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g-stockstudio | Top view of people toasting with champagne while enjoying New Year Eve at the decorated holiday table
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Best Christmas Day lunches in Cape Town

Planned your Christmas Day lunch yet? Procrastination is not going to get that table booked.

Marchelle Abrahams
Written by Marchelle Abrahams
City Expert, Time Out Cape Town
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By the time you read this, you’re probably planning your Christmas Day lunch. If not, then you should at least be thinking about it, right? No? Procrastination is not going to get that table booked. 

And because Cape Town is tourist-central every festive season, time is not on your side. 

Depending on your mood and budget, Time Out has curated a list of spots around the Mother City to enjoy a memorable Christmas lunch, ranging from buffet-style to the very top-notch experiences.  

Why go mediocre when you can spend all your money on yourself? Cape Town is home to award-winning restaurants. So take advantage of it! 

And of course, we haven’t forgotten about the plant-based fans. Thankfully, restaurants are catering to environmentally conscious tastes.   

Time Out Tip: Besides MIKO, other eateries are extending their culinary prowess with vegan dishes. And they’re pretty decent as well. No “swap out this for this” options.  

Buffet Style

MOYO Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Gardens

MOYO Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Gardens
MOYO Restaurant, Kirstenbosch Gardens
Moyo
  • Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, 99 Rhodes Drive, Newlands
  • Time: noon - 2:30pm
  • Cost: R335 - R1150, bookings via MOYO

You’ve got laid-back vibes and hectares of lawn space for the kids to burn off that extra energy from too much Christmas pudding. Plus, a ticket to MOYO’s Christmas Day Buffet gets you free entry into Kirstenbosch Gardens. 

There’s also a kiddies’ menu for under-fives (R335). The menu has a bread selection, salads, starters, and mains, including calvary. Guests are then treated to dessert and a cheeseboard.

The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa

The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa
The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa
The 12 Apostles Hotel & Spa
  • Victoria Road, Camps Bay
  • Time: N/A
  • Cost: Enquire via the hotel’s website

Christmas lunch at the 12 Apostles is legendary, as each of its dining venues hosts a top-drawer gourmet lunch.

A welcome drink is offered on arrival, and if last year’s buffet menu is anything to go by, you’d better come hungry, as in, don’t eat from the night before.

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MIKO, Mont Rochelle

MIKO, Mont Rochelle
MIKO, Mont Rochelle
Miko
  • Dassenberg Road, Franschhoek
  • Time: 1pm - 4pm
  • Cost: R915 - R1715, bookings via reception@montrochelle.virgin.com


Christmas lunch at MIKO is a divergence from a classic buffet. Think a family-style harvest table followed by sharing platters and festive desserts. Jazz muso and composer Lionel Beukes will serenade Gran into reminiscing about the good ‘ol days. MIKO has also curated a vegan Christmas Day menu, consisting of sharing platters and a salad station.

The President Hotel

The President Hotel
The President Hotel
The President

Family-friendly and all sorts of friendly, The President Hotel has no shortage of activities for the kids. From the pool to the beach on its doorstep, they won’t want to leave. The hotel has two options for Christmas Day: Option 1 is a buffet dining experience, perfect for adults and couples.

Option 2 encompasses a festive seasonal menu shared around the table, ideal for families and groups.

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Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Cape Town

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Cape Town
Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! by Marriott Cape Town
Protea Hotel Fire and Ice
  • 64 New Church St, Gardens, Cape Town
  • Time: 12:30pm - 4pm
  • Cost: From R390, bookings via Quicket

Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! is pulling out all the stops this Christmas. Expect a buffet lunch serving up all the festive favourites. From tender roasts to decadent desserts, the day kicks off with a complimentary welcome drink.

A Very Vegan Christmas

Radisson RED V&A Waterfront

Radisson RED V&A Waterfront
Radisson RED V&A Waterfront
Photograph: RadissonRED
  • RED Rooftop, Silo Square, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
  • Time: noon - 4pm
  • Cost: From R400, bookings via Quicket


Dubbed YES VE-GAN!, Radisson RED’s signature dining spot OUIBar + KTCHN promises a Christmas Day to remember. Serving a three-course lunch and welcome drinks, kids under five eat for free. There’ll be live music, sumptuous starters, hearty mains, and classic desserts with a vegan twist.

 Simon’s Restaurant, Groot Constantia

 Simon’s Restaurant, Groot Constantia
 Simon’s Restaurant, Groot Constantia
Simon's Restaurant
  • Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Groot Constantia Rd, Constantia
  • Time: N/A
  • Cost: Enquire via website

A relaxed, family-style restaurant, Simon’s Restaurant is one of two at Groot Constantia. Renowned for stocking world-class wines from across the region, Christmas Day bookings are hard to come by.

Not a vegan restaurant per se, Simon’s has an extensive plant-based menu, from quinoa and lentil salads to olive and artichoke linguine. You know you’ll always get a quality dish, rich in flavours and worthy of its own Instagram post.

Upper Echelon

ROOI at One&Only 

ROOI at One&Only 
ROOI at One&Only 
One&Only Cape Town
  • One&Only Cape Town, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
  • Time: 12:3pm - 3:30pm
  • Cost: R1750 per child, R2750 per adult, bookings via guestexperience@oneandonlycapetown.com

ROOI at the One & Only Hotel puts on a lavish festive feast when Christmas comes around. Enjoy a cold starter buffet, a hot station featuring seafood and meats, and a dessert selection of seasonal favourites.

Heirloom Restaurant, Cape Grace Hotel

Heirloom Restaurant, Cape Grace Hotel
Heirloom Restaurant, Cape Grace Hotel
Heirloom, Cape Grace
  • Cape Grace Hotel, W Quay Rd, V&A Waterfront
  • Time: From 6:30pm
  • Cost: R1750, excluding beverages, bookings via website

There’s something special about Christmas dinner. Maybe it’s the fact that you’ve missed the lunch crowds or the intimacy of a candlelit setting. Heirloom Restaurant at the Cape Grace has curated a warm, welcoming ambiance. Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared set menu (pistachio free-range turkey, teriyaki glazed gammon) while live piano music plays in the background.



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