9 Affordable Restaurants in Cape Town With a View!
Cape Town has become more and more expensive in the past couple of years making it a challenge to find affordable restaurants in Cape Town with a view. I’ve done a little digging so you don’t have to and you can make the most of the incredible restaurants that this city has to offer!
Affordable Romantic Restaurants in Cape Town
Planning a special date with your romantic partner? Cape Town has no shortage of romantic spots for your next date night.
With that said, it can be hard to find places that are affordable (especially for locals).
If you’re coming from a country that earns in USD, GBP, EUR, etc, you’ll probably find all of these spots very affordable!Â
Read below for my detailed guide of the most affordable restaurants in Cape Town with a view.
Affordable Restaurants in Cape Town With a View
1. La PerlaÂ
Location: Sea Point
Average Cost For a Meal: R165 – 320 ($9 – $17 USD)
Address: 281 Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005
If you’re keen to dig into some Italian food in Sea Point, La Perla is a great option! They focus on seafood dishes but also serve meat and are veg-friendly.Â
The indoor restaurant is beautifully decorated, however, the outside seating area is the place to be. You have a view of the Sea Point promenade and the ocean across the street!
La Perla can get busy, especially on weekends, so if you want to secure a place, call to make a reservation ahead of time.
2. Grand PavilionÂ
Location: Sea Point
Average Cost For a Meal: R160 – 485 ($8 – 26 USD)
Address: 277 Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8005
Grand Pavilion is another stunning restaurant in Sea Point. They have a set menu and a la carte option, depending on what you’re looking for.
They’re located just beside La Perla so you have an incredible sea view from the restaurant!
Their a la carte options are definitely affordable and if you’re willing to splash out a little more for a special night, they also have a set menu that’s R510 ($27 USD) for a starter, main and dessert or another set menu that’s R650 ($35 USD) for the three courses as well.
They serve a lot of meat and fish (surf & turf) but also have vegan and veggie options available (in the set menu and a la carte!) which I love to see.
3. The LawnsÂ
Location: Camps Bay
Average Cost For a Meal: R105 – 470 ($6 – 25 USD)
Address: Round House Rd, Camps Bay, Cape Town, 8005
I first visited The Lawns sometime in 2022 and had a great experience!
It’s definitely up there for the best affordable restaurant in Cape Town with a view. It’s a great spot if you’re with a group of people and everyone wants different food because there’s a little bit of everything there.
From soups and salads to nachos, charcuterie boards, burgers, pastas, sushi and pizza, you really can’t go wrong!Â
They have a couple of vegan options and I had the vegan burger when I was last there. I won’t lie, it wasn’t a super memorable burger, but it was good, and the view was absolutely incredible.
You’re above Camps Bay and can see parts of Clifton as well!
4. Tiger’s MilkÂ
Location: Camps Bay (there are a couple of other locations around Cape Town)
Average Cost For a Meal: R 90 – 425 ($5 – 23 USD)
Address: 33 Victoria Rd, Camps Bay, Cape Town, 8005
Tiger’s Milk is a chain in South Africa with many locations but the best one is on the main strip in Camps Bay!
You’ll have a pristine view of the beach from the restaurant and there are two floors so there’s plenty of space to sit down and make the most of the view.
The price range really varies depending on the type of food you’re feeling like and similarly to The Lawns, there’s a bit of everything so you have a lot of choice.
They serve gyros, tex-mex, nachos, burgers, seafood, steak, pizzas and more.
Tiger’s Milk has a good amount of vegetarian options but only one or two vegan options. They’re clearly marked on the menu.
I had a basic pizza when I was last at Tiger’s Milk, and it was alright! I think there are better food options with a view in Cape Town but if you’re in Camps Bay and want to find a quick place to go, Tiger’s Milk is a good option.
5. ShoreditchÂ
Location: Sea Point
Average Cost For a Meal: R170 – 305 ($9 – 16 USD)
Address: 221 Beach Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060
Shoreditch is part of the Winchester Boutique Hotel in Sea Point.
Like most restaurants in Sea Point, it has a spectacular view and is also pretty affordable!
They serve many options of sharing plates and also serve seafood, chicken, steaks, risotto and more.
I’ve yet to visit personally, however, it comes highly recommended by a local friend who loved her experience there!
They don’t seem to have many vegetarian options and have a couple of sides that are vegan.
6. Gigi RooftopÂ
Location: Cape Town City Centre
Average Cost For a Meal: R150 – 350 ($8 – 19 USD)
Address: 118 St Georges Mall, Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town, 8000
Surprisingly, Cape Town doesn’t have many rooftop restaurants (which is truly a shame). However, Gigi Rooftop is one of the best in the city!
It’s part of the Gorgeous George Hotel so when you get there, you have to go up the elevator to the rooftop. You typically need a reservation to get in so make sure you book that ahead of time.
The inside of the restaurant has a cool vibe to it but I’d try to get a reservation on their terrace if you can.
It’s a small outdoor section but has some cool city views and is beautifully decorated with lots of plants!
On weekends, the terrace sometimes turns into a party with a DJ which can also be a lot of fun if that’s what you’re going for.
Food-wise, it’s primarily a surf and turf spot with a couple of pasta dishes and a few vegetarian and vegan dishes combined.
7. The BungalowÂ
Location: Clifton
Average Cost For a Meal: R195 – 475 ($10 – 25 USD)
Address: Glen Country Club, 3 Victoria Rd, Clifton, Cape Town, 8005
If you’re going for views alone, this is possibly the best affordable restaurant in Cape Town with INSANE views!
They claim to serve Mediterranean-style food, although it’s a big mix with seafood, steak, burgers, pasta and a sushi bar as well!Â
There aren’t many vegetarian or vegan options so you might struggle with this place if you fall under that category. However, it could be worthwhile to head there for a drink!
They have stylish decor, a beautiful open space to eat outdoors and of course, the view is killer. You’ll see the 12 Apostles ahead of you and Lion’s Head behind you so it’s hard to be disappointed!
8. Black MarlinÂ
Location: Simon’s Town
Average Cost For a Meal: R115 – 495 ($6 – 26 USD)
Address: Millers Point, Simon’s Town, Cape Town, 7975
Black Marlin is another local recommendation that looks unreal. While it isn’t exactly in Cape Town, it’s about 30 minutes out of the city and definitely worth a visit!
Like the rest of the restaurants on this list, they have a range of surf and turf options and a couple of pasta dishes. Where they differ is with some curry options, as well as an entire ‘Flexitarian’ section with vegetarian and vegan options.
They have a large outdoor patio with plenty of seating and gorgeous, unobstructed views of a scenic coastline! If you’re planning a visit to Cape Point, I’d highly recommend stopping here on the way there or back.
9. UtopiaÂ
Location: De Waterkant
Average Cost For a Meal: R 125 – 695 ($6 – 37 USD)
Address: 15th floor, 40 Chiappini St, De Waterkant, Cape Town, 8001
Saving the best for last, we have Utopia!
Utopia definitely has a fine dining feel to it and has a smart casual dress code.Â
It’s a popular spot so you usually won’t be able to lock in a reservation the day of. I’d try booking at least a couple of days prior to ensure you get a spot!
It’s important to note that when you make a booking, they’ll ask to take a booking fee (I believe it was about R200 per person) that is deducted from the final bill at the end of the night.
They usually have a set tasting menu, however, at the time of writing this post (March 2025), they don’t have it available and it’s only a la carte. Keep an eye on their website if you want to do the tasting menu because I’ve done that in the past and it was an amazing experience.
The food itself is mostly seafood or beef, however, they have two vegan mains and the food all tastes amazing!
I almost forgot the best part – they have a massive terrace that overlooks all of Cape Town so you can see Table Mountain, Lion’s Head and beyond. It’s a beautiful spot that has a fun vibe to it.
Beachfront Restaurants Cape Town
If you’re solely interested in beachfront restaurants, here are a few others you’re bound to love!Â
- Ohana Cafe: Slightly outside of Cape Town, you’ll find this stunning cafe in Kalk Bay! It has a warm atmosphere with a beachside deck, perfect for a hot summer day.
- Harbour House V&A Waterfront: While it isn’t exactly on the beach, you’ll have waterfront views while enjoying an elegant dining experience!
- Blowfish Restaurant: With panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and Table Bay, you won’t want to miss this one, especially if you love fresh seafood!
- PIER Restaurant: Another waterfront fave, this one is for those looking for a fine-dining experience with ocean-inspired dishes.
- Quay Four Tavern: Sitting on the harbour’s edge, you’ll find a relaxing spot with a wide range of dishes to choose from!
- Wiloughby & Co: After Asian food? This Japenese fusion restaurant offers fresh sushi, tempura and more!
Other Cape Town Blogs You Might Enjoy
- Can you drink the tap water in Cape Town? A detailed guide
- Find the best places to stay during your time in Cape Town
- 5 laptop friendly cafes in Cape Town you can work from
- 13 incredible places to watch the sunset in Cape Town
- Safety tips you NEED to know before you get to South Africa
I’ll be back shortly with another blog but in the meantime, you can connect with me on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube!
Cheers,
Amy xx
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