Best Braai Restaurant In Cape Town: Top 6

Experiencing a South African braai was a bit of a culture shock at first, coming from Scotland where our idea of a barbecue is quite different. Back home, a barbecue is an impromptu affair, dictated by the rare appearance of sunshine. But in South Africa, a braai is an event, a ritual of sorts, deeply ingrained in the culture.

And I love it!

Let’s get this straight: Meat cooked over open flames is a braai, whereas meat cooked on gas is a barbecue. I used to think they were the same, but I sure was put in my place real quick!

The way South Africans gather around the braai, it’s not just about the good meat and great side salads, it’s a social event, often running well into the night. There’s fire, music, drinks and of course a variety of meats, from boerewors (South African sausage) to lamb chops, steak and chicken; the feast is endless.

(And often there’s that one guy who’s had one too many brandy and Cokes!)

This article is my guide to the best braai restaurants in Cape Town. So let’s tuck in and get straight to it!

1. Best High-End Braai: The Hussar Grill

• Address: 163 Beach Road, New Cumberland Building, Mouille Point, Cape Town (find another branch in Camps Bay [Shop 2, 108 Camps Bay Drive] and Century City [Crystal Towers, Rialto Road])
• Places nearby: 100 meters from Green Point Park
• Trading hours: Open daily from 12:00 – 22:00; trading hours may differ at different locations
• Price range: ±R200 for a 200 g fillet steak

The Hussar Grill in Mouille Point, just above Green Point, is a fantastic location for a good piece of meat with impeccable service. This spot is my absolute favourite in Cape Town!

Hussar wouldn’t be your traditional South African braai – as you won’t be gathering around the firepit – but these guys are the ultimate meat masters, having been in the trade since 1964. They only use the finest quality Class-A beef and venison and their steaks are aged for no less than 28 days.

The Bone Marrow Ribeye is one of their specialties and that steak melted in my mouth just like the compound butter they put on top! To add to the “braai-ness”, I opted for sides of gratinated corn, garlic baby potatoes and a green salad. I went all out here! I washed it all down with a good whiskey on the rocks and I was a happy lad.

Cheers, Hussar Grill – I’ll be back.

Side note: They have a date night special every Tuesday evening: two courses for R450 with a complimentary bottle of red wine. Bookings are essential.

2. Best Braai With A View: Karibu Restaurant

• Address: Shop 156, The Wharf Centre, V&A Waterfront, Victoria Wharf, Cape Town
• Places nearby: 850 meters from the Two Oceans Aquarium
• Trading hours: Open daily from 11:00 – 23:00
• Price range: R275 for the Chapman’s Peak – ostrich fillet kebab (or “sosatie”) and venison boerewors

This restaurant has an area purely dedicated to the beloved South African braai! And with incredible views of Cape Town’s harbour, why wouldn’t you want to spend the afternoon braaiing at Karibu?

The braai meat selection is fantastic, ranging from boerewors to ostrich sosaties (kebabs), served with all the traditional side dishes such as:

• Roosterkoek – bread cooked over the fire
• Braai broodjie – grilled toastie on the braai, usually filled with cheese, tomato and onion
• Putu – steamed maize meal
• Chakalaka – a delicious spicy tomato, pepper, onion, carrot and chilli relish

I must admit, my vegan partner was reluctant to join me for a Karibu lunch. But we were pleasantly surprised to see they had vegetarian and vegan options on the menu and she devoured her vegan bobotie in a heartbeat!

Best braai restaurants in Cape Town? Karibu, tick.

3. Most Authentic Braai Experience: Pakwathu Braai Restaurant

• Address: 1 Strand Street, Woodstock, Cape Town
• Places nearby: 2.8 km from The Castle Of Good Hope
• Trading hours: Weekdays from 10:00 – 21:00; weekends from 10:00 – 22:00
• Price range: R70 for grilled chicken wings

Nothing quite beats the vibe that South Africa brings. With sunshine most of the year, having a braai is pretty much part of everyday life.

Pakwathu is a traditional Malawain eatery, where local South Africans jam to Amapiano, sip on ice-cold beers and toss a couple of wings on the flames. Ah, that smoky aroma!

Fun fact: The Zulu word – one of South Africa’s 12 official languages – for “braai” is “shisa nyama“, a direct translation being: “burnt meat”.

There were a couple of options like beef trotters that I wasn’t too fond of trying, even though I come from a place where minced sheep’s guts are a thing. I did enjoy the grilled chicken wings though and for only R70 it was an absolute steal!

Side note: Pakwathu has car wash facilities on site. What a bonus, especially after a day at Clifton Beach.

4. Best Pork Rib Braai: The Eatery Wood-Fired Grill

• Address: 70 Belvedere Road, Claremont, Cape Town
• Places nearby: 1.4 km from Newlands Cricket Grounds
• Trading hours: Tuesday to Friday from 11:00 – 22:00; Saturdays from 09:00 – 22:00; Sundays from 09:00 – 16:00
• Price range: R195 for BBQ pork ribs

This place in Cape Town certainly hits the (braai) spot! It’s a family-run business situated between Claremont and Rondebosch in the Southern Suburbs of the city. Their menu boasts wood-fired favourites like matured steaks, braai broodjies and delicious, mouthwatering burgers. But the succulent pork belly ribs are a fan fav!

If you’re not keen on a big meal, try something off their tapas and sharing menu – the “piggy poppers” are amazing – or one of their salad bowls. They have vegetarian options and a kid’s menu and serve breakfast and brunch on the weekends. They serve a mean Americano too – strong, just the way I like it.

Side note: The Eatery offers venue hire and catering for pretty much any function.

5. The Best Of Three Worlds: The Hog House Brewing Co.

• Address: 42 Morningside Street, N’dabeni, Cape Town
• Places nearby: 2.1 km from be.Up Indoor Adventure Park
• Trading hours: Monday to Thursday from 07:30 – 16:00; Friday from 07:30 – 16:00 and 17:00 – 20:00; Saturday 09:00 – 14:00; closed on Sunday
• Price range: R460 for a BBQ platter

This Texan-style BBQ restaurant is another favourite of mine because you get the best of three worlds: braai, bakery and brewery! The Hoghouse is situated off the beaten track, found in the industrial N’dabeni area; a stone’s throw from neighbouring Observatory (roughly 10 km away).

They specialise in Texan-style smoked meats and vegetarian side dishes, where you can build your own meal. Just pick which meat and side you want, they weigh it and Bob’s your uncle. The industrial-style interior and open-air kitchen create a cosy ambience and there’s loads of outdoor seating to park off on in the summer months.

The onsite bakery is jam-packed with a variety of croissants (the best in Cape Town in my humble opinion), chocolate and blondie brownies, apple tarts, frangipanes, truffles and nougat. And their craft beer brewery is pretty cool too; for 50 bucks, you can try four beer selections. The Worthog India Pale Ale was crisp, light and refreshing – I ordered myself a pint!

And that’s coming from a whiskey kinda guy!

6. Best Braai Spot For Tourists: Sticky BBQ Long Street

• Address: 84 Long Street, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town (find other branches in Observatory [96 Station Road] and Cavendish [Cavendish Square Food Court, Dreyer Street])
• Places nearby: 4.2 km from Lion’s Head hiking trail.
• Trading hours: Sunday to Thursday from 12:00 – 22:00; Friday and Saturday from 12:00 – 00:00; trading hours can vary at different locations
• Price range: R140 for a ‘monster’ burger

What started as a small hole-in-wall in Observatory, Sticky BBQ is now a braai franchise chain and serves up a mean meat feast. With multiple locations scattered around the city, I stumbled upon their Long Street branch after a midday hike up Lion’s Head.

Take your pick from meaty mixed combos, pork ribs, flame-kissed burgers, deep-fried wings, or grilled chops; there is a taste for every palate. The food and drinks were top-class and had me licking my chops for more! It’s not your usual backyard braai but a meat-filled extravaganza no less.

These meaty restaurants in Cape Town are the perfect way for tourists to experience that smoky braai flavour in between sightseeing in the beautiful city.

Three Best Places To Grill And Chill

Cape Town has loads of beautiful areas to visit, like Kirstenbosch Gardens, Table Mountain and Camp’s Bay. Many of these places deserve a day trip of their own, and what could be better than lighting a fire and braaiing on your own? No need for fancy service (or table manners!), just a nice spot to grill and chill amongst nature and with family and friends.

I’ve added a few local spots to my list, where you can don the braai apron and flip those steaks just the way you like it. But don’t forget to bring salads, garlic bread and chakalaka from home to accompany your flame-kissed feast.

Maiden’s Cove

Nestled between Glen Beach and Clifton 4th in Camp’s Bay, Maiden’s Cove is a great place for a braai. The facilities are free to use and are open daily from 08:00 to 18:00, but best you get there early as this is a popular beach for tourists and locals.

Kirstenbosch Gardens

These beautiful and iconic gardens are found on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town’s Newlands area. You’ll need to pay an entrance fee (R220 per adult; R40 per child) to spend the day here but you can use any of the designated braai areas to cook up a feast.

The gardens are open every day from 08:00 to 19:00 in summer and 08:00 to 18:00 in winter.

Signal Hill

This is an epic place for a braai, situated next to Lion’s Head and separating Green Point and Sea Point from Cape Town CBD. This beautiful mountain offers panoramic views of the city skyline below and has loads of designated braai and picnic facilities.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try paragliding off of Signal Hill!

FAQs

What is the difference between a braai and a barbecue?

A South African braai is not considered a braai without fire. A braai in Cape Town – or any part of South Africa for that matter – is where meat is cooked over open flames, usually made from wood and charcoal. A barbecue, on the hand other hand, is cooked on gas.

What braai restaurants are in Sea Point, Cape Town?

Shoreditch At The Winchester Hotel is one of the best braai restaurants in Sea Point. It’s situated along Beach Road and overlooks Sea Point’s promenade. It’s named after one of London’s trendiest suburbs but differs in terms of cuisine.

This restaurant does cooking the right way, with everything cooked over flames. From small sharing plates to hearty mains and wonderful views of the Atlantic Ocean, Shoreditch is a great spot to try!