choice to be loved with wine on the terrace. The second time, we had a decidedly not vegan however vegetarian-friendly cheese board that had a beautiful array of native cheeses which paired excellently with our wine.
Have you ever visited any of the eating places really helpful right here? Tell us what you assume within the feedback under! Likewise, should you’ve received a favorite vegetarian or vegan-friendly spot in Cape City that we missed, ship us a message and we’ll get it added in.
