Cape Town, South Africa
From flame to fork: 5 Cape Town spots for open-fire cooking
Where to go in Cape Town for a flame grilled feast
There’s a primal allure to a crackling fire, a magnetic pull that transcends time and trends. It’s in our DNA, a deep-seated connection to the element that first gave us cooked food, warmth and a communal gathering point. In the culinary world, this ancient method is experiencing a global renaissance and in a city as passionate about live-fire cooking as Cape Town, the trend is blazing hotter than ever. Here, the revered South African tradition of the braai (wood-fire grill) – a cultural cornerstone of community and celebration – is being elevated to new gastronomic heights. Across this coastline-fed city, chefs are moving away from sous-vide gadgets and high-tech kitchens, preferring instead live coals that sear, smoke and caramelise. Here are the restaurants you must try for an unforgettable open-fire dining experience.
Top photography courtesy of Marble
01
Marble
Marble, located at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, brings the essence of open-fire cooking to the forefront. Co-founded by Chef David Higgs and entrepreneur Gary Kyriacou, Marble has established itself as a destination for those seeking a dining experience centred around flame-grilled cuisine. The restaurant’s menu features a variety of dishes cooked over an iconic Grillworks setup. Starters like snoek pâté with magwenya (fried dough) and lamb and beef tartare with pickled waterblommetjies (water flowers) set the tone. For mains, give the wood-fired Chalmar ribeye a try. Marble’s interior design, designed by Irene Kyriacou, blends contemporary aesthetics with elements that reflect the restaurant’s focus on fire and cooking.
Marble
1 Dock Rd
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Marble
02
Boma South African
The concept behind Boma South African, previously Boma on Bree, is inspired by the traditional African boma, a communal meeting place often used for gathering, storytelling and sharing meals around a fire. The restaurant’s design reflects its African roots, with earthy tones, woven baskets and colourful textiles creating a warm, inviting atmosphere. Boma South African also has a lively vibe when there are live music performances. Head Chef Vusi Ndlovu’s open kitchen and long fireplace are the heart of the experience. We recommend trying Oom Eddie’s grass-fed Karoo lamb ribs, tender, juicy meat that’s been expertly cooked over an open flame and also give the Braaibroodjie-Jaffle a go – 90-day aged comté cheese, tomato chutney and onion, all encased in a crispy jaffle.
Boma South African
107 Bree St
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Boma South African
03
Iron Steak
Iron Steak & Bar is where you go for a steak experience that’s as ironclad as its name suggests. This steakhouse prides itself on offering high-quality, flame-grilled steaks with a focus on sustainability. Every cut of beef here is sourced from free-range, grass-fed cattle, ensuring you get a steak that’s both delicious and responsibly sourced. The dining experience at Iron Steak & Bar is casual with just the right amount of refinement to create an atmosphere that’s perfect for a night out with friends or a relaxed dinner date. One unique feature that sets Iron Steak & Bar apart is its complimentary soft-serve ice cream, a sweet touch to end your meal on a high note.
Iron Steak
114 Bree St
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Iron Steak
04
Zest Restaurant
Set on the second floor of the Newkings Boutique Hotel in Sea Point, Zest Restaurant opened in June 2021 under Bulgarian-born Chef Pavel Dimitrov. His mantra – fresh is best, less is more – is evident the moment you see the open-plan kitchen, where coals of Kameeldoring wood glow red and chefs tend to seafood, meat and vegetables over open flame. The grill’s wood smoke perfuses every dish, adding a subtle yet unmistakable depth you won’t find in a conventional restaurant. The dining room, illuminated by soft lanterns, looks out onto Sea Point’s coastline. A standout dish at Zest Restaurant for us is the line fish char-grilled over coals – its flesh flaked perfectly, lending a sweet brininess enhanced by a drizzle of herbed gremolata.
Zest Restaurant
Piazza Da Luz
94 Regent Rd
Sea Point
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Zest Restaurant
05
Edge
Edge is a nomadic restaurant concept that brings exciting pop-up dinners to the culinary scene in South Africa and they have now found a residence at Vue Shortmarket – an exciting inner-city bar and restaurant. Edge was conceived by award-winning chef Vusi Ndlovu and restaurateur Absie Pantshwa. Edge focuses on modern African cuisine, with a strong emphasis on open-fire cooking. Chef Ndlovu, who ranked among the top 7 chefs at the San Pellegrino Young Chef finale in 2018, brings his experience from working in top restaurants in South Africa and Europe to Edge. The menu features reimagined African dishes, such as mopane worms, fire-cooked offal and jollof rice.
Edge
108 Shortmarket St
Cape Town City Centre
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Edge
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