The 18 best burgers in Cape Town

Frankie Fenner (the man and the merchants who work with him) wants just one thing: for us to eat proper (meaning free-range, ethically raised) meat. That ethos of sustainability is the hallmark of their city butcheries, but also the special Burger Fridays that draw a crowd to their Woodstock outpost. Part of the appeal is that no two Fridays are the same, with a carousel of creative flavour packages on offer. That could mean Tex-Mex or The Bear burger, Cubano or a Venison burger. Aside from chowing down at the store, you can also buy a DIY Burger Box to take home. If you miss out on the real deal, you can find the full FFMM meu of menu of burgers, hot dogs, fries and sides at The House of Machines, one of Cape Town’s coolest inner-city bars.

This local favourite in Sea Point keeps things simple. No reservations. No youngsters (23 and up, thanks). No frills. No fuss. At Only Fools there are just three items on the menu – Classic, Chicken and Vegan burgers – with a handful of sides. So keep it simple on your end too: the Classic beef burger is a winner. A generous patty on a sturdy potato bun with truffled mayo, aged cheddar, pickled and onions. Why mess with the classics, right? On the side, you can throw a basket of fries, and even smother them with cheesy sauce if you so fancy. There’s a great cocktail selection and a fine range of wines to choose from too.

If you’re searching for the city’s finest flame-grilled steak, then Iron Steak and Bar is certainly not a bad place to start. But on a menu that runs from prime Wagyu to hefty tomahawk rib-eyes you’ll also find a sleeper-hit candidate for one of the best burgers in town. That’s thanks to the 100% Wagyu beef patty, served up on a brioche bun with a side of fries cooked in, yup, Wagyu drippings. It’s available every day (for R229), but aim for Wednesday nights when it goes for just R99 with the fries! Also look out for their great value early-evening deals with half-price drinks to boot.

114 Bree Street, Cape Town

The name rather gives the game away here: as Burger & Lobster promises, this is a solidly upscale take on your average burger bar. If you’re not up for the lobster roll – deshelled meat pan-fried in lobster butter, served with a Japanese mayo on a brioche roll – then the classic B&L burger is superb, with a meaty handmade patty topped with pickles and salad. Or get the best of both worlds with The Wolf burger: a 180g beef patty topped with lobster, truffle mayo and brie. Burger & Lobster has also built a loyal following for its cocktail menu. Throw in excellent service and sleek décor and you have one of the city’s best dinner destinations, full stop.

105 Bree St, City Centre, 8001

In the space where you’d once have enjoyed the rarefied fine dining of The Test Kitchen, TTK Fledgelings is today famous for its menu of elevated cuisine with a global bent. Chef-patron Luke Dale Roberts is still involved, mentoring the young chefs that run the show night after night. Amid the plates of inspired upscale bistro food, there’s a surprise turn on the main courses: the TTK Fledgelings Burger. There’s a patty of ground Wagyu and superb milk buns, but Head Chef Nathan Clarke says it’s the house-made pickles and mustard/truffle mayo that are the secret ingredients. Throw in triple-fried chips and you have a banger of a burger.

Old Biscuit Mill, Victoria road, Woodstock

For more than a decade Clarke’s has been a favourite trendy hangout in the city centre, with ‘day’ and ‘night’ menus catering for everyone from digital nomads in need of wifi through to crowds heading out for a night in the city. The burgers are a standout on both menus, made with a generous patty of grass-fed beef and served on a brioche bun topped with local Havarti cheese. There is a pair of meat-free options and a wide choice of sides, including delicious double-fried chips, while the house-made kimchi is also excellent. The best seats are at the front windows, facing the buzz of Bree Street, or ask for a seat at the bar counter.

133 Bree St, City Centre, 8001

What began as something of a cult pop-up has grown into a much-loved inner-city burger joint. With its wooden bench-tables lining a concrete alleyway, The Dog’s Bollocks is not going to win any style awards, but the gargantuan burgers and pocket-friendly prices make up for the minimalist décor. Each burger on the menu begins with a hefty 200g patty and salad perched on oversized sesame bun with the option to add a number of toppings. There are chicken and vegetarian options too. And Pizza Warehouse on the same site serves up some of Cape Town’s best pizza.

6 Roodehek St, Gardens, 8001

This tiny burger joint on buzzy Kloof Street nails it when it comes to flavour-packed patties. That’s thanks to the 100 %-certified Wagyu beef that comes from the owners’ family farms in the Eastern Cape. It’s all grass-fed and free-range, and keeping it in the family allows Zuney Burger to control the quality of every patty. And you can taste it.

The menu keeps things simple, starting with the classic Zuney Burger: a 150g patty on brioche bun, with house pickles, sauce and onions caramelised in Wagyu fat. While it’s not the tower-of-burger style that’s become popular, it’s a burger that packs in the flavour and punches above its weight. If you want to upsize, you can add cheese or slices of ‘Wacon’; Wagyu-brisket cured and cold-smoked for six hours. Fries – cooked in Wagyu fat, of course – are superb. If you’ve got a hunger after a night on town, remember Zuney stays open until 1am Thursday to Saturday.

There are many reasons to love the Aegir Project in Noordhoek. Whether it’s the sea views from the top-floor (be sure to book ahead) or the laid-back sandy-feet-off-the-beach vibes, it’s with good reason that locals swear by this Deep South taproom and brewery. The beers are superb, and range across a diversity of styles to offer around a dozen different taps at any one time. Then there’s the menu, with a trio of top-notch burgers that are the perfect foil for a pint of craft beer. The Cheeseburger – grass-fed beef, aged cheddar, house pickles – is the classic, but you’ll also find a smashburger option and a ’truffled smash’ on offer. Whichever you choose, it’ll arrive on their beautiful Hokkaido-style milk buns, freshly baked in-house. If you’re not into beef, there are Asian-style chicken and fishy options on offer too. 

65 Beach Road, Noordhoek

You’ll find a handful of Jerry’s outposts across Cape Town, but the outpost in Heritage Square is fast becoming a favourite; it’s the perfect place to fuel up before a night on the town. Panko-crumbed cheese ‘Bombs’ – filled with everything from pulled pork to kimchi – are an ideal starter, before you tuck into the main event. The burger menu is extensive, with generous patties on a brioche bun. The ‘Jerry’ of Swiss cheese, rocket and red-onion relish is the signature, with vegan and vegetarian options on offer too. Can’t decide on just one burger? Opt for the trio of sliders instead.

123 Lower Main Rd, Observatory, 7925

This tiny burger joint in Woodstock’s Old Biscuit Mill precinct punches above its weight, with a generous selection of inspired burgers paired with local craft beers. Look past the straight-up beef option and browse their more inventive creations: El Borracho is packed with Mexican flavours – homemade jalapeño mayo, chilli salsa and guacamole – while The Karoo Grazer brings lamb, fried brinjal and tomato relish to the table. For local flavour go for The Flimsy Gypsy, made with 200g of free-range ostrich mince topped with brie, garlic mayo and aubergine piccalilli. Redemption Burgers is packed on a Saturday when the Neighbourgoods market is in full swing, so it’s best to visit mid-week.

Old Biscuit Mill, 375 Albert Rd, Woodstock, 7925

If you’re in the market for ‘No Ordinary Burger’ then it’s well worth the drive out from the city centre to Tygervalley. The NOB is a place for people with an appetite, with vast 1kg starter portions of pork ribs and chicken wings promising a protein overload. But the heart of the menu is the burger offering, with more than a dozen flavours and styles on offer: think toppings of peppery mushroom sauce, camembert, prego sauce, bacon or eggs.

The standard – dubbed ‘Average Joe’ – burger patty here starts at 180g, while the NOB portion is a hefty 280g burger patty measuring 16cm across. Still not enough for you? Their ‘mega’ option doubles up on everything to create a tower of calories that’ll keep you full for a week. If you’re feeling brave, ask about their ‘Big Burger’ challenge where you’ll need to tackle a 2kg pulled beef burger. It’s messy, massive and intimidating for many, but it’s certainly no ordinary burger.

2 Niagara Way, Tygerfalls, Tygervalley

Look past its location in an unlovely light-industrial precinct of Cape Town’s southern suburbs and you’ll find plenty of reasons to visit this vibey brewery-taproom. For starters, there’s the beer. Jack Black helped forge the craft beer scene in Cape Town, and the Taproom features both regular brews and seasonal taps. They all pair perfectly with the burgers, which range from classic beef to spicy pulled pork braised in their Butcher Block Ale. The vegan burger of marinated aubergine and miso-roasted carrots is surprisingly good too. Portions are generous across the board, so arrive hungry – and look out for the two-for-one special on Wednesdays.

10 Brigid Rd, Diep River, 7945

With a view of the bustling harbour and distant Table Mountain, Gibson’s is a stalwart of the V&A Waterfront when it comes to laid-back burger-focused dining. Start with one of their famous milkshakes: there are more than 200 flavours on offer, with an extra 65 toppings to choose from. Then the burgers: hand-pressed, flame-grilled and served on a brioche bun they get all the basics done right. There are nine ‘Classic’ flavour variations to choose from, and you won’t be sorry ordering the Philly Cheese. Want to up the ante? Look to the Designer and Rolls Royce flavours that run to Tex-Mex and BBQ variations. Happily, the fries are just as good: hand-cut from real potatoes (none of those pre-packed imitations). 

Shop 157, Lower Level, V&A Waterfront

Inspired by the movie Casablanca, Rick’s Café Americain has been a staple of the Kloof Street strip for years. In 2020 it reopened in a beautifully renovated Victorian building with a rooftop terrace that dishes up superb views of Table Mountain – it’s a fine spot to tuck into their classic Rick’s Cheeseburger. Made with organic beef, it comes topped with cheddar, pickles and red onion jam, and a range of sides. Beyond the burgers, Rick’s boasts an impressive selection of South African wines, craft beers and local gins.

103 Kloof Street, Gardens, 8001

In its original Long Street location, Royale Eatery was a pioneer in Cape Town’s craft burger scene – as famous for its rooftop bar as its innovative menu. While covid lockdowns killed off the original locale, Royale has risen again in a handful of locations across Cape Town. Locals love the outpost in the Claremont business district: it’s smaller in size and menu than the original, but the flavour-packed patties and moreish sweet potato fries are as good as ever. Going meat-free? The Vegan Royale is superb, as are the ‘Xtra Thick’ shakes.

20 Vineyard Rd, Claremont, 7708

Have a hankering for fried chicken? Give the colonel a skip and opt for this South African burger chain instead. The chicken burgers at Free Bird do everything right: the breasts are from free-range birds, the buttermilk and flour coating is perfectly crispy, sides are made from scratch and the chips are hand-cut each day. You’ll find seven branches across Cape Town, but head to the Muizenberg outpost for a memorable after-surf bite. 

10 Empire Building, Beach Rd, Muizenberg, 7950

Drawing heavily on American diner tropes in both décor and menu, Hudsons has been turning out flame-grilled fare since 2009 and has since built a loyal following of hungry locals. The extensive menu offers more than 14 burger varieties, from the classic Original Royale with bacon and cheese to a juicy wagyu patty with caramelised onion and homemade pickles. Impressively, there are five vegan options, including a Beyond Meat burger, all of which are half-price on ‘Vegan Mondays’. There are four Hudsons restaurants across the city: Green Point and Kloof Street are ideal for night owls, while the Muizenberg eatery draws in a sandy-footed family crowd straight from the beach.

Various locations