The 21 best restaurants on Bree Street

At first glance the menu at Iron Steak and Bar looks pretty simple: a 200g grass-fed flat iron steak, served with a house leaf salad. At R165 it’s a good deal, though you can triple that price if you’d rather upgrade to Wagyu. Ah, but wait, here’s the chalkboard menu, which showcases the depth of meaty discovery on offer at this sophisticated inner-city steakhouse. And here you’ll struggle to choose, from a swarthy rib-eye to the remarkable tomahawk. There are more traditional prime cuts, of course, and a great selection of Wagyu too, all cooked to your liking on an imported Spanish Vulcano Grez grill. Pair your protein with the inspired collection of side plates: truffled ‘mac & cheese’ is criminally more-ish, as are the chips done in wagyu dripping. Keeping off carbs? The apple, fennel and walnut salad offers a fine alternative to the traditional roasted butternut and creamed spinach on offer. Pair it all with a bold red wine from the handpicked collection of Cape estates.

114 Bree St.

Matt Manning has built a loyal local following at Grub & Vine, with his upmarket yet unpretentious New York-inspired bistro in the heart of the Bree Street strip, where a menu d’jour offers two- and three-courses from a dozen or so elevated bistro plates. ‘Good honest cooking, with proper sauces. That’s the style we do, and we do it well,’ says Manning. ‘And we serve it with a great wine list that we’re known for.’

The Grub & Vine wine list is certainly impressive, which led to Manning opening Culture Wine Bar alongside. Here you’ll find a few lighter plates, each with Manning’s signature touch, alongside a wine list of more than 600 labels. It’s the perfect place to take a deep dive into the world of Cape wine, in the heart of the city. 

103 Bree St.

K-BBQ has finally come to Bree Street, with a dash of glamour in tow. MARU – another Bree Street offering from the PAN Collection team, also behind Hacienda, Scala, Burger & Lobster and others – is all about neon glow and low-lit drama, channelling the buzz of downtown Seoul into a slick, ingredient-led Korean dining experience. It’s a sexy space, especially after dark: blonde-wood chairs, onyx-black marble and black-and-tan leather banquettes that sweep around the room. Gold-trimmed cutlery and chopsticks rest on neat bespoke stands, and a glass-walled show kitchen and barbecue station keep the kitchen buzz close by. Big table? Opt for the cosy booths tucked into the heart of the space. 

The menu can look intimidating at first, but it really boils down to an age-old choice: chicken or beef. Before you get there, backtrack through Raw & Small Plates: think market oysters, tuna tartare, and the signature chicken ‘nugget’ crowned with Imperial caviar. From the grill, the Meat Feast offers four expertly grilled cuts, served at the table. Upgrade to the Gold Meat Feast for eight cuts. The  Chicken Bucket is even better value, at R399 for more crisp, tender chicken than you could hope to finish. Whichever you choose, they come served with traditional banchan: house kimchi, pickled daikon and more. Want a bit of both? Order à la carte: it’s easy to add a steak to the chicken bucket or slip an extra piece (or two) of chicken into a meat-heavy feast. Also look out for the ‘Buckets & Bubbles’ special (Saturdays 12–4pm) for a By the Bucket (R399) plus a free bottle of prosecco.

107 Bree Street

Ramen is having a hot moment in Cape Town, and this latest addition to the city’s menu of noodle bars is well worth a visit. But don’t hurry along to the ramen. First, take your time meandering through the collection of pan-Asian small plates: the bao are superb, matched only by the Cape Bream tartare. For vegetarians, the miso-glazed aubergine is a standout. But the ramen certainly steals the show. Yatai’s focus is a modern take on the ‘kotteri’ style, so expect creamy richness rather than clear ‘assari’ broths. The signature ramen dish is the 72-hour Tonkatsu broth, but you’ll also be able to dip a spoon into Shio broth enriched with fresh clams. Unlike the dive bars and counter-style kitchens that have popped up elsewhere, YATAI gives humble ramen a luxe make-over. This is a place for date nights and celebrations. The décor is elegant, dark and sexy, and you’ll want to dress the part. Look out for their value-for-money specials on certain days of the week. 

87 Bree Street

A little bit chic with a dose of fun, the sky-blue exterior of SeaBreeze will grab your attention as you wander up Bree Street. SeaBreeze serves up a tempting menu of seafood specialities in a wonderfully unpretentious setting. Start with oysters, plucked fresh from both the East and West Coast and served six different ways. Small Plates allow a taster of the kitchen’s coastal creativity, with the likes of tuna sliders, prawn arancini and hake ceviche. Or keep it simple with the SeaBreeze Classics: the line-caught hake they’re famous for, or the fragrant fish pie. It’s a menu that’s both inventive and traditional, from a kitchen that prides itself on fresh seafood.

213 Bree St.

First things first: do not come here for boring ol’ Tex-Mex. Rather, at Hacienda the menu takes its cue from the Baja Peninsula to create a unique take on ‘Coastal Mexican’ cuisine. After snacking on a plate of totopos, begin with the guacamole; prepared to your taste tableside, as a perfect starter for two while you browse the menu. It’s helpfully divided into five sections: Land, Ocean, Tacos, Fire and Dessert.

It’s a menu of small plates, so you’ll want at least two plates; three if you’re hungry. The ceviche of local kabeljou is outstanding, with just the right kick from the leche de tigre, while vegetarians will love the Oaxaca adobo rice with salsa verde. Guajillo-dusted corn elevates a simple vegetable side dish into a more-ish delight, while the tacos range from brisket to spicy chicken. Dessert? It’s got to be the churros, right? Hacienda also boasts the largest collection of premium tequila and mezcal in the city, and you won’t want to miss their Tajin-spiced margarita.

92 Bree St.

There’s far more to Burger & Lobster than the eponymous buns with free-range beef patties, or toasted brioche filled with succulent lobster meat dressed with lobster butter and Japanese kewpie mayo. Start with the small plates, where there’s a welcome focus on seafood: try the grilled king prawns doused with kimchi and melon salsa, or soft-shell crabs with nduja and seaweed crisps. Feeling indulgent? The Lobster Soufflé is superb, but you may want to leave room for the Large Plates too.

There’s an impressive collection of bespoke cocktails on offer, alongside a wine list of (mostly) boutique Cape estates; almost all available by the glass. It all adds up to a space that delivers top-drawer dining in a contemporary destination with plenty of urban appeal. Every day from 4pm-5.30pm is the Half-Price Social Hour, with 50% off on selected drinks and a well-priced menu of Bar Bites.

105 Bree St.

If your idea of a night out is as much about what’s in the glass as on your plate, Tannin is your Bree Street go-to. This plush, multi-storey wine bar fills a heritage building with warm woods, natural tones, and a dramatic central wall of art that soars up to a glass ceiling. Downstairs is your destination for a quick glass after work or a pre-dinner cocktail. Upstairs, the middle storey is home to an open kitchen, where the menu focuses on seasonal small plates and sharing platters. On the top floor is the walk-in cellar of your oenophile dreams. The list is firmly – and impressively – South African, with around 340 labels and some 8500 bottles, plus roughly 40 wines by the glass. It’s grown-up, quietly glamorous and a brilliant place to spend an evening exploring the vinous delights of the Cape.

86 Bree Street

Nikkei is named for the style of cuisine on offer: a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian culinary traditions. On the menu that means a heady mix of flavours and textures, cooking styles and serving plates. At heart, Nikkei is all about sharing, and it’s the best way to sample the diversity of dishes on offer. There’s sushi, of course, and here it’s expertly crafted with a variety of seafood. The Crudo plates of raw and cured fish are more expressive though, with the likes of tuna ceviche, smoked jalapeno and shoyu neatly embracing the Nikkei concept. Next tackle the Small Plates – the coal-seared scallops are worth the spend – and skewers of Robatayaki from the coal-fired grill, or opt for heartier mains. Across the menu, the cross-cultural interplay of flavour and texture means that few dishes disappoint. That fusion extends to the drinks menu, where both sake and pisco define the impressive signature cocktails.  Spread across two levels Nikkei is a thoroughly glamorous set-up, with both banquette seating and booths set beneath a riot of natural greenery.

87 Bree Street

For a caffeine kick look no further than this stylish inner-city café, where minimalist décor and some of the city’s best coffee conspire to create a haven for digital nomads, remote workers and savvy locals. Rosetta Roastery is famous for its single-origin artisan-roasted coffee, and each day you’ll find a choice of beans on offer at the counter here. Alongside espresso-based drinks the menu runs to Kyoto-style, pour-over and batch brewed filter coffee. There’s a compact menu of (mostly) breakfast and brunch plates too, best enjoyed at the pavement tables outside.

101 Bree St.

With locations in both the city centre and the False Bay coastline, Pizza Shed is your best bet on Bree Street for a taste of Napoli in the Mother City. The secret to their superb pizzas is the dough, which enjoys a 48-hour rise before being hand-stretched and wood-fired. Just about everything on the menu is good here, but The Truffle with exotic mushrooms and truffle oil is a standout.

231 Bree St.

Fast. Fresh. Feisty. That’s the promise of this charming eatery that has grown into a larger restaurant on Bree Street in step with locals' love for their Middle Eastern street food. In a charmingly historic space – think stone walls and wooden beams – there’s a bright and fresh approach to the Levantine dishes available for take-away or sit-down dining at Nish Nush. Start with the perfectly pillowy pitas: stuffed with salad, tahini, pickles and your choice of falafel, crispy aubergine or shawarma. Loaded hummus bowls come a close second, while the house pickles are a must. There’s a nice selection of craft beers and local wines on offer, so bag a table and settle in for a Middle Eastern mezze feast. In a rush? The entire menu is available to-go, and there’s a handy deli section for falafel, hummus and sides to take home.

100 Bree Street

The dusty-pink doors at Mulberry & Prince open onto a chic gallery-like room of velvets, stained glass and copper-topped tables: SoHo meets the Mother City CBD. The all-day brunch is an indulgent affair: Shally’s buttermilk pancakes piled with banana, raspberries and whipped honeycomb butter (with warm house syrup); golden chicken-and-waffles; a punchy Pastrami Benedict; and Turkish eggs with garlicky labneh. Lighter plates include a burrata-truffle scramble and Moroccan eggs Florentine. It’s daytime-only, with speciality coffees (try the Ceremony matcha) and a sunny Pepper Street perch that will encourage a little lingering. Book ahead on the weekends.

12 Pepper Street, Cape Town

Bookending Scala for Italian flair is Villa 47 at the bottom end of Bree. This three-storey destination brings a taste of la dolce vita to the Mother City. While there are breakfast and coffee options popular with local office workers, this is a place that truly shines at lunch and dinner. Start with Aperitivo Hour in the courtyard or cocktail bar, before moving to a table indoors: ground-level for streetside vibes, or upstairs for the exposed brick romance of the heritage space. Begin with one of the generous antipasto platters before exploring classic Italian plates done in a contemporary style. Start with melanzane alla parmigiana, or a classic Caprese. Risotto and pasta plates are hearty and flavour-packed – the spaghetti della nonna is always good – or opt for one of the signature Italian meat or fish dishes. The octopus with aubergine purée is a hit. To drink? The wine list has an excellent choice of Italian cultivars.

47 Bree Street

Tucked into a heritage Cape house, Between Us has an earthy feel and its constantly evolving menu is fittingly rooted in seasonal, sustainably procured ingredients. Check out the innovative twists on breakfast classics, like polenta pancakes, activated granola with grapefruit curd, porridge with poached plum, or herb frittata with smoked salmon. Each dish is a sensory delight, as good to look at as it is to eat. You might even be tempted to linger so long you’ll be here all the way till lunch or dinner.

176 Bree St, Cape Town

A stylish take on the traditional diner, Clarke’s Bar & Dining Room has become a staple of the Bree Street restaurant strip. That’s largely thanks to the superb beef burgers served on buttery brioche buns, but their soup-and-grilled-cheese sandwich offer at lunch remains one of the best affordable bites in the city. Look out for well-priced breakfast specials before 9am, when you’ll find savvy digital nomads tapping into the free Wi-Fi.

133 Bree St.

Tucked into the lower end of Bree, The General Store is a tiny, always-busy deli that keeps the CBD fuelled up on weekdays. Silwood-trained chef-owner Colette Robert cut her teeth in some of Cape Town’s top kitchens before opening this modern spin on the old-school corner grocer. Breakfast means proper coffee, poached eggs and mushrooms or a slice of still-warm cake, but it’s lunchtime when the queue really gets going with in-the-know office workers. Mix and match from an ever-changing array of creative salads and proteins: think roasted vegetables, grains, slow-cooked meats, and punchy dressings. It’s priced by plate size, and the best are usually sold out by mid-afternoon, so don’t get there late. There are take-home dinners, freezer meals and pantry staples here, too, and you’ll regret not leaving with a brownie for the road.

22 Bree Street

The Drinkery is a gem of a watering hole is hidden away upstairs in Heritage Square, a modern speakeasy shaking up a menu of innovative house cocktails and the classics done properly. That’s thanks to a bespoke collection of boutique brands behind the bar, from small-batch Caribbean rums to single-barrel single malts. Get there early to grab a terrace table overlooking the sheltered courtyard.

Heritage Square, Bree St.

Many Asian eateries in Cape Town focus purely on sushi or dim sum, but at Tomson Andrew Kai celebrates his Chinese-South African heritage on a menu of southern Cantonese plates. Here the compact menu wanders from wonton noodle soups topped with chilli crisp to Sichuan pork plated with spicy house kimchi. It’s a cosy spot, with just a handful of tables indoors and out on the street, but for an intimate taste of Cantonese cuisine in Cape Town this is your best bet.

120 Bree St.

There’s no shortage of sushi restaurants in Cape Town, but Aiko hits the sweet spot of well-priced plates that don’t skimp on quality produce. The a la carte menu runs through the usual (sushi) suspects, alongside a selection of more unusual plates: ever wanted a sushi ‘burger’, ‘burrito’ or ‘sushi donut’? Now’s your chance. Their daily all-you-can-eat special is a good deal for the hungry, and Aiko keeps vegans happy, with a selection of tofu-based tempura plates.

4 Bree St.

An offshoot of the hugely popular creative space in Hout Bay, Clay Café in the City combines a hands-on artistic experience with a compact menu of food, wine and more-ish baked goodies. The formula is simple: select your blank-canvas ceramic work (prices vary) and settle in to paint and decorate your masterpiece. A tapas-style menu will keep you well fed, while the concise wine list taps into boutique Cape cellars. Painted ceramics are fired and ready for collection a few weeks after your visit, so be sure to plan ahead.

199 Bree St.