South Africa’s braai culture isn’t limited to backyard get-togethers. From family restaurants to fine-dining establishments, Cape Town and the surrounds offer plenty of eateries that focus on open-fire cooking, gourmet cuts, and real SA flavour.

Here are our picks for the top braai & grill restaurants in and around the Mother City.

VUUR

VUUR is one of the latest additions to Cape Town’s catalogue of world-class restaurants, recently receiving Two Stars in the 2026 Eat Out Awards and ranking No. 52 on the World’s Top 101 Steakhouses list. Opening in 2022, VUUR’s menu is sparked by a deep passion for cooking with fire.

Chef Shaun Scrooby and his team have explored a wide range of open-flame techniques, weaving them into a carefully curated seven-course menu. The menu changes week by week, and each dish is paired with wines from Remhoogte Wine Estate, creating a seasonal food-and-drink journey that brings something new with every visit. The standard tasting menu includes two snacks, two starters, two mains and a dessert.

The Winelands setting on Goose Island adds to the ambience, with guests dining on luxurious dishes while surrounded by a scenic wildlife reserve.

Bookings can be made online.

Cost: From R2150 per person (shared table) | R2650 per person (private dining).

When: Tuesday to Saturday, from 1pm (the restaurant opens for lunch only)
Where: VUUR, Remhoogte Wine Estate, R44, Stellenbosch

Briquette

Doing away with the frills of traditional fine-dining, Briquette invites diners, whether it’s for a first date or a weekend dinner with Ouma, to enjoy coal-cooked meals on big tables. The menu blends Afrikaans dishes and Cape Malay staples, including geelvet biltong, braaibroodjies, T-bone steaks, Bo-Kaap green masala chicken sosaties, boerewors, and more. Sides include fire-cooked vegetable platters and boerpampoen steaks, while desserts include malva pudding and Basque milk tart.

With rooftop seating overlooking Cape Town and professionally prepared dishes, Briquette has a flawless five-star rating on Google. Book via Dineplan.

When: Tuesday – Saturday | 6pm – 11pm
Where: BlackBrick Gardens Hotel (6th Floor), 2 Roodehek Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Mzoli’s

Built on a legacy of great meat and lively atmosphere in the heart of Gugulethu, Mzoli’s has reopened in Gardens to deliver diners an authentic shisanyama experience in an all-new location. Almost two decades after receiving rave reviews from Jamie Oliver, the spot still serves real braai meat, sausage, and pap while DJs keep the party going late into the night. More than a restaurant, it’s a truly South African dining adventure.

After Ta Mzoli’s unfortunate passing in 2026, the new Gardens restaurant continues the local legend’s legacy of good food and great vibes.

When: Monday – Sunday | Kitchen closes at 10pm
Where: Dunkley Square, 15 Barnet Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Die Strandloper

Real West Coast food prepared by real West Coast people, Die Strandloper is a beachside seafood spot that uses crackling open fires and locally sourced ingredients. Guests enjoy a ten-course meal of coastal flavours while listening to live music, sipping ice-cold drinks, and watching the waves crash on the white sand. The food is high-quality, while the atmosphere is more casual: shorts, T-shirts, barefoot, and sandals are encouraged.

The menu includes mussel pots, fish curry, freshly baked breads, delicious jams, roosterkoek, sweet potato, and more Weskus favourites. The hot drinks are also limited to local flavours like rooibos and moerkoffie. The restaurant becomes extremely busy over the summer months, so guests are encouraged to book in advance (up to six months).

Cost: From R440 per person. Book online.

When: Monday – Sunday | From 12pm (lunch) | 6pm – 10.30pm (dinner)
Where: Jan Olfsen St, Leentjiesklip, Langebaan

Gogi

Fans of Korean BBQ can go to Gogi for their fix of fried chicken, kimbap, and other spicy specialities. Guests can get fried dumplings, a variety of mains, and the classic pork and beef BBQ sets. Each set comes with banchan, lettuce and rice for wrapping the meat of choice, alongside unlimited sides like kimchi, pickled radish, chillies, and ssamjang.

The Newlands location has the regular Gogi staples, while the Observatory spot has a halal-friendly menu. Drinks include Korean staples like unusual teas, ssanghwacha, and coffee. Reviews praise the traditional cuisine, making it one of the most authentic Korean dining experiences in the city.

Bookings can be made by calling 021 891 2222.

When: Monday – Sunday | 12pm – 9pm (Tue – Thu, Sun) | 12pm – 11pm (Fri & Sat)
Where: 1 Dean Street, Newlands, Cape Town | St Peter’s Square, 1st floor, 423 Main Road, Observatory

BURI

The latest trendy fast-food spot to open in the Mother City, Buri prides itself on making “proper boerewors rolls” with quality ingredients while offering a little social space to enjoy them off the street. The buns are homemade, the wors is charcoal-grilled, and the sauces aren’t watered down.

The menu includes a few boerewors options, plus chips, onion rings, and even mini doughnuts for a sweet finish. Most surprising is likely the drinks menu, with soft drinks, kombucha, gin and tonic, beer, and Fontein wines. All boerewors can be ordered pork-free. Buri is also easily accessible, available Monday through Saturday from the morning until 9pm. More information is available on the website and Instagram.

Buri is the new offering from the Belly Restaurant Group, owners of the luxury fine-dining restaurants Seebamboes, Belly of the Beast, and Galjoen, marking their first foray into affordable takeaway dining.

When: Monday – Saturday | 10am – 9pm
Where: 99 Harrington St, East City, Cape Town City Centre

Kronendal 1713

A self-proclaimed “braai bar”, Kronendal was designed and built in Dublin, Ireland, before being shipped across the world to Hout Bay. Food is cooked on an open-air braai, with classic African-inspired grilled meats and fresh oysters. Drinks include 32 beers from five different countries, making it a must-visit for beer enthusiasts in the Mother City.

Live music runs throughout the week, with DJs and special events adding to the vibrant ambience at Kronendal. Each room has its own unique character, with a special terrace and beer garden that give the space a special atmosphere. It’s not just an Irish-themed bar; it’s an authentic Irish pub in the heart of Cape Town.

Book a table on Dineplan.

When: Tuesday – Sunday | 12pm – 9pm (Tue, Wed & Sun) | 12pm – 10pm (Thu) | 12pm – 11pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: 140 Main Rd, Hout Bay, Cape Town

Zest

On the second floor of a luxury boutique hotel overlooking Sea Point, Zest offers panoramic views and a Kameeldoring wood-fired grill menu that favours simplicity. Led by experienced chef Pavel Dimitrov, guests come for premium meats and fresh seafood, available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Wood-fired salmon, calamari, Wagyu beef, grilled springbok, and lobster are some regular favourites, while the extensive cocktail and wine list includes sought-after local labels and international imports. For a sunset dinner overlooking the restless Atlantic Ocean, Zest is a luxurious option for Cape Town’s meat-loving foodies.

Book now via Dineplan.

When: Monday – Sunday | 7.30am – 11pm | 7.30am – 5pm (Sun)
Where: NewKings Boutique Hotel, Piazza Da Luz, 94 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town

Hickville

A family-friendly smokehouse just off the N2, Hickville keeps with the traditions of hearty Texan barbecue, with wood fires and blue smoke to create a real meat-lovers’ experience. The mains include burgers, brisket, eisbein, ribs, ‘Texas links’ (sausages), tacos, nachos, and more. Kids get their own menu, and vegans have their own chickpea and mushroom burger, with a vegan alternative also available.

Set in the picturesque Elgin Valley between Grabouw and Bot River, Hickville is a fun, affordable day out for the whole family, especially on sunny days.

When: Wednesday – Sunday | 10am – 4pm (Wed – Fri) | 9am – 5pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: N2, between Grabouw & Bot River, past Paul Cluver Wines, Cape Town

ROOI

The latest restaurant added to the One&Only Hotel’s repertoire, ROOI is a grill room in Cape Town that aims to redefine traditional dining experiences by celebrating diverse South African influences, from the menu to the décor.

The team at ROOI reimagines the idea of braai with a gourmet touch, bringing land and sea to your plate. In South Africa, braai (or barbeque) is a much-loved communal gathering where friends and family enjoy a meal cooked over hot coals or wood, accompanied by flowing conversation and drinks in a relaxed atmosphere.

Dishes are anchored in sustainably sourced cuts and ingredients from local suppliers. Guests can indulge in a selection of steaks, including South African Wagyu and Prime Beef steaks, and ‘ROOI Selects’ such as Aged Mutton, Kalahari Venison, and Masala Spiced Kingklip. The seafood offering on the menu is highlighted by flame-grilled South Coast Rock Lobster and tuna. To end, try classic South African desserts such as pampoen kaaskoek (pumpkin cheesecake) and Malva pudding.

The Tasting Table and Wine Loft provide an immersive wine experience, showcasing a carefully curated list featuring boutique vineyards and lesser-known wine farms, with knowledgeable wine stewards available to guide tastings and suggest pairings for each meal.

Bookings can be made via Dineplan.

When: Monday – Sunday | 6.30am – 11am (breakfast) | 6.30pm – 11pm (dinner)
Where: ROOI, One & Only Cape Town, Dock Rd, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town

Fyre Dining

Found just outside Paarl, Fyre Dining at Olijvenkraal is a fine-dining restaurant specialising in open-fire cooking. Known for their char-grilled ribeye steak, with other Afrikaans treats like savoury ‘skaapstertjies’ and sweet ‘oepsies’, guests can pair each meal with an Olijvenkraal Shiraz for a signature dinner in the Winelands.

While meaty mains remain the focus, pescetarian, vegan, and vegetarian options are available, along with kiddies’ meals and Afrikaans-style dessert. The full food and wine menu is available online. Fyre features a serene outdoor dining area that’s tailor-made for the summer.

Book now on Dineplan.

When: Wednesday – Sunday | 12pm – 9pm | 12pm – 4pm (Sun)
Where: Olijvenkraal Olive & Wine Estate, just off the R45, Paarl

Maru

A modern Korean-inspired steakhouse, Maru prides itself on its grass-fed, free-range beef raised without hormones or antibiotics. It’s not a traditional Korean BBQ; this contemporary dining spot offers two headline set menus: The Butcher’s Experience of selected Wagyu cuts and By The Bucket, the chef’s signature Korean fried chicken feast.

The sides include spicy, flavourful Korean staples like bibimbap, alongside more familiar treats like Mac & Cheese, waffle fries, and egg soufflé. Drinks are another big focus, with signature cocktails, non-alcoholic sips, lots of champagne, and Soju.

Book a table now via the website.

When: Monday – Sunday | 12pm – 10.30pm
Where: 107 Bree Street, Cape Town City Centre

Muisbosskerm

South Africa’s first open-air seafood restaurant is near Lambert’s Bay on the West Coast, offering guests an al fresco experience above the water. With freshly grilled fish, big buffets, koeksisters, and a seasonally changing menu, Muisbosskerm was recently listed as one of Eat Out’s Neighbourhood Gems for 2026.

When: Monday – Sunday | 8.30am – 5pm (Mon – Fri) | 8.30am – 12pm (Sat & Sun)
Where: R365 (Main Rd), just before Lambert’s Bay, West Coast

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