As you start planning your South Africa travels, you’ll quickly realise you need a guide to Cape Town focused on the city’s fantastic food scene. This coastal hot spot has long been revered as an important wine region, but it’s also home to delicious and unique South African food. Luxury Gold’s gastronomic guide will take you through notable Cape Town restaurants and must-try flavors of “Mother City”. 

Braai 

Among the top things to do in Cape Town is try Braai. Braai, meaning to grill meat over an open flame, is more than barbecue. It’s a way of life and part of South African culture. Braai not only refers to how you cook meat, but the joyful gathering and socializing of family and friends. This tradition is so embedded in South African culture that South African Heritage Day is called “Braai Day.” On Braai Day – or any other day people gather for Braai – you can find a variety of marinated meat cooked over wood or charcoal. Lamb, beef, chicken, pork, springbok, warthog, ostrich, eland, kudu, seafood and steak are all popular. Boerewors, beef and pork sausages seasoned with coriander and nutmeg, are often found on the menu, too. Meat is usually accompanied by fresh salads and desserts.  

Mzoli’s  

One of the top spots to try Braai is Mzoli’s. Part butcher shop, part restaurant, this bustling hot spot outside of the city center is the place to go dine like a local. You’ll find out-of-towners and a diverse crowd of Cape Towners at Mzoli’s. It’s that good. Feast on grilled meat with local South African spiced barbecue sauce. Pair your meats with pap (a South African corn dish similar to grits) and chakalaka (a vegetable succotash), for a complete meal. 

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Seafood at Codfather 

Any gastronomic guide to Cape Town must also highlight its stunning seafood. We’ve heard that Codfather is the place to go for fresh fish, shellfish and sushi. From prawns and oysters to crayfish and calamari, there’s no shortage of seafood options and variety. What makes Codfather unique is that instead of a printed menu, it presents the fresh, daily offerings on a large display counter – like that of your favorite local fishmonger. Staff are eager to guide you through the fresh catches and flavors that you’ll enjoy the most. You choose the exact amount you want for a completely customizable meal.  

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Old Biscuit Mill 

Can’t decide between Braai and seafood? You don’t have to. Cape Town’s many markets invite you to sample local flavors and dishes from upcoming restauranteurs. On Spectacular South Africa you’ll join a Local Expert to visit the trendy The Old Biscuit Mill, a former biscuit factory turned vibrant market and creative hub in the city. In addition to showcasing local photographers, designers, and other artists, Old Biscuit Mill is the ideal spot to sample local fare. Grab a gourmet burger at Redemption Burgers. Try a Taiwan-inspired bao filled with pickled carrots and cucumber, fresh garden herbs, Asian-style dressing and crispy onions at Bao Now. Or, sip a specialty coffee from Espresso Lab Microroasters.  

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Two don’t-miss restaurants in The Old Biscuit Mill are by Luke Dale-Roberts. The Pot Luck Club tempts with shareable plates in taste categories of salty, sour, sweet, umami and bitter. Try the Asian-style beef tartare with Hoisin dressing, coriander pesto and ponzu mayo. Or, sample Pork Penang Belly with coconut and peanut curry with lime pickled onion. At Dale-Roberts’ other restaurant, The Test Kitchen Fledglings, sushi and scallops sit alongside seafood risotto in a warm space with an important ethos. The Test Kitch Fledglings presents people who previously had no access to the hospitality industry to potentially forge a new career. Full-time employees receive a salary while they are upskilled through on-the-job training.  

@thetestkitchenct

The wines  

No gastronomic guide to Cape Town would be complete without shining a spotlight on its wine industry. In fact, 80% of South African wines are produced in Cape Town province. These ideal climate conditions create a variety of wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot and Cabernet within its five main wine regions. Join a winery tour to some of the many estates or personalize your exploration on a historical, hiking or mountain biking tour through the region. 

Our Spectacular South Africa tour guides you to Vergelegen Estate where you’ll sip award-winning wines over a private tasting. Take time to stroll through some of the 18 unique gardens of the manor house and explore the nearby vineyards by bicycle with a guide. 

To top off your experience, you’ll dine at Boschendal Wine Estate’s Werf Restaurant. This award-winning restaurant within the revamped original cellar of the Manor House is renowned for its sustainability and farm-to-table meals. Chef Allistaire Lawrence presents a menu guided by the seasons with local and ethically sourced produce brought to the forefront of each dish.  

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Where else will your South Africa travels take you? 

If you find yourself in beautiful Scotland, dinner at one of the Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh should be on your must-do list. After all, what better way to end a day of sightseeing, whisky tasting and castle touring than dinner at one of Edinburgh’s top fine dining experiences at a Michelin-star restaurant?   

21212  

We begin with Chef Paul Kitching’s 21212 restaurant. Set in a charming Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace, this fine dining hotspot has been delighting diners with contemporary French fare since 2009. 21212 actually refers to the number of dishes per course. Within one of the stylishly decorated rooms – each with a dedicated lounge area – you’ll feast on innovative flavor combinations. In fact, the menus change weekly. At the time of writing, we’re tempted by smoked salmon with pineapple and almonds and a warming soup with potato, chives and garlic. 

@21212edinburgh

Aizle  

Meaning a “glowing hot ember or spark” in Scottish, Aizle is a warm gathering space in the heart of the city. Housed in the Garden Room at The Kimpton Charlotte Square, Aizle showcases an ever-evolving menu of house-made dishes. We’re already impressed by the website that showcases seasonal harvest items. “Autumn Harvest” included a bounty from figs, cherries and artichokes, Lanark blue cheese and North Sea crab. The six-course tasting menu heavily centers around what’s local and in season. And we’ve heard the aged kombucha shouldn’t be missed. 

@aizle_edinburgh

Condita 

Venture just outside of Edinburgh’s city center where the Old Town meets Southside on Sailsbury Place to a converted shop where you’ll find Michelin-starred Condita. Inside, an understated modern space of whitewashed walls decorated with banners over the windows, origami blackbirds perched on branches and a large skylight inviting the afternoon sun welcomes you. This intimate space seats just six tables where diners pour over a surprise five- or eight-course tasting menu of modern dishes. A hand-drawn bookmark calls out some of the key ingredients. But should you have any curiosities about the menu, amicable Chef Conor Toomey is happy to chat. Delight in the seasonal, mostly organic dishes impeccably presented, sometimes arriving on pebbles and wooden spoons. Much of the produce is sourced from a walled kitchen garden in Borders. Organic wines complement the meal and malt whiskies finish the occasion. 

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The Glenturret Lalique   

Self-described as “an exclusive jewel-box dining room,” the Glenturret Lalique restaurant offers an intimate dining experience within a glass-walled room overlooking distilleries and the River Turret. Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh all offer something unique, and this cozy spot’s six tables sit beneath two five-tier Lalique chandeliers. The cosmopolitan, multi-course tasting menu is a decadent experience.  Start with sea buckthorn, liver and cocoa. Feast on the main course including Highland Wagyu, barbeque eggplant and morel. Finish with crème fraîche sherbet, raspberry and woodruff. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available from Chef Mark Donald. Donald started at Noma in Copenhagen before returning to Scotland and later working at Number One restaurant, where he secured a Michelin star before joining Glenturret in 2021.  

@theglenturretlalique

Martin Wishart 

In the port of Leith, Edinburgh, restaurant Martin Wishart has been impressing diners and critics since 1999. The seasonal menu harmonizes Scottish and French brasserie cuisine. In addition, the chef also prepares a six-course tasting menu each evening. You’ll even find a vegetarian, vegan and extensive seafood menu of locally sourced fish and shellfish. From a business lunch to an elegant evening out, the variety at Martin Wishart impresses a range of patrons. The staff are eager to provide wine pairings as well.  

At the heart of the experience is Martin Wishart himself, an Edinburgh-born chef who trained under such renowned chefs as Albert Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Marco Pierre White and John Burton-Race. Wishart has worked in the kitchen since he was 15 and employs classic French cooking techniques to his locally sourced meals. The restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2001 and has been voted The Sunday Times 5th best restaurant in the UK. 

@martin_wishart

Number One 

Among Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh, Number One is one of the top-ranking restaurants in the city. Located in the basement of the Balmoral hotel, find a dining room elegantly decorated with red-lacquered walls lined with contemporary art of large triptych prints and upholstered banquettes. The romantic, luxury ambiance is the perfect setting to linger over the seven-course menu. Scottish dishes featuring seasonal produce with international flair are the result of Chef Mathew Sherry’s innovations and expertise. A sample menu may take you from canapes and caviar to Goosnargh duck to artisan cheese.  

@numberoneedin

With so many options, enhance your time in the beautiful Scottish capital by dining in one of the many Michelin-star restaurants.

Still curious about Michelin dining? Learn what to expect when fining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Or, explore the 10 most beautiful villages and small towns in Britain and Ireland. 

With the holiday season getting underway, you may well be thinking about the best champagnes to accompany your celebrations. The doyenne of festive drinks, fizzy and light, champagne is synonymous with the generous indulgence of the holiday season.

Don’t be lulled into thinking festive fizz is just an aperitif. The best bubbles can provide the perfect backdrop for a wide range of dishes. Whether you are looking for a champagne to sip solo, toast your friends, or to pair with dessert, here are nine that are guaranteed to delight.

Dom Pérignon: Brut Vintage 2012

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The original: “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” — Dom Pérignon famously said upon discovering champagne. And it doesn’t get more luxurious than this. Perhaps the most famous Champagne in the world, this festive drink is one to be treasured and enjoyed on the most special of occasions.

Each vintage is a creation, singular and unique, and expresses both the character of the year, and the character of Dom Pérignon. The most recent release is the 2012 vintage (£220/$250), described as having a unique structure, channeled by acidity and bitterness that burst forth magnificently. The finish is marked by ginger, tobacco and toasted accents.

 Laurent-Perrier: Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature

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Delicious with seafood: Whatever you serve at the festive dinner table, salmon, oysters and other seafood make for a decadent treat. Fresh and light, the forte of a Blanc de Blancs is that it can be used widely and served as more than an aperitif.  For the best bubbles, try Laurent-Perrier’s dry and intensely fruity Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature (£80/$100). It’s simply divine with oysters.

Related content: The Luxury Gold festive gift guide for the travel lover in your life

Pol Roger: Sir Winston Churchill 2013

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A real treat with cheese: Cheese and champagne may be debated, but for many it is a match made in heaven. For a truly decadent treat choose a Pol Roger, one of the world’s finest Champagnes. The drink’s crisp acidity and fluffy mouse is said to lighten the fattiness of the cheeses, without overpowering them aromatically. Hard mature cheeses deserve a powerful cuvée, so go all out for a bottle of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2013 (£380/$460).

Drappier: Carte d’Or

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A more affordable cheese accompaniment: Renowned for its versatility, Drappier’s Carte d’Or (£55/$65) is another of the best Champagnes to pair with cheese. It offers a distinctive flavor with aromatic notes such as peaches, almonds, or orange peels. According to its makers, the original yellow tone of Carte d’Or stems from the quince, often used with a cheese board. Old Comté and Chaource make the perfect companions to Carte d’Or, and the perfect way to celebrate the holidays.

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Piper Heidseck: Sublime Demi-Sec NV

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Perfect with dessert: Matching dessert and Champagne is where your need to exercise caution, as most are too dry for truly sweet dishes. One of the best Champagnes is Piper-Heidsieck’s long-aged Sublime Demi-Sec NV (£55/$65). Generous with glorious burned-sugar aromatics, it is recommended to be served with a burnt crème brûlée.

Krug: Grande Cuvée Brut

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To raise a toast: For a toast to the season, or simply enjoyed for what it is, the Krug Grande Cuvée Brut (£180/$220) deserves to be appreciated entirely on its own. A glorious full-bodied Champagne, made with a blend of nearly 200 wines, it is perfect for those who prefer bubbles with a rounder flavor profile. It is rich with stone fruit and citrus, with just an edge of spice and hint of chocolate. In the words of Krug, enjoy craftsmanship without compromise. Pleasure beyond perfection. One of the world’s best champagnes.

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Pol Roger: Brut Réserve

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For the sunshine: Perfect anywhere, especially if you are spending the holiday season in the sunshine. This champagne smells of wildflowers, green apples, croissants and mineral touches. It tastes of peach, hazelnuts and honey, supporting the freshness of acidity. One of the best bubbles, try the stylish Brut Reserve (£180/$220).

Henri Giraud: Dame Jane Rosé

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Best of the Rosé: Rosé Champagne offers a wealth of versatility in terms of food pairing. Yet it is traditionally the most misunderstood of Champagne’s styles. The pink color encourages sweet, romantic connotations rather than vinous and gastronomic ones, however, there is so much to explore. Bursting with power and character, Henri Giraud’s sandstone-amphorae-fermented Dame-Jane Rosé NV (£65/$80) matches impeccably with charcuterie and roasted root vegetables.

Möet & Chandon: Brut Imperial

Best magnum for big gatherings: If your holiday season means big family gatherings, a magnum is perfect for furnishing loved ones with festive drinks. And Möet & Chandon Brut Imperial is one of the best champagnes you can offer. Described as having vibrant notes of apple and citrus fruits, accompanied by aromas of brioche and fresh nuts, typical of the aging process. On the palate, it is generous and subtle.

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