Cape Town Restaurant Week returns: More tables and smarter ways to book!

Cape Town’s Restaurant Week is back, running from 27 March through to 3 May, and once again opening up some of the city’s most in-demand restaurants at accessible, fixed-price menus.

While the name suggests a short-lived promotion, the event over the past few years has quietly evolved into a multi-week dining window - offering better odds - to secure sought-after bookings. It means it's a little less frenetic and gives you the chance to approach your best dining experiences more deliberately. We've checked out what's on offer with suggestions below both in terms of value for money and the type of experience you'll be able to enjoy. 

Newcomers, book early!

There will always be that FOMO when things are this delectable, so make the most of the new restaurants on the restaurant week block.

• Maru - 3-Course Korean Steakhouse sharing experience from R445. 
• Little Fox - A curated selection of eight seasonal sharing plates designed for two from R700.

ICYMI: Best new restaurants in Cape Town

Choose standout 2026 Eat Out winners

Cape Town dominated the recent Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. These are the reservations that deliver value and are rarely available to book at a discount. 

• PIER – 7-course tasting dinner, sure to be one of the hardest reservations in the V&A Waterfront to secure, from R1195.
• Terrarium – A sustainability-driven 8-course menu with serious creative edge, from R700.
• Mertia - A signature 4-course or 8-course menu showcasing bold flavours curated by two sons of Stellenbosch, from R800.
• The Test Kitchen Fledgelings - available for lunch only, with a 4-course pairing that showcases how culinary passion meets expert mentorship, from R550. 

Mix it up: flavour-led and social dining

Restaurant Week isn’t just about formal tasting menus, though. Some of the best value comes from newer, more relaxed restaurants bringing energy and bold flavours. These bookings are ideal for groups or more spontaneous plans.

Worth adding to your list:

• Urban Umami – Asian-inspired, 3-course experience in a shareable format from R354. 
• ëlgr – Three-course menu featuring their most popular dishes from R595.
• Marble - choose between a 2-course and 3-course lunch menu from R495. 
• Eike by Bertus Basson - Curated 5-Course Menu for creative dishes, from R725.

ICYMI: Ongetem: Bertus Basson goes untamed in the city 

Go beyond the menu: book the experience

More than ever, Restaurant Week is about how you dine, not just what you order. Look out for event-specific tasting menus, wine pairings, guided experiences, and live music, or extended evening formats. 

• Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo - Award-Winning 5-course lunch experience that could easily turn into sundowners from R900.
• The Jordan Restaurant - a 7-Course Tasting Menu by Marthinus Ferreira for a lazy Winelands lunch from R995. 
• Galjoen - A multi-course journey with oysters and tuna carpaccio to honey BBQ swordfish from R550.

Value for money!

Book early, prioritise the spots you've been drooling to experience - because until 3 May, Cape Town’s hardest-to-get tables are not just open - they’re also a lot more affordable. 

Time Out Tips: How to book Restaurant Week smartly

• Go big! Book the restaurants you normally wouldn’t.
• Lock in early! Top tables and weekends fill fast.
• Think midweek. Same menus, better availability.
• Stay local. Cluster bookings around hubs like the V&A Waterfront or the Cape Winelands.
• Mix it up! Balance fine dining with more relaxed spots. Look for tasting menus and pairings, not just set menus.
• Make a week of it. It runs until 3 May, so plan more than one outing.

Restaurant Week, with its more flexible dining window, means you have no excuse to miss out on enjoying some of the city's best dining options.