Cape Town, South Africa
Dinner with a view? These Camps Bay restaurants deliver both
The Camps Bay restaurants with the best views
Dinner in this part of Cape Town is never just about the food. The atmosphere does half the talking – skies that change colour by the minute, the ocean stretching out beyond the glass and that unmistakable salt-in-the-air calm. In Camps Bay, restaurants understand how to frame a meal with light, space and sound. You’ll find places where tables spill onto terraces, where the clink of glasses pairs with the low hush of the tide and where menus are shaped by both location and season. We’ve pulled together a selection that captures the essence of dining with a view. Pull up a chair and let’s dive into what makes these Camps Bay restaurants worth planning your next sunset meal around.
Top photography courtesy of Twelve Apostles Hotel
01
Paranga
From the moment you step off the promenade onto Paranga’s wide terrace, you get exactly what you’d expect of a seaside eatery – laid-back beach luxury and a refined menu that echoes the setting. Since opening in 2002, Paranga has balanced fresh-off-the-boat sushi and freshly shucked oysters with caviar, as well as mains like chargrilled truffle ribeye on the bone and seafood linguine. Paranga also boasts one of the most extensive champagne lists in South Africa. What really sells it, though, is the atmosphere – think casual tables dotted with lanterns as the sky turns orange, attentive servers who know just when to top up your glass and that never-ending stretch of ocean as your backdrop.
Paranga
Shop 1 The Promenade
Victoria Rd
Camps Bay
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Paranga
02
Azure Restaurant
Located within the Twelve Apostles Hotel, Azure Restaurant offers a fine dining experience that combines gourmet cuisine with expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Twelve Apostles mountain range. The restaurant’s terrace provides an ideal setting for enjoying the natural beauty of the area, while inside you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the crashing surf, comfortable banquettes with muted art pieces and greenery. Executive Chef Christo Pretorius prepares a menu that focuses on local ingredients, especially seafood. Signature dishes feature mussels, crayfish, oysters, prawns, langoustines and squid. The Journey through the Cape five-course tasting menu, paired with regional wines, offers an exploration of the Western Cape’s culinary heritage.
Azure Restaurant
Twelve Apostles Hotel
Queen Victoria St
Oudekraal Nature Reserve
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Azure Restaurant
03
Bilboa
Bilboa is all about modern Mediterranean spirit, with an injection of Cape character. The décor leans into warm woods, low-slung lighting and minimalist black accents, but the real draw is the panoramic outlook – Lion’s Head on one side, endless blue on the other. The menu focuses on Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavours. Some dishes we think are worth a taste are the baby squid with roast red pepper purée, kingklip with pine nuts and spinach purée and a divine lemon tart with roasted meringue. This is also the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail while watching the sun dip on the horizon – start with a cocktail, stay for dinner and watch the scenery unfold.
Bilboa
Shop 120 First Floor
The Promenade
Victoria Rd
Camps Bay
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Bilboa
04
Mantra Café
Bright, breezy and unpretentious, Mantra Café is proof that you don’t need white-tablecloth formality to make a meal memorable. Spread over three levels – sunlit deck, main dining room and chic bar – the café leans into its beachfront location without ever feeling cliché. The team behind Mantra wanted a European grand café vibe by the sea and they succeeded – staff greet you like old friends, menus respect the rhythm of the region’s seasons and every table catches just enough of that Atlantic breeze to remind you where you are. Our favourite meals include the seared pink pepper and herb-crusted ostrich fillet with salsa verde and slow-roasted tomato and the slow-roasted lamb rib with a fresh mint crust served on warm marinated butter bean and Mantra panzanella salad.
Mantra Café
43 Victoria Rd
Camps Bay
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Mantra Café
05
Victoria at Café Caprice
If bubbles and sushi sound like your idea of a good time, Victoria at Café Caprice has your name on it. This compact offshoot specialises in Cap Classique – South Africa’s version of Champagne – with six distinct styles, from crisp blanc de blancs to richer demi-sec. Roll out a flight of fizz alongside artfully assembled nigiri and maki or opt for the daily ceviche if you’re feeling extra adventurous. The interior features a dark and moody colour palette with wood accents, plush pink highbacks and green marble tables with some antique lighting fixtures to complete the luxurious but classic look.
Victoria at Café Caprice
37 Victoria Rd
Camps Bay
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Victoria
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