Acquainting yourself with South Africa’s food scene is a great way to understand the various cultures that have impacted this diverse country. Here are some gastronomic experiences you can expect...
Five-star dining opportunities are ubiquitous in South Africa. One name that crops up repeatedly is Colombe, an innovative French-meets-Asian fine dining venue which serves up edible masterpieces and lush Constantia valley views. Elsewhere, Franschhoek is home to a slew of top-class restaurants including La Petite Colombe, whose whimsically presented plates of beef tartare and Cape Malay smoked snoek will leave you wanting more. While celebrated chef Marthinus Ferreira (of Ultimate Braai Master fame) helms the signature restaurant at Stellenbosch’s Jordan Wine Estate, the one-of-a-kind Wolfgat – in coastal Paternoster – has been heralded by the prestigious ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ for its sustainable seven-course degustation menu, featuring Saldanha Bay-sourced mussels and local seaweed. Over in Johannesburg, fashionable spots like Marble and Signature are making international waves for their open-fire cooking and sophisticated seafood.
South Africans are passionate about the Afrikaans-derived braai with many townships holding shisa nyamas (the Zulu name for braai) on a weekly basis. The country’s National Heritage Day, celebrated in September, even shares the title of National Braai Day, thanks to a campaign by braai chef Jan Scannell and endorsed by the late Desmond Tutu. Typical braai dishes include generously spiced boerewors (South African sausages), beef ribs and joints of lamb or springbok, served with pap (a stiff maize meal porridge) and spicy chakalaka relish. The highly celebrated potjiekos, a Dutch-inspired stew commonly made using oxtail or game, is traditionally cooked over an open fire too.
The humble Bunny chow is a must-try dish in South Africa. It’s essentially a hollowed-out, curry-stuffed loaf, which migrant Indian workers originally ate in the cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. But this hearty dish has stood the test of time, going on to influence fast food dishes such as the sandwich-like spatlo of the Gauteng region. Cape Town has some good places to sample it but if you can, head to restaurants like Gounden’s and Cane Cutters in Durban where the Indian community first settled.
If you have a penchant for sugary treats, the deep-fried delicacies known as koeksisters are hard to resist. The traditional plaited Afrikaans version – where there’s no holding back on the syrup – is sold in places like Cape Town’s Ouma Rooi Koeksisters. For something more fragrant, drop by Wembley House to try the Cape Malay style, where the dough is sprinkled with coconut, cardamom and cinnamon flavours.
Artisanal and fresh local produce feature widely across South Africa’s markets and you’re spoilt for choice for gourmet food and drink. The hip Neighbourhood markets – found in Cape Town’s Woodstock and Johannesburg’s Braamfontein – packs a punch with its convivial vibe and slew of pop-ups selling everything from Namibian oysters to craft kombucha, while the V&A Food Market in Cape Town places local artisans centre stage.
In the coastal town of Hermanus, you’ll find a plethora of community markets, including the long-standing Hermanuspietersfontein Market (or ‘Die Markie’) and the 90-vendor-strong Hermanus Country Market. Travel east along the Garden Route and you’ll unearth a whole raft of food-focused markets, from the Wild Oats Community Farmers’ Market in Sedgefield to the Outeniqua Family Market in George. The foodie capital of Franschhoek is also a hit for farm-fresh produce, from water buffalo-milk cheeses to specialty biltong, droëwors and boerewors, made using 17th-century Dutch curing methods.
Hands-on cookery lessons are a great way to understand South African cuisine, and Cape Town’s Bo-Kaap Cooking Tour at Faeeza’s Home Kitchen should feature high on your list. Faeeza Abrahams entertains her visitors with an interactive workshop, unveiling the tips and tricks of Malay cooking. You'll also make your own samoosas and Cape Malay curries. The Winelands also play home to all sorts of E-bike, helicopter and 4x4 tours, that bring you up close to the chocolate, cheeses, wines and olive oils of the region, while Cape Town walking tours cover everything from backstreet food vendors to the best African soul food. Around 15km away from the city, in the Langa Township, is the Eziko Cooking and Catering School. Housed in shipping containers, this community initiative offers a fascinating glimpse into the African and Xhosa cuisine and culture.
Start planning your dream visit to South Africa now by heading over to the official website.
Get the very best of Wanderlust by signing up to our newsletters, full of travel inspiration, fun quizzes, exciting competitions and exclusive offers.