Bo-Kaap Kombuis is a south african restaurant in Bo Kaap, Cape Town.
Editorially verified September 26, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: It operates out of an ordinary house on August Street rather than a Bo-Kaap storefront, so the Table Mountain view from the dining room stays a surprise until you sit down.
Tip: Ask for a window table before you sit; the view over the City Bowl is why regulars book ahead for weekend dinners.
Private tour · 6 hours
Explore Langa Township and Bo-Kaap on a guided tour. Meet locals, learn about the history, and enjoy a hands-on cooking class to prepare traditional Cape Malay dishes.
2 hours
Cook your own 3-course meal in the historic Bo Kaap neighborhood. Discover what makes Malay cooking different from other traditional South African dishes.
Guided tour · 2.5 hours
Learn how to cook a typical Malay dish in the iconic Bo-Kaap. Discover the culture and rich culinary traditions of Malay from a friendly local. Savor the delicious fea...
Address: 7 August Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town 8001
Plumstead Fisheries fries fish and chips on Main Road in Plumstead, a southern suburb of Cape Town well away from the coastal harbour counters.
Why locals goSouthern suburbs regulars queue here straight after work instead of driving to the coast, since the fryer turns out the same fish and chips without the trip to Kalk Bay.
TipAsk what came in fresh that morning before ordering, since the counter also sells whole fish to take home and cook.
Baps Shayona cooks pure vegetarian Indian meals in a back room behind its Rylands grocery counter, in a Cape Town suburb most visitors skip.
Why locals goThe shopfront looks like a spice and toothpaste grocer from the street, and only the small back room with a few tables gives away that it also cooks a full vegetarian Indian menu.
TipOrder from the hot counter rather than the printed menu, the fresh curries and sweets change with what was cooked that morning.
Hooked on Africa Fresh Fish Market sells the day's catch and fried fish straight off Hout Bay harbour, on the working side of Cape Town's fishing fleet.
Why locals goHout Bay's own restaurants buy their fish here before it reaches any menu, and the wharf side counter still sells the same catch to anyone willing to queue with the trade.
TipAsk which fish came in that morning before choosing, the counter fillets to order and the selection changes with the boats.
Dias Tavern has served Portuguese trinchado, prego steaks on hot skillets and grilled chicken on Caledon Street in Cape Town's District Six since 1988.
Why locals goIt has cooked Portuguese food on Caledon Street in District Six since 1988, often with live music, on a stretch most City Bowl visitors walk straight past.
TipBook ahead for a weekend table, order the rump trinchado in its homemade sauce, and note it is closed on Sundays.
Kalky's is a cash only fish counter on the Kalk Bay harbour wall near Cape Town, where the snoek comes straight off the boats tied up outside.
Why locals goVisitors driving the coast road pass Kalk Bay's fishing harbour by, and the self-service queue at this cabin fills with locals, especially at weekends.
TipCarry small notes since the till only takes cash, and eat standing at the harbour wall rather than hunting for a table.
Golden Dish is a halal takeaway counter in Gatesville, Athlone, founded in 1969 and back since July 2024 after a fire, famous for Cape Town's big gatsby.
Why locals goFounded in 1969 opposite Athlone Stadium and now in the Gatesville shopping centre, it is the gatsby stop Cape Flats families swear by, while day trippers rarely cross the M5.
TipOrder the large gatsby to share between two; it trades until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday nights and closes on Sundays.
