The 17 best restaurants on Bree Street

This classic of Cape Town’s culinary scene reopened in 2024 and is as superb as ever. This time it’s a partnership between Liam Tomlin and chef David Schneider, and while the space is larger than the original the concept is reassuringly familiar. Tomlin pioneered the (now ubiquitous) small plate menu in  Cape Town, and the Chefs Warehouse ‘Tapas for 2’ remains the heart of the offering here. Expect a set menu of four courses for sharing. The plates change often, but expect a signature blend of Asian and European flavours and plates. For dessert (extra cost), Tomlin’s famous lemon posset is a must. There’s a new à la carte option too, and a beautiful private dining space for special occasions.

91 Bree Street

One floor up from the ever-popular Chefs Warehouse is another colab between Liam Tomlin and David Schneider. Relaxed, sexy, contemporary and focused on provenance is how Tomlin describes Merchant, and that certainly applies to both the menu and the space. Here the Larder – a temperature-controlled cornucopia of produce – takes pride of place. That produce finds expression in Merchant Bar & Grill’s six-course tasting menu celebrating some of South Africa’s most acclaimed producers. If you’re only after a quick bite, look to the Larder menu at the Bar for elevated snacks: think Scotch eggs, duck confit, pork crackling with smoked mayonnaise, or a simple bowl of sausage with gherkins and mustard. The restaurant and bar spaces work seamlessly together, separated by a soft mustard-gold curtain, to ensure a deeply sophisticated night out. Look out for the remarkable Gyotaku artworks by artist Jero Revett.

91 Bree Street

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.

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

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.

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.

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 Observatory, 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

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.

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.