With the festive summer season in full swing, nothing embodies the spirit of all things holiday and relaxation like a pristine sea view paired with a delicious meal and a refreshing drink.  

We’ve rounded up a list of exceptional restaurants to visit this season that offer a breathtaking coastal backdrop. But these spots didn’t just make the list because of their views, they’ve also been lauded for their culinary flair, innovation and refinement, making them the perfect all-rounders.  

Nevermind

Located next to the Seal Point Lighthouse in Cape St. Francis in the Eastern Cape, Nevermind is an Eat Out 2-star restaurant.  

It’s a relaxed coastal eatery offering a fusion tapas menu that aims to celebrate seasonal produce and open-fire cooking. The heart of this restaurant’s ethos lies in the use of hyper-locally sourced ingredients, with most meals prepared over an open fire.  

Dishing up uninterrupted views of the nearby shoreline and rocky coastal surroundings, the eatery serves dishes such as smoked saffron socarrat and tuna tataki, which guests can savour as they listen to the sounds of the nearby crashing waves.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nevermind (@nevermind_capestfrancis)

PIER

 This Eat Out 2-star restaurant sits at the V&A Waterfront, so it goes without saying that it comes with ocean-side views of the surrounding docks and endless pristine waters.  

Forming part of the renowned La Colombe Group, this high-end restaurant offers a seasonal tasting menu that showcases the finest local produce, while taking inspiration from the ocean.  

Diners can look forward to dishes such as octopus and salsa matcha, snoek takoyaki, kimchi crab and more.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by PIER Restaurant (@pier_capetown)

Wolfgat

Paternoster, one of the oldest fishing towns on the West Coast of South Africa, is home to Wolfgat, an Eat Out 2-star restaurant that boasts an exquisite dining setting with ocean-side seating. 

A seaside escape, this restaurant is renowned for its showcase of indigenous ingredients native to the surrounding coastal area. Offering a seasonal tasting menu, the carefully curated dishes are a proud display of what the surrounding landscape has to offer.   

Local herbs, plants and seaweed are foraged for and incorporated masterfully into the menu offering. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Wolfgat (@wolfgat)

Salsify

Nestled in the surrounding natural landscape and offering picturesque 180-degree views of the Atlantic Ocean and nearby beachfront, Salsify at The Roundhouse is a fine-dining restaurant that celebrates local ingredients.  

Awarded three stars at the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, this restaurant offers modern seasonal dishes inspired by nature and showcases its culinary flair with unexpected and delightful flavour combinations. The restaurant offers a reduced Chef’s menu with dishes such as beef fillet with “familie-meel” and kapokbos amadombolo. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Salsify at The Roundhouse (@salsify_at_the_roundhouse)

The Waterside

Aptly named The Waterside, this Eat Out 1-star restaurant, located at the V&A Waterfront, offers unobstructed harbour views of the twinkling Atlantic Ocean.  

Forming part of the popular La Colombe Group, and downstairs from Pier, The Waterside aims to offer a sophisticated yet casual dining experience. With balcony seating, it’s an alfresco ocean-side dining experience to add to your bucket list.  

Taking its cue from the surrounding oceanic landscape, the menu features contemporary dishes with the expected ‘La Colombe flair’. Diners can opt for either the Chef’s menu or the reduced menu.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Waterside Restaurant (@thewatersidect)

 Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all the latest Eat Out news straight to your inbox!