Where Locals Dine: The Best Restaurants in Cape Town With A View

The best restaurants in Cape Town with a view are located at the V&A Waterfront. Diners can choose between harbour and Table Mountain views, both available within a five-minute walk. Here's our trusted shortlist

PIER, awarded 3-Stars in the 2026 Eat Out Awards and named Africa's Best Restaurant at the 2023 World Culinary Awards. It sits right on the water's edge, with a seafood-forward, multi-course tasting menu led by chef John Norris-Rogers against a backdrop of tugboats and yachts. Each course arrives on ceramics shaped like coral, shells and sea urchins. Book online in advance, as PIER requires a deposit to secure the table. Open daily for lunch and dinner; vegetarian-friendly and gluten-free requests accommodated with notice.

Praised for its lively vibe, harbour views, and fair pricing, La Parada's Spanish-inspired sharing plates carry a distinct African soul, making it the ideal destination for those who want to linger over cocktails rather than rush through courses. Exposed brick walls, vintage bullfighting posters and mismatched bentwood chairs give the room the warmth of a well-loved tapas bar. Open daily for brunch, lunch and dinner; vegetarian-friendly with gluten-free options.

Sevruga's Asian-fusion menu comes with window tables looking straight over the marina: an extensive seafood selection, oysters, langoustine and crayfish platters, and sushi, paired with a well-curated wine list built for lingering rather than rushing. Vegetarian and vegan options are available but limited, and gluten-free requests can be accommodated. Open daily for lunch and dinner.

Upstairs @ Quay Four is the slower-paced version of Quay 4 Tavern below, keeping things simple with à la carte dining and water views. Downstairs, the Tavern serves heartier pub fare, fresh seafood and award-winning beers, with an outdoor terrace on the same boats-and-seals backdrop. Upstairs is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; the Tavern is open for lunch and dinner; both offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free choices.

COY sits at the water's edge with Table Mountain filling the frame, its seven-course menu built around fresh, local ingredients like mussels with fennel and chargrilled squid; vegetarian and vegan menus are available on 24 hours' notice.

Bascule Bar & Lounge at the Cape Grace pairs cocktails and a simple food menu with the same Table Mountain backdrop, while Baia's dining room looks out across the harbour to the mountain beyond. TANG, an award-winning Asian restaurant and bar, takes a different route, serving Japanese izakaya and Cantonese-style dishes in a room designed to keep the mountain as the focal point. Belthazar pours from one of the largest wine-by-the-glass bars globally, providing an impressive selection of over 200 wines available by the glass, with all-weather outdoor seating putting both the mountain and the harbour in view.

Den Anker remains the easiest choice for an occasion with a view and is especially romantic for dinner with twinkling harbour views. Try the mussels, steak frites, and beer-tasting spread for an authentic Belgian experience. For an occasion worth planning around, COY and PIER are priced for a celebration rather than an everyday meal. City Grill Steakhouse sits in between: a proper steak dinner with Table Mountain in view, with a special feel on a weeknight budget.

Whichever direction you're facing, water or mountain, the view comes standard. All that's left is deciding what to dig into.