The judicial capital has some wonderful pizza joints, charming country-style spots and inner-city gems. The below Bloem restaurants were rated highest by our panel in 2017, and feature in our 2018 magazine as part of our Eat Out 500 – the 500 best restaurants in the country. Whether you’re a local looking for a festive meal, or popping in on a road trip for the holidays, seek out one of these standout restaurants.

A dish at Avanti. Photo supplied.

Avanti

This Italian lunch-and-dinner spot serves up great flatbreads (with toppings like chorizo, avo, blue cheese, rocket and caramelised onions), pizza, pasta and steaks. Try the fillet masala with mushroom sauce and melt-in-your-mouth potato Dauphinoise. Finish with a decadent peanut butter milkshake. They’ve also got a play area for kids.

Bella Casa Trattoria

This popular hangout serves up wood-fired pizzas and comforting pastas. Leave space for the popular Amaretto bread-and-butter pudding. The courtyard is the place to be on sunny days.

Feast

About 40km south of Bloem, off the N1, is this hidden gem at De Oude Kraal, a sixth-generation Merino sheep farm. Tuck into lamb neck, slow-braised and served with samp, sweet potatoes and creamed spinach. The baked cheesecake is sublime.

The carrot cake at Jack & Jill Food Co. Photo supplied.

Jack and Jill Food Company

Owner Jill Nowers is fiercely passionatate about sourcing ingredients locally – think wood-fired bread, thick and creamy yoghurt, smoked belly bacon, and organic pecan nuts. Simple dishes might include buttered toast with garlic mayo, bacon and a fried egg, or tres leches French toast. It’s a stylish, modern spot with plenty of plants.

Kerdoni’s

Located in the Bays Village Centre, this outstanding wood-fired pizza spot also offers seasonal salads, gluen-free cauliflower bases and DIY pasta and pizzas. The interior has had a facelift, making the space lighter, brighter and bigger.

A pizza at Kerdoni’s. Photo supplied.

Longhorn Grill

This elegant spot has an extensive menu. For something different, try the skilpadjies (liver wrapped in caul fat and grilled to perfection) or skaapstertjies (crispy lamb tails). There’s also excellent chateaubriand with béarnaise, and malva pudding.

Marmelade

Find a shade-covered table under the trees and tuck into fluffy stacked flapjacks with crispy bacon and golden syrup, some of the city’s best beef burgers, and Oreo cheesecake. Kids are kept entertained with toy bikes. The interior is quieter and good for business meetings.

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Seven on Kellner

This romantic spot serves up delicious risotto, juicy rump with pepper-brandy sauce and wood-fired pizza. A fireplace keeps things cosy in winter, while the courtyard is lovely in summer.

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Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. The Eat Out magazine contains 500 independent reviews of the top-rated restaurants in the country. Find out more and get your copy now.