Best New Restaurants in Cape Town

Opened: February, 2026

Address: Constantia Nek Circle, Constantia, Cape Town

Operating hours: Lunch and dinner, Tuesday–Sunday (times may vary)

From the acclaimed La Colombe restaurant group comes Little Fox, the playful new sibling to Foxcroft. With sweeping mountain views and a storied building that first opened as a tearoom in 1929, Little Fox brings a more relaxed dining experience to one of the southern suburbs’ most iconic landmarks - perfect for long lunches, casual dinners and post-hike bites.

What’s on the menu  

Little Fox leans into Foxcroft’s signature flavour-driven style but in a more casual, shareable format. The menu is global, punchy – lots of off the fire – with a bit of spice. Menu items include snacks like Wagyu fat fries with green peppercorn emulsion, or coal-fired prawns with peri-peri cashew crumb and charred salsa verde. The recommended order is 2 to 4 plates per person, making it easy to mix and match based on your appetite. 

Time Out Tip: Plan a visit after a walk in the Constantia forests or a drive over Chapman’s Peak. The relaxed setting and share-plate menu make Little Fox ideal for an easy lunch stop or sunset drinks.

Opened: February, 2026

Address: ⁠7 Scott Street, Gardens.

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, from 6pm to 10pm.

With a passion for authentic Japanese cuisine, the duo behind Kloof Konbini, a Japanese convenience pop-up store that went viral, and How's Your Oni are opening a new destination in the Mother City. Founded by Rebecca Aziz and Minchan Kim, How's Your Yaki (a slight clue in the name as to what the restaurant will be offering), is located at their previous How's Your Oni location, in Gardens. It elevates the casual street-food dining concept, offering a spot where diners can come after work for a drink and some tasty Japanese snacks. 

What's on the menu?

Dish highlights include Kushiyaki with various foods, including vegetables, seafood, and meat skewers grilled on the hibachi grill; Yakitori or chicken skewers grilled over an open flame; and Takoyaki (widely considered one of the most popular and iconic Japanese street foods): A ball-shaped snack made with flour batter and stuffed with diced octopus, deep fried to golden perfection. Pairing perfectly with the menu, How's Your Yaki will offer a range of Japanese beers and the iconic Japanese cocktail, highballs. 

Opened: February, 2026

Address: 113 Loop Street, Cape Town

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 7am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 8am to 3pm.  

Cape Town's Loop Street is now home to a new restaurant, the Focaccia Bar. Founded by Chris Hoole, Matthew Hoole and Thomas Bailey, their new Focaccia Bar is dedicated to just that, focaccia. The duo brings a combined 18 years of fine-dining experience from award-winning Mother City kitchens, including La Colombe and Pier, and as private superyacht chefs, 

What's on the menu?

Focaccia is celebrated in its own right, rather than being an afterthought on a menu. As a labour of love, the focaccia bread is prepared through a 24-hour fermentation process to create specialised, authentic Italian focaccia sandwiches. Everything is done in-house - from sauces to toppings. Highlights include a Prosciutto Crudo Caprese with prosciutto crudo, mozzarella, tomato, sun-dried tomato pesto, rocket, and balsamic dressing.

Time Out Tip: The restaurant also features an upstairs co-working space with free wifi.

Opened: January, 2026

Address: 16 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town.

Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 8am to 11pm. The kitchen closes at 10pm.

The Tashas Group, known for its chic yet relaxed take on elevated dining, has opened its newest venture, Arlecchino, on the Atlantic Seaboard. Serving a modern interpretation of Mediterranean cuisine, the menu is designed to suit Cape Town’s vibrant dining scene and local tastes.  

What's on the menu?

The menu draws on the flavours, heart and essence of Mediterranean cuisine. They serve a dedicated breakfast offering served from 8am to 12pm, while the all-day menu favours generous portions, an unfussy approach and fresh ingredients that take centre stage. 

Standout selections include Bazaruto Prawns with spiced cherry tomato and lemon butter sauce, served with shoestring fries, and  Amalfi Lemon pasta with the perfect balance of zest and cream.   

Time Out Tip: Ideal for sundowners. Expect an interactive dining experience, with cocktails, salads and desserts prepared tableside from the roaming bar cart.

Opened: December, 2025 

Address: Mount Nelson Hotel, 76 Orange St, Gardens

Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday |Lunch: 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Dinner: 6:30 PM – 10 PM

The Mount Nelson has dialled up the city's marine-driven restaurant offerings with the unveiling of Amura, led by Michelin-starred Chef Ángel León, the Spanish innovator known globally as “the Chef of the Sea.”    

Two years in the making, and despite offers to venture into London, New York and Tokyo, Chef Angel has chosen one of the world’s best food destinations (starkly sans any Michelin star-rated restaurants, I might add) for his first unique collaboration outside of Spain. 

Amura’s kitchen will be led by some of Aponiente’s finest, including Guillermo Salazar Benjumea alongside Executive Chef Luke Barry, who León describes as “a beautiful heart helping us fulfil our dream."   

What's on the Menu? 

Think seafood reimagined through León’s visionary lens, paired with an exquisite list of South Africa’s natural ocean ingredients. 

Guests can choose from a selection of fresh seafood from an in-house fishmonger, featuring all the expected delicacies, such as oysters and scallops. 

Added dishes include a Cape Salmon Tartare, Plankton Risotto, Tuna "Steak" Tartare with Brioche, and an absolutely delicious Prawn Toast - the name doesn't do it justice. Pre-booking via Dine Plan for Amura is advised. 

Opened: December, 2025 

Address: 35 Main Road, Kalk Bay

Operating Hours: Mon–Sun, 7:30 am – 9 pm

With its Ocean views, succulent seafood, and a laid-back beach vibe, The Reef makes a welcome new addition to the Kalk Bay strip. Set in the heart of the historic Kalk Bay village, it's perfect for a relaxed weekend catch-up.

What's on the Menu?

No surprise here that seafood is the star of the concise menu. Good old fish and chips, generous slivers of line fish. If you're not in the mood for fruits de la mer, you won't go hungry either. Meaty mains run from prego rolls to sirloin with béarnaise sauce.  

Time Out Tip: Don’t forget to book ahead to bag a seat by the window. Also, why not take the train down? The Reef is just 150 metres from Kalk Bay train station. Trains run every 20-30 minutes on the southern line. 

Opened: November, 2025 

Address: 137 Waterkant Street, De Waterkant. 

Operating Hours: Tuesday -Saturday for Breakfast (7am-11am), Lunch (12pm-3pm) and Dinner (6pm-9.30pm).  

Chef John van Zyl’s beloved small-plates concept has returned in a bold new home in De Waterkant, where the Melting Pot continues to reinvent Cape Town’s food scene with creative, flavour-packed fare.

What’s on the menu? 

Start upstairs on the new rooftop terrace, where cocktails, bubbly and oysters set the tone. A standout snack is the oyster trio, served with lemon, black pepper, and fermented hot sauce, paired with a glass of bubbles for an irresistible pre-dinner ritual. 

The menu reads like a “greatest hits” collection , including tuna sashimi with chilli peanut crunch, fried fish tacos with smoked potato aioli, Singaporean chicken with Sichuan-pickled cucumber, and Vietnamese chargrilled pork in a spicy tamarind nuoc cham sauce. The iconic West Coast mussels in creamy white wine sauce with toasted sourdough and fennel salad remain a must-order.