It’s the event that sport-lovers have been waiting for. The Rugby World Cup is upon us and it’s time to start lighting the braais, booking your spot at the bar or, if you’re like us, hunting down the best restaurant, wine bar or tapas eatery to snack on good food while watching our boys in green and gold get stuck into the rucks. Don your Springbok jersey; we have you covered for your rugby-watching outings with these sport-friendly eateries and bars with great food. The opening ceremony commences at 7pm on Friday, 18 September, and the match between England and Fiji kicks off at 9pm. Book your table and sip, chew, engage.

• Johannesburg
• Pretoria
• Durban
• Cape Town
• Winelands

Johannesburg

Craft (Parkhurst)
A crowd-pleaser situated in trendy Parkhurst, this eatery offers a range of craft beers, an impressive wine list and a casual eating atmosphere. Rugby and food fans can savour a free-range chicken wood-fired pizza, a gourmet lamb burger or a pulled pork open sandwich while watching the live games. TVs will be located in both the bar and the dining area.

Craft in Parkhurst. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Steamworks Gastropub (Fourways)
This popular steampunk-themed spot is certainly prepared for the World Cup festivities. Hungry rugby-watchers can enjoy the delicious gourmet burger or prego roll and craft beer special for R100. To add to the gees, all of the rugby games will be projected on a big screen.

The bar at The Steamworks Gastropub. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The National Eatery (Parktown North)
Parktown North’s new speakeasy will be getting in on the rugby action, screening all the games. The trendy bar section offers a wide range of wines as well as great options by the glass. The menu will keep peckish fans happy with a comforting bowl of paella or a char-grilled grass-fed rump and, of course, a range of smoked dishes like the bourbon-glazed pulled pork or smoky mac and cheese. Sibling restaurant Coobs will also be broadcasting the games.

The Wolfpack (Sandton and Parkhurst)
These Joburg hotspots are ready to host local rugby fans and foodies alike and will be screening the matches at both venues. A Game Time burger menu will be on offer with the 10 delicious burger dedicated to the top 10 seeded teams. Some of the burger options include: The Bokke with boerie pattie and sous, the Pommy with beer battered hake and tartar sauce and the Frenchie with chicken, brie cheese and grape and thyme salsa.

The Wolfpack. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Pretoria

Baraćas Wine & Beer Bar (Groenkloof)
Situated in the heart of Pretoria, this buzzing wine and beer destination makes for the perfect place to perch for the World Cup. Boasting an authentic yet trendy European pub feel, the offerings include a wide array of craft beers and a great wine selection. The sophisticated bar sports big screens for all sporting events which means you won’t miss out on the rugby action. For the foodies, there is a stylish pub grub menu serving scrumptious goodies such as cheese platters and exciting create-your-own baskets with spicy tuna balls, olives, halloumi and chorizo.

Papa’s Real Food (Hatfield)
This eclectic eatery situated in Duncan Yard boasts charming courtyard and indoor dining as well as a cosy pub. The rugby fans can catch the game with TVs situated in the bar area as well as outside for the warmer days. The food is easy-going and interesting, with options like chicken and prawn curry in a coconut Thai sauce, and a Mexicana calzone with spicy mince, green pepper and chilli.

Papa’s Real Food. Photo courtesy of Melkkan Creative.

Villa San Giovanni (Wonderboom National Airport)
The pizzeria and terrace at this Italian favourite will be screening the rugby on the flat-screen TVs and serving up scrumptious, cheesy pizzas and homemade comforting pastas. There is also an exciting kiddies play area to keep the little ones busy while you catch all the sporting action.

Durban

Bel Punto (Umdloti Beach)
This stylish seaside restaurant offers an elegant Italian menu and beautiful ocean views. Tuck into their luscious risottos, cheesy wood-fired pizzas or pasta. For those wanting a bit of rugby action, the chic bar and lounge area will be screening all of the rugby games.

The bar at Bel Punto. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Unity Brasserie & Bar (Musgrave)
Meat-lovers flock to this Durban favourite. Diners can tuck in to juicy burgers and tender char-grilled steaks while watching the rugby games on the flat-screen TV. Grab a big table with friends or perch at the sleek wooden bar and snack on some tasty plank offerings such as the sliders or veg mezze.

The bar at Republik. Photo courtesy of Jan Ras.

Republik (Durban North)
Durban North’s neighbourhood burger, wine and craft beer bar serves a wide range of sumptuous gourmet burgers as well as a build-your-own selection. The ruggers can sink their teeth into a crunchy nacho burger or a cheeky chicken burger while routing for their team on the wide-screen TV. The buzzing BrewHaus located upstairs will also be showing all rugby games, with green beer on offer for the true Bokke fans.

Cape Town

Cabrito (Green Point)
El Burro’s dedicated tequila bar located below the restaurant offers a wide selection of tequilas, craft beers and delicious Mexican-infused snacks. Rugby fans can look forward to watching a selection of games during the World Cup over the next six weeks on a screen visible from the entire bar. To see which games Cabrito will be airing, visit its Facebook page.

Engruna Eatery (Sea Point)
This neighbourhood gem serves up burgers, beer and pizza – just the right combination for rugby watching. The flat-screen TV will be airing all rugby games and diners can enjoy shouting at the ref while munching on a slice of wood-fired gourmet pizza with fior di latte and cherry tomatoes or a chorizo burger with emmenthal and home-made relish.

Engruna Eatery. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Gastao’s Tapas and Craft Beer (Tygervalley)
Durbanville’s dedicated tapas and beer bar will be celebrating the Rugby World Cup by screening every single game on their flat-screen TVs. Those who work up a hunger and thirst during the match can sip on refreshing local beers and tuck in to meat, cheese and bread boards or the wide range of tapas. The options include slow-cooked pork belly, arancini, mini espetadas and more.

HQ (City Bowl)
At this sleek grill house, diners can savour a three-litre beer tower for R250 and soak it all up with a gourmet burger and beer special for R90. Three large flat-screen TVs in the bar area will be airing all Springbok fixtures as well as other big games.

Mondiall (V&A Waterfront)
This eatery has two flat-screen TVs in the terrace bar and will have two big screens in the main restaurant to screen all the rugby action. In addition, diners can enjoy the Rugby World Cup burger specials for each team playing. This will include burgers such as the Ireland burger with braised cabbage, bacon and white cheddar versus the Canada burger with cheese, onion sauce and wild rocket. Each burger comes with either a draught beer or glass of red or white wine for R120. To add to the excitement, the restaurant offer guests a chance to predict and follow the scores here.

A view of Table Mountain from inside Mondiall. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Peddlars & Co (Constantia)
This sport-lover’s favourite will be playing all live games on 6 big screens as well as a giant projector screen. Foodies can tuck in to 400g ribs and 340ml Heineken draught for R99. Other delicious options include a burger, chips and drinks special at The Oak Terrace, or tapas dishes for sharing, handcrafted cocktails and craft beers from Graciales.

The bar at Peddlars & Co. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

RUA (Gardens)
Three large, flat-screen TVs will be screening all the rugby excitement. The fully-stocked bar will be offering a range of delicious cocktails, wine and craft beer to keep fans refreshed and burgers, tapas and flatbreads will keep hunger pangs at bay. They will also be running a South African burger special where diners can order a bolton and cheese burger with chips and two 500ml Devil’s Peak draught beers for R100.

Twankey Bar (City Bowl)
Taj Cape Town’s stylish bar offers a sophisticated spot to enjoy the Rugby World Cup action live on a big screen and three large-screen TVs. The bar will be offering a special match-day menu for R75, including meal baskets with fish and chips with tartar sauce, roasted chicken wings and fries with sour cream, slow-roasted pork short ribs and fries, and a special Heineken beer bucket for R150.

The Twankey Bar. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

Winelands

Bar di Bar (Paarl)
Located on the picturesque Laborie Wine Farm, this bar will be screening all the rugby game excitement. Instead of drinks specials, guests can look forward to brewery tastings and sampling for the bigger matches. For the hungry fanatics, tapas are the order of the day, with exciting options such as chilli salt squid, courgette fritters with avo salsa, and lamb meatballs in romesco sauce.

The outside of Bar Di Bar at Laborie. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.

The Thirsty Scarecrow (Stellenbosch)
Overlooking the Mooiberge Strawberry Farm, this trendy winelands bar offers a wide range of craft beers on tap, wine and gourmet pub grub. The live rugby action will be aired on the big flat-screen TVs while fans can enjoy views of the farm and mountains. The menu offers bites such as slow-roasted BBQ brisket, home-made beef and ale pie, chipotle nachos and pizzas.

Please note that although we take every care to get the details spot on, some dishes and prices may change without our knowledge.

Have we left out your favourite bar? Please let us know in the comments below.

The Thirsty Scarecrow. Photo courtesy of the restaurant.