Culinary travel is about exploring a new country and tasting its best culinary delights. Cape Town and surrounds offer great wines, restaurants and new, unique concepts that set themselves apart from the run-of-the-mill dining experiences.

Babylonstoren

Babylonstoren in Franschhoek is famous for its “farm to table” concept. The historic Cape Dutch farms boast a beautifully manicured garden, whose produce is used for the high-end restaurant. Guests can go on a garden tour, do a wine tasting and eat at the restaurant.

What sets it apart? The farm’s perfectly manicured gardens are 3.5-hectares and grow fresh fruit and vegetables. Babylonstoren’s unique dining experience is that they grow new and ‘forgotten’ food varieties from around the world, as well as seasonal produce used for inspired meals at the two farm-to-table restaurants and the Farm Hotel.

Boschendal

The 300-year old wine farm in Franschhoek does award-winning farm to table cuisine and raise Black Angus cattle, which are free range, for slow roasted ribs and brisket at the farm restaurant. “Expect fragrant fermented bread, slow-roasted ribs and brisket sourced from the herd of Angus cattle on Boschendal Farm, or house-smoked trout, pasture-reared poultry and accomplished desserts.”

What sets it apart? It’s one of the oldest farms in South Africa – yet with the freshest menu.

Leopard’s Leap

Leopard’s Leap provides guests with cooking classes and, as they’re leading wine producers, these classes take place on their beautiful family vineyards in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands. The professional and fully equipped Leopard Leap’s kitchen accommodates 22 people. Seasonal cooking is an important part of the course.

What sets it apart? Cooking classes are run by in-house Chef Pieter de Jager who is simply exceptional.

Test Kitchen

There are fantastic food experiences in Cape Town but our favourite is The Test Kitchen in Woodstock. Chef Luke Dale-Roberts started this restaurant after a four-year-long tenure as the executive chef at the famous La Colombe. From the moment you enter, you will have a multi-sensory dining experience with a play of colours, flavours and combinations. Diners are part of the cooking experience in the open-plan kitchen.

Dale-Roberts has this to say about his food philosophy, “I’m a non-conformist, something that has got me into a lot of trouble in the past. My vision for The Test Kitchen is to be original in every aspect of the experience.” This award-winning restaurant is incredibly popular, so if you plan to visit The Test Kitchen, make sure to book well in advance!

What sets it apart? The Test Kitchen was voted the ‘Best Restaurant in Africa’.

The Old Biscuit Mill

A culinary visit to Cape Town would not be complete without a trip to The Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. On the weekends, the Neighbourgoods Market is where all the hipsters and trendsetters can be found. Evert Saturday there are over 100 speciality traders from local farmers, fine-food purveyors, organic merchants, bakers and distributors, grocers, mongers, butchers, artisan producers, celebrated local chefs, and micro enterprises.

What sets it apart? It’s situated in Woodstock, which is Cape Town’s hippest suburb.

Book a tailor-made food and wine holiday with us, or pop us an email and we’ll put one together for you.