Golden Dish is a south african restaurant in Athlone, Cape Town.
Editorially verified September 26, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Why locals love it: Founded 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.
Tip: Order the large gatsby to share between two; it trades until 02:00 on Friday and Saturday nights and closes on Sundays.
Guided tour · 3 hours
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Guided tour · 4h 30m
Step beyond the well-known attractions and discover the authentic rhythm of Cape Town through its neighbourhoods, traditions, flavours & everyday experiences that make...
Guided tour · 3 hours
Immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and history as local guides share captivating stories. Taste authentic South African dishes bursting with flavor and tradition,...
Address: Corner Hazel and Klipfontein Road, Gatesville, Athlone, Cape Town 7764
Wembley Roadhouse is a halal drive-in on Belgravia Road in Athlone, Cape Town, grown from a family store opened in 1931 into steak rolls and thick milkshakes.
Why locals goFamilies from across the Cape Flats treat this Belgravia Road drive-in as their Friday night kitchen, while it barely registers on any visitor itinerary for Cape Town.
TipSit in the garden rather than the drive-in bay, and order a falooda milkshake alongside the steak roll to cut the richness.
Wembley Roadhouse is a halal drive-in on Belgravia Road in Athlone, Cape Town, grown from a family store opened in 1931 into steak rolls and thick milkshakes.
Why locals goFamilies from across the Cape Flats treat this Belgravia Road drive-in as their Friday night kitchen, while it barely registers on any visitor itinerary for Cape Town.
TipSit in the garden rather than the drive-in bay, and order a falooda milkshake alongside the steak roll to cut the richness.
Teez @ 115 grills meat you choose yourself at its own butchery counter on NY115 in Gugulethu, on the Cape Flats side of metropolitan Cape Town.
Why locals goThe site that made Gugulethu famous under its old name still runs the same butchery-then-braai system, yet almost no visitor itinerary lists NY115 by its street number.
TipBuy your own meat at the butchery counter first, then hand the tray to the braai team rather than waiting for table service.
Eziko Restaurant serves cooked-to-order township meals in Langa while training unemployed local residents for hospitality careers around Cape Town.
Why locals goThe dining room trains unemployed Langa residents for hospitality jobs, and every plate is cooked to order rather than kept warm for a passing crowd.
TipCall ahead before visiting, since every plate here is cooked fresh for your group instead of held warming under a lamp.
Cafe Roux is a farm village garden cafe in Noordhoek, on the quieter side of Chapmans Peak from central Cape Town, known for live music dinners.
Why locals goNoordhoek's farm village sits behind Chapmans Peak, far enough from the City Bowl that most day visitors never find the outdoor tables under oversized khaki umbrellas.
TipBook ahead for a live music, comedy or film night, when dinner is also served outside under the tent.
Oatlands Cafe is a farmstyle garden cafe on Vissershok Road in Durbanville, on the quiet inland edge of metropolitan Cape Town, loved by cyclists.
Why locals goMountain bikers finishing the Tygerberg trails treat this farm cafe as their regular stop, while it sits far enough inland that most visitors skip Durbanville entirely.
TipTime a visit around the Tygerberg mountain bike trails, and let kids loose on the lawn while your coffee is poured.
Snoekies is a fish and chips takeaway at the far end of Hout Bay harbour near Cape Town, where the brand began in a converted bus parked there in 1951.
Why locals goIt sits at the far end of Harbour Road, past the point on the Hout Bay waterfront where most visitors turn back, on the spot where its founder parked a converted bus in 1951.
TipHead upstairs if you have children: the Hout Bay branch has a big indoor play area with a jungle gym and sandpit beside the dining room.