Where to Eat in Pinelands: The Best Restaurants and Bars

October 14, 2017 Jacquiline Delozier

Discover the best restaurant in Pinelands, South Africa including Magica Roma, Cargill's, Myoga, The Test Kitchen, The Pot Luck Club, Cafe Ganesh, The Gardeners Cottage Restaurant & Coffee Shop, Obz Cafe, Starlings Cafe, Mama Roma
Things to do in Pinelands

1. Magica Roma

8 Central Square, Pinelands 7405, South Africa Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Italian, Pizza, Mediterranean, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +27 21 531 1489
Excellent
63%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 352 reviews

Magica Roma

Reviewed By Jelswiss - Chateau-d'Oex, Switzerland

As always fabulous, never a disappointment food service atmosphere are perfect ! Have been going for years now and just had another wonderful experience Etzio is the perfect front of house and owner with Franco in the kitchen. Wine list is excellent always a pleasure to visit and dine in this splendid restaurant in such a funny location,can't wait to go back! Quality is
kept up to scratch.

2. Cargill's

20 Station Road, Rondebosch, South Africa Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol French, European, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Dinner +27 21 689 2666
Excellent
84%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 113 reviews

Cargill's

Reviewed By recordable - Clitheroe, United Kingdom

I visit this small restaurant every time I'm in CapeTown and it maintains a high standard for food,service and wine.The food is simply cooked and presented with few 'cheffy' frills but is of a consistently high quality and is wel worth seeking out in Rondebosch.
Service has always been good with a perfect balance between efficiency and friendliness and there seems to be a high proportion of local,return customers.The chef/owner is very personable and usually appears front of house to check that customers are happy and he is a great source of knowledge on wine and always prepared to give advice.
If you are looking for a top fine dining venue then this may not be for you but this place beats the hell out of many central Cape Town/V and A restaurants and is orth searching out especially perhaps for couples or others who prefer a more intimate setting.

3. Myoga

60 Colinton Road, Newlands 7700, South Africa Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Digital Payments, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards International, Fusion, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Drinks HK$63 - HK$157 +27 21 657 4545
Excellent
72%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 845 reviews

Myoga

Set in the gracious grounds of the Vineyard Hotel, Newlands Cape Town, Myoga has a very relaxed, engaging atmosphere, where diners are encouraged to feel at home & offers a contemporary fusion cuisine menu which entices the mind, excites the eye and tantalises the taste buds to new extremes. It is what Chef Mike Bassett calls " the four corners menu" Try the famous eight course tasting menu with a wide variety of choices, you won't be disappointed.

Reviewed By AlD134634 - Fleet, United Kingdom

Mike Bassett you and your team continue to excel to make diner a memorable occasion!
We chose the seven course tasting menu with wine parings as were deliberately staying at the Vineyard Hotel next door. With four choices for each individual course its a tough pick what to eat. Luckily my wife chose different dishes so I got to sample a few more than my seven..... heaven.
Based on my taste buds the best picks were, Scotch Egg, Mexican Bowl, Cannelloni, Grilled Ostrich,Chocolate Parfait - two pallet cleansers to add.
This was a great experience again. We always treat ourselves to one visit to this fantastic restaurant each year we visit Cape Town this was yet again a special night.
Many thanks Mike.
The wine parings are an added cost but add to the experience. For me the outstanding wine was the Domain Chardonnay ( Hemel en Aarde)
Apart from the food you need to see the wonderful views across the garden to Table Mountain from the Newlands side - it make the experience more memorable looking up at the iconic mountain!

4. The Test Kitchen

375 Albert Road | Shop 104 A / The Old Biscuit Mill, Woodstock 7925, South Africa Free Wifi, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Contemporary, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Dinner +27 21 447 2337
Excellent
82%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1 reviews

The Test Kitchen

Reviewed By k3bab - England

Booking process needs changing. They release bookings once every few months, 3 months ahead at 8AM South African time. Travelling from the UK, I tried to secure a booking within 2 hours of them releasing an allocation to no avail. It was completely booked out.
How about - release them gradually, giving people a better chance to book. This is a restaurant, not an Apple store, not everyone wants to camp out overnight to be first in line to be relieved of their cash, before the proprietor runs out of stock, or in this case, booking allocations.
Website says, e-mail for lunch Reservations. Upon e-mailing you get an auto responder saying bookings over e-mail will not be accepted.
A restaurant is not just about food, it is about the overall experience, and if you can't even get a table, the experience sucks right from the outset.

5. The Pot Luck Club

373-375 Albert Road | The Silo, The Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town Central 7925, South Africa Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar International, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +27 21 447 0804
Excellent
75%
Good
16%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

The Pot Luck Club

Reviewed By smaatje - Maastricht, The Netherlands

We went here for a 'goodbye dinner' after three months of cape Town. What was supposed to be the best dinner of our time in South Africa turned out to be a rather overpriced and underperforming dinner.
There is nothing 'wrong' with the dishes, but for a restaurant that pretends to be the best of CT and charges prices to back that up, the food lacks balance and variety. Instead of focusing on the food and the absolute flavor they seem to go for 'trendy and hip'. I don't see why a highly priced bite-sized dish comes in a paper wrap and cardboard box, unless this adds something to the flavor (which it doesn't).
The food is comparable to places that charge much less and worse to places that charge similar prices.
To me it feels this place has hit its peak a while ago and now is riding on their reputation, instead of building a new one.
There is not one dish that stood out. If I had to choose it would be the beef fillet, but even that is nothing special.
Service is ok, waiters seem to have memorized the dishes but are clearly not passionate about the food and lack the ability to really explain the Delicacy or complexity of a dish.
If they would charge 1/5th of the price they would have gotten five stars. But for a restaurant that claims to be the best there is a lot that needs to be improved.

Note: I've been in cape Town over 15 months and have visited dozens of restaurants.

6. Cafe Ganesh

38 B Trill Road, Woodstock 7925, South Africa Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol African, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +27 21 448 3435
Excellent
39%
Good
54%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 53 reviews

Cafe Ganesh

Reviewed By Carel V

My wife and I were looking for something different and this certainly fits into that category. It looks a little scruffy, especially from the outside but it has a lot of character. The food was really great. I had umngqusho (lamb shank with samp) and my wife had the vegetable rootie. Really delicious and very affordable.

7. The Gardeners Cottage Restaurant & Coffee Shop

31 Newlands Avenue, Newlands 7700, South Africa Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol Cafe, Vegetarian Friendly, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch +27 21 689 3158
Excellent
46%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 165 reviews

The Gardeners Cottage Restaurant & Coffee Shop

Reviewed By TamJean

Took friends there for my birthday in December and lovely/ consistent experience. Food fabulous and service efficient and friendly.
Poached eggs with spinach and salmon out of this world!
Then returned in January.
Croissants an absolute must to order! Accommodating towards my kids requests/ food needs, and delicious array of options.
Chili sauce (homemade) HOT but a nice accompaniment to my sweet corn fritters.
Ten happy people left full and satisfied.
Fabulous / relaxing setting, great service and friendly staff.

8. Obz Cafe

115 Lower Main Road | Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Takeout Bar, Pizza, Cafe, Mediterranean, Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +27 21 448 5555
Excellent
37%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 106 reviews

Obz Cafe

Upbeat and urban, the new Obz Cafe restaurant is situated in the heart of Observatory. So come for a visit, sit down, enjoy the friendly vibe and great food and become part of the Obz Cafe family.

Reviewed By Marguerite W - Cape Town Central, South Africa

Came here for an early evening meal with some friends. Very pleasantly surprised. Plenty to choose from on the menu; comprehensive drinks menu including some interesting looking cocktails. Attentive staff. Served promptly. Food was good too. Would definitely go back.

9. Starlings Cafe

94 Belvedere Road, Claremont, South Africa Parking Available, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Waitstaff, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi Cafe, Healthy, Vegetarian Friendly, Vegan Options, Gluten Free Options Breakfast, Lunch, Brunch +27 21 671 6875
Excellent
64%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 220 reviews

Starlings Cafe

Reviewed By gibbhelps - Cape Town, South Africa

Two of us went for breakfast it opens at 7.00 AM. We sat in the garden on a perfect sunny day. Pros: Well spaced tables under trees, Mint water on tap, food delivered promptly & was excellent. 2 glasses of a nice orange & pineapple...MoreThank you for joining us at Starlings. We are ghappy you enjoyed your time with us. We do apologize for the communication around the reservation. Our food is carefully sourced and prepared from scratch and is priced accordingly. Thanks

10. Mama Roma

5 Dean Street, Newlands 7700, South Africa Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Waitstaff, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar Italian, Mediterranean, Vegetarian Friendly Lunch, Dinner, Late Night +27 21 685 2051
Excellent
54%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 156 reviews

Mama Roma

Reviewed By Jingels_SA - Cape Town Central, South Africa

We have been meaning to go to this restaurant for a while now - having heard that it's an institution in Cape Town.
No one mentioned it was an old aged institution though. By my reckoning the average age was 70+. That said they were all dressed up and clearly most of them were regulars and that is always a good sign.
Agree with another review that the service is frantic, however the food was excellent. Expensive, but worth it. They really nailed a few dishes. Nice sized portions and exceptional vegetable sides that come standard.
Joke aside - we will definitely go again.
Ask to be seated inside, otherwise you are in the drab Dean Street Mall which is not great.

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