Stellenbosch, a jewel nestled among vineyard-clad hills and historic Cape Dutch architecture, is not just a feast for the eyes but a paradise for food lovers. Known as the city of oaks, it offers a rich tapestry of culinary delights, from the hearty flavors of South African cuisine to the refined tastes of international dishes, all complemented by the region’s renowned wines.
The city’s charm is amplified by its vibrant outdoor dining scene, set against a backdrop of quirky galleries, boutiques, and majestic oak trees, making it a prime spot for those seeking both visual and gastronomic pleasure. The addition of new, fabulous eateries and wine bars to the already diverse dining landscape ensures that every palate is catered to, whether you’re in the heart of Stellenbosch or exploring its picturesque wine farms.
With its easy accessibility from Cape Town, less than an hour away, Stellenbosch has become an even more enticing destination for those in pursuit of culinary excellence. Whether it’s the rustic charm of homely farm kitchens, the hip vibe of cool town eateries, or the elegance of fine dining establishments, Stellenbosch’s top dining spots promise unforgettable meals in one of the most beautiful settings in the land. Here’s a look at the top 25 Stellenbosch restaurants in and around this culinary haven, where the quality of the meal is matched only by the beauty of the surroundings.
Here are 25 Stellenbosch restaurants that you should visit:
Wine farm restaurants in Stellenbosch
1. Kunjani at Kunjani Wines
First on our list of 25 Stellenbosch restaurants that you should visit is Kunjani. The best of local and seasonal ingredients are used in Kunjani’s exquisite gourmet cuisine, served both inside the contemporary-designed restaurant and al fresco on the deck.
This restaurant takes diners on a culinary journey, encompassing both European and African flavours.
- Breakfast hours: Monday to Sunday: 8:30am – 10:30am
- Lunch hours: Monday to Sunday: 11 am – 4pm
- Cuisine: European and African influences
- Location: Kunjani Wines | Farm 90, 20 Blumberg Drive, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 087 630 0409 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
You should also try a pub crawl with 5 of the ultimate wine bars in Stellenbosch!
2. Tokara Restaurant at Tokara Wine Estate
Perched on a cliff with views over a valley of vineyards that extends all the way to False Bay, Tokara was one of the very first winery restaurants established in the Cape Winelands.
The restaurant serves refined plaaskos (farm cuisine), modern dishes that are beautifully plated and elegant in their simplicity, made with seasonal and homegrown organic vegetables, under the direction of executive chef Carolize Coetzee. While dinner features four- or six-course set menus with optional wine pairings, lunch is à la carte.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 9pm
- Cuisine: Refined farm cuisine
- Location: Tokara Wine Estate | Helshoogte Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 027 21 885 2550
- Make a booking: [email protected]
3. Cavalli Dine Restaurant at Cavalli Estate
Although not directly in Stellenbosch, we believe this is a great addition to this list. Cavalli restaurant in the Cape Winelands has quickly become a favourite among discerning foodies across the nation after being named South Africa’s most stylish restaurant at the Eat Out Awards. It overlooks a tranquil dam with the magnificent Helderberg mountain range in the background.
Weekly menus are motivated by Cavalli’s own heirloom vegetable garden, with both meat and vegetarian options that are constantly attractively presented, tempting, and fresh.
- Hours: Wednesday to Saturday: 12pm – 2.30pm and 6pm – 8pm | Sunday: 12pm – 2.30pm
- Cuisine: Contemporary spins on classic dishes
- Location: Cavalli Estate | R44 Highway (Strand Road) between Stellenbosch and Somerset West
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 855 3218 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
4. Rust en Vrede at Rust en Vrede Wine Estate
Rust en Vrede at Rust en Vrede Wine Estate boasts a breathtaking environment of rolling lawns that dip into a river below, world-class wines, and Chef Fabio’s food. Dinner excursions may begin on the patio, but once you find a seat in the cosy eatery with the best views of the past, you will see true devotion to the craft.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 6.30pm
- Cuisine: French, Italian and Brazilian inspired
- Location: Rust en Vrede Wine Estate | Annandale Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 881 3757 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
5. The Vine Bistro at Glenelly Estate
The Vine Bistro at Glenelly Wine Cellar serves simple yet refined French cuisine by chef-patron Christophe Dehosse.
He and head chef Michael Saville make hearty modern bistro classics with local ingredients for weekly à la carte menus and a great wine list. The best of these become a three-course Sunday set lunch, and desserts or artisanal cheese boards are perfect endings.
This hidden gem has Parisian café tables, terrace seating, and gorgeous views.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 12pm – 3pm | Friday and Saturday: 6.30pm – 8pm
- Cuisine: French-inspired
- Location: Glenelly Estate | Lelie Street, Ida’s Valley, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 809 6444 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
6. Hazendal Glasshouse at Hazendal Wine Estate
In the beautiful glasshouse at Hazendal, which is tucked between trees and gardens next to the estate’s old buildings, there is a seasonal restaurant open on the weekends during the winter, when Pivnushka, the open-air beer garden, is closed for the season.
Offering elegant weekend lunches with glorious views in Stellenbosch, Chef Michelle Theron creates concise but delicious à la carte menus of seasonal cuisine with a classic spin.
- Hours: weekends only from 12pm – 5pm | kitchen closes at 4pm
- Cuisine: Seasonal cuisine
- Location: Hazendal Wine Estate | Ronelle Street (via Kruis Street), off Bottelary Road (M23), Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 205 5620
- Make a booking: [email protected]
7. De Eetkamer
De Eetkamer is tucked away in an elegantly converted old stable, where the restaurant’s distinct long, rectangular layout honors its historical roots. Guests are invited to savor a menu filled with small plates, each exploding with a variety of global flavors. This dining approach is inspired by the tradition of sharing food, evoking the warmth of family gatherings around the dining room table.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12 pm – 3 pm | 5:30 pm – 9 pm; Sunday to Monday: Closed
- Location: 3 Drostdy Rd, Stellenbosch Central
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 001 8308
- Make a booking: [email protected]
8. The Table at De Meye Wine Estate
The Table evokes Tuscany with good food, wine and company in a charming garden with wide-spaced seating under trees. Chef Brendan Thorncroft and his wife, Leigh, use only the best seasonal produce from local small-scale farmers in their three-course sharing menu, served on mismatched vintage plates.
La dolce vita is refined comfort food in a beautiful setting. Winter dining by the wood-burning stove with lawn views is just as cosy.
- Hours: Thursday to Sunday: 12pm – 5pm
- Cuisine: Refined comfort food
- Location: De Meye Farm | Muldersvlei Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 072 696 0530
- Make a booking: [email protected] | dineplan.com
9. Longtable Restaurant at Haskell Vineyards
A leisurely lunch at Longtable Restaurant at Haskell Vineyards features great views, international flavours and friendly service. The outdoor seating overlooks the vineyards.
The seasonal menu features locally grown organic fruit and vegetables, as well as sustainably sourced seafood.
And perhaps after lunch, you’ll stay for wine tasting?
- Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9 am – 5 pm | Friday to Saturday: 9 am – 9 pm | Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
- Cuisine: Contemporary South African cuisine
- Location: Annandale Road, Lynedoch, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 072 480 0073 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
10. Ernie Els Restaurant at Ernie Els Wines
On a beautiful wine estate in one of the most desirable parts of this fertile valley, this restaurant’s striking architecture and modern interiors give it an air of sophistication, while friendly service and an easy-to-understand menu make for a laid-back country lunch.
- Hours: Monday to Sunday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Cuisine: Country-style food
- Location: Ernie Els Wines | Annandale Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 021 881 3588 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
11. Lanzerac Manor Kitchen at Lanzerac Wine Estate
At Lanzerac Manor Kitchen, guests can enjoy a lavish buffet breakfast or treat themselves to dinner, which offers classical dishes reimagined with contemporary influences and comprised of the very best local, seasonal ingredients.
- Hours: Friday to Thursday: 7 am – 10:30 am | 6 pm – 10 pm; Saturday to Sunday: 7 am – 10:30 am, 12 pm – 3 pm | 6 pm – 10 pm
- Cuisine: Contemporary reimaginings of classical dishes
- Location: Lanzerac Wine Estate | 1 Lanzerac Road, Karindal, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 887 1132 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
12. The Kraal at Joostenberg Wine Estate
At the Joostenberg Wine Estate, The Kraal Restaurant is tucked away in a courtyard with a stone wall, with outdoor wooden tables positioned next to the farm’s vegetable garden and between fruit trees and wild olives, where leisurely farm lunches are served.
Partake in a wine tasting in the old winehouse or savour a leisurely, seasonally-inspired farm lunch at the Kraal restaurant.
- Hours: Saturday and Sunday: 12pm to 2.30pm
- Cuisine: French-inspired bistro
- Location: Joostenberg Wine Estate, Hoopenburg Road, Muldersvlei, Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 7606
- Rating (Google reviews):
- Contact: 077 964 11320 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
13. Gåte Restaurant at Quoin Rock Wine Estate
The exquisitely designed Gåte Restaurant, which overlooks the Quoin Rock vineyards in the seclusion of the Knorhoek Valley, has made a name for itself in the world of fine dining.
Over four hours, the seven-course tasting menu becomes 10 with the bread course, canapés, and generous petits-fours. Choose the simpler but still delicious three-course menu. Wine pairings from the diverse Quoin Rock and Namysto ranges enhance the experience.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 12pm – 2pm | Thursday to Saturday: 6pm
- Cuisine: Modern take on African influences
- Location: Quoin Rock Wine Estate | Knorhoek Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 888 4750 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
14. Guardian Peak Winery & Grill
Since its opening in December 2005, the Guardian Peak Winery and Restaurant has become a well-liked spot in the Stellenbosch Winelands.
The à la carte menu places a strong emphasis on serving unpretentious bistro-style food, particularly prime-quality steaks. Enjoy some of the best wines that Guardian Peak has to offer while taking in the stunning views of the vineyards.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 9am – 10pm | Sunday and Monday: 9am – 5pm
- Cuisine: South African flavours
- Location: Annandale Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews):
- Contact: 021 881 3899 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
Fine dining restaurants in Stellenbosch:
15. Mont Marie Restaurant
Mont Marie strives for excellence in its food, wine and service in a relaxed atmosphere.
Incorporating South African, Asian and European influences, Chef Pieter Vlok expertly turns ordinary ingredients into exquisite dishes that are presented with simplicity yet elegance. He enhances a variety of delectable dishes with distinctive and genuine flavours that are representative of South African culture.
Since most of the ingredients come from the Boland region, the menu is constantly changing to reflect the fresh produce’s availability, which keeps Pieter and his team challenged and motivated.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 8.30am – 8.30pm
- Cuisine: South African, Asian and European influences
- Location: Blaauwklippen Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 880 0777 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
16. Rykaart’s at Longridge Wine Estate
Rykaart’s offers a unique blend of European ambiance with a local Stellenbosch touch, thanks to its prime location. The seasonal bistro menu is simple yet diverse, featuring everything from light bites to substantial mains under the shade of ancient oaks and mountain vistas.
Spearheaded by Alex and Ella Rykaart, with Alex’s culinary background from The Vine Bistro shining through, the offerings include a variety of dishes such as Gruberg gougères, linefish ceviche, and grass-fed rump with chips, alongside potato gnocchi smothered in Gorgonzola cream. Desserts remain a staple with a choice of creamy, fresh, or chocolate delights.
The interior, complete with an open kitchen and decorated with Arabella Caccia’s artworks, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere, making every dining experience at Rykaart’s a blend of culinary excellence and homely comfort.
- Hours: Wednesday to Thursday: 12 pm – 3 pm | Friday to Saturday: 12 pm – 3 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm | Sunday: 12 pm – 3 pm | Monday to Tuesday: Closed
- Cuisine: Global flavours
- Location: the R44, Off Helderberg Road, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 855 2005
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
17. Eike by Bertus Basson
In 2019, Bertus Basson opened Eike in a historic structure on Stellenbosch’s Dorp Street as a tribute to Eikestad (the city of oaks). Stylish emerald-green velvet chairs, a modern geometric tiled wall, and a kitchen that looks out onto the 30-seat dining area complete the cosy setting.
Bertus and chef Kyle du Plooy’s love of South African flavours are reflected in the menu, which is an ode to the changing of the seasons and fond food memories.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 9pm
- Cuisine: South African flavours
- Location: 50 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 007 4231 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
18. Kleine Zalze Restaurant
With plats du jour like venison with Jerusalem artichokes, sirloin steak, or smoked and poached hake, as well as small plates that let customers sample a variety of flavours, Kleine Zalze Restaurant offers a casual menu of time-tested classics.
- Hours: Wednesday to Saturday: 12pm – 3pm
- Cuisine: French-inspired bistro
- Location: Strand Road, De Zalze Golf Estate, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 880 8167 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
19. Dusk Restaurant
Dusk is an experiential restaurant concept from chef Darren Badenhorstand and his protégé, Callan Austin, who have been exploring sustainability and pushing the limits of fine dining to the fullest.
There is only light above the tables and the open kitchen. A 13-course tasting menu with an optional beverage pairing will be available for dinner only at the restaurant. It will be a theatrical, thought-provoking experience that emphasises seasonality, local and indigenous ingredients, foraging, and fermentation.
- Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 6pm – 8pm
- Cuisine: Contemporary fine-dining
- Location: 43 Plein Street, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 021 023 4100 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
20. The Fat Butcher
The Fat Butcher is all about the meat, as the name suggests. It is a traditional steakhouse with a Stellenbosch feel, located in the heart of the city, with wooden floors, leather booths and a courtyard with shade at the back.
Hearty burgers, lamb shanks, skaapstertjies (lamb tails), porcini risotto, and other dishes are served along with dry-aged prime cuts and signature steaks made from grain-fed, pasture-raised beef.
Additionally, classic appetisers like chargrilled corn, marrow bones and steak tartare, as well as sumptuous salads and seafood, are available for those who are less interested in meat.
- Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12pm – 10.30pm
- Cuisine: Bistro
- Location: 1 Van Riebeek Street, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.7
- Contact: 021 882 8705 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
21. ASTA Italian Restaurant
ASTA produces family-inspired traditional Italian food in the heart of Stellenbosch.
ASTA has moved on to the next stage of its development thanks to its owner’s love of Italian food. The restaurant now embraces the tradition and value system of generous service and delicious food.
After completing his B.Comm. in marketing and a stint on the yachts in Italy as a private chef, Chef Sheldon has fine-tuned his love and passion for quality Italian food. His passion for food and hospitality is plated for your enjoyment.
- Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12pm – 9pm
- Cuisine: Italian
- Location: 95 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 021 887 7300 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
22. Spek & Bone by Bertus Basson
Tucked away beside the historic Stellenbosch market and just a stone’s throw from Oom Samie se winkel, Spek & Bone emerges as a quaint small plates eatery and wine bar, a true hidden treasure off Dorp Street. Its unique name pays homage to Bertus and his wife, Mareli’s beloved pets—a pig named Spek and a puppy named Bone, an unlikely duo bound by an inseparable friendship.
Their names, inspired by the classic culinary pairing of pork and beans, reflect the eatery’s ethos of simple, authentic enjoyment, reminiscent of the Afrikaans phrase ‘Om vir spek en boontjies te werk’, which celebrates the value of working for the love of good, simple food rather than mere financial gain.
- Hours: Monday to Thursday: 12 pm – 2 pm, 5:30 pm – 8 pm | Friday to Saturday: 12 pm – 2 pm, 5:30 pm – 8 pm | Sunday: Closed
- Cuisine: Contemporary fine-dining
- Location: 84 Dorp St, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 082 569 8958
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
23. The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira
The Jordan Restaurant was one of the first signature chef restaurants to be established in the Cape Winelands. It is a formal dining experience that celebrates contemporary farm cuisine.
READ MORE: Fine dining and breathtaking views at Jordan Restaurant
Chef Marthinus Ferreira has helped shape the South African food scene with his flair for gastronomy, inspired by his childhood favourites and influences from abroad. Marthinus will keep using his well-honed skills, but he will keep a strong focus on locally grown farm-to-table food, meat reared ethically by local farmers, and the freshest seasonal ingredients.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 11pm
- Cuisine: Contemporary fine-dining
- Location: Stellenbosch Kloof Road, Vlottenburg, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.5
- Contact: 021 881 3441 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
24. Post & Pepper
Located in the heart of bustling Stellenbosch, Post & Pepper’s menu and atmosphere are packed with all the things you love about fine dining without any of the frills.
Located in the Old Stellenbosch Post Office, this historic building is the home of great food, done well with amazing attention to detail. Chef Jess creates new interpretations of South African classics using the finest locally sourced ingredients, with a touch of Asian-inspired flavour.
- Hours: Tuesday: 5.30pm – 9pm | Wednesday to Saturday: 11.3oam – 2.30pm and 5.30pm – 9pm | Sunday: 11am – 3pm
- Cuisine: Bistro
- Location: Corner of Plein and Bird Street, Stellenbosch,
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.8
- Contact: 021 203 5165 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
25. Helena’s Restaurant
Last on our list of Stellenbosch restaurants. Helena’s Restaurant is ranked #4 out of 236 restaurants in Stellenbosch and is the #1 African restaurant in Stellenbosch. Its goal is to serve traditional foods with style, often with a small change in the details that turns something ordinary into something spectacular.
With a focus on freshness and food provenance, the menu is created to showcase the bounty of the Cape. At Helena’s, delicious, unpretentious food and unique wine enhance life’s pleasures.
- Hours: Monday to Sunday: 12.30pm – 2.30pm | 6pm – 9.30pm
- Cuisine: South African flavours
- Location: 33a Church Street, Stellenbosch Central, Stellenbosch
- Rating (Google reviews): 4.6
- Contact: 021 88338207 | [email protected]
- Make a booking: dineplan.com
Tip: Booking is recommended when making a trip to any one of these wonderful restaurants in Stellenbosch.
If you’re looking for a delicious reason to visit this picturesque town, look no further. From fine dining establishments to family-friendly eateries, there’s something for everyone in this charming corner of the Western Cape.
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