Prefer to eat out for Christmas? Here’s where to go for lunch this year.

Utopia (City Bowl)

Take the lift up to the 15th floor this Christmas, and feast on a festive lunch while surrounded by superb Cape Town city views. Chef Dennis Luke and his team will serve up bistro-style and Mediterranean-influenced dishes including a generous array of starters such as baked rosemary and garlic focaccia, potted Norwegian salmon, truffle arancini, steak tartare and smoked chicken liver parfait. For mains, choose from a list of classic contemporary dishes, then end off on a sweet note with their delicious dessert offering. Lunch is priced at R550 per person and R275 for children over 10 years. Visit their website to make a booking.

 

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Copa Restaurant (City Bowl)

In heart of Cape Town’s city centre, you’ll find this hotel restaurant that promises a tasty and irresistible Christmas spread. Guests can look forward to plated starters, mains from the carvery section featuring traditional Christmas staples like glazed gammon and turkey legs, and a buffet of seafood dishes and vegetables. Dessert will be a treat with Christmas pudding, eclairs, chantilly cream Christmas trifle citrus sponge, elderflower custard and many more. Lunch is priced at R855 per adult and R325 for kids aged between two and 12 years. Visit their website to make a booking.

 

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Homespun (Blouberg or at the Andros Hotel in Claremont)

Christmas lunch is guaranteed to be a gastronomical five-course affair at both branches of Homespun. For starters, foodies will enjoy experimental options such as the pork belly pancake, a miso salsa verde or the daikon green curry with ginger apple kimchi. For mains, ​choose between the line fish with squid dukkah, yuzu and leek creamies, a lamb roast or the crispy gammon. If you enjoy the theatrics of plates billowing with nitrogen, try the beetroot for dessert – an adventurous sphere made up of dehydrated beetroot shavings with a white chocolate centre. Lunch is R895 per person including a welcome drink or R1,270 with the wine pairing option. Please note: no children under the age of 12 years are allowed. Visit their website to make a booking: Claremont or Blouberg.

 

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Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay)

Take the scenic route this Christmas and drive along the picturesque Atlantic coast, all the way to the foot of Chapman’s Peak, where you will find the latest addition to the Chefs Warehouse string of restaurants. After bubbly on arrival, guests can tuck into a festive set menu that includes a decadent dessert platter for two, with the promise of a few surprises along the way. Book via email on tintswalo@chefswarehouse.co.za for either a lunch or dinner seating at R1,450 per person.

 

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Jonkershuis (Constantia)

If you’re after a casual and fuss-free Christmas with plenty of space for the kids to play and run around, consider a pre-packed Christmas picnic from Jonkershuis. The picnic area is secluded, down a couple of stairs from the manor house. Guests will receive picnic seats and blankets, and children can play on the lawn or walk up to the pond to feed the ducks. The Christmas picnic basket is R1,150 per basket for two guests and is inclusive of a 15% service fee. For kids under 12 years, picnic baskets are R230 per child, including a service fee. No furniture is provided or allowed. Bookings may be made with Julie Keulder, Melody Hounsom or Tammy Botbyl on +27 021 794 6255.

 

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Rhebokskloof Restaurant (Paarl)

Head out to the Winelands to this estate that lies in a secluded valley within the folds of the Paarl mountains. Guests will be welcomed with an arrival drink before tucking into a family-style feast of peach and pecan arugula salad drizzled with a French dressing, and a herb-encrusted roast sirloin with a bone marrow red wine jus or golden roasted rosemary and cranberry chicken roulade.  On the dessert menu, choose from the Glühwein-infused Christmas cake semifreddo, topped with a vanilla and orange zest soft meringue, or soft Camembert covered with homemade Pinotage fig preserve and roasted nuts served with Spanish tortas de aceite (sweet biscuits). Lunch is R700 per person (gratuity included). Children 12 years and under can order from the Little Buck menu that can be paid for on the day. Visit their website to make a booking.

 

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96 Winery Road (Somerset West)

It’s South African-influenced international cuisine served in a rustic backdrop right in the heart of wine country. For the amuse guile, enjoy the smoked salmon arancini with horseradish cream and picodegallo. For starters, pick between the Serano ham, Manchego cheese, potato croquettes and spring onion, or the grilled asparagus, exotic tomato with micro veg salad in a basil and citrus aioli. Mains feature a holiday classic in the pan-fried duck breast, followed by a cheese course and dessert options. Lunch is R585 per person. Visit their website to make a booking.

 

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Osteria Italiana (Big Bay)

Enjoy a four-course Italian Christmas for lunch this year for R450 per person, starting with an antipasto of mushroom arancini, before moving on to a primo piatto of Tuscan lasagne or spinach-and-ricotta cannelloni. For mains, choose between sage pork loin with grappa-roasted apples and grilled line fish with olive and caper butter. Finally, for dessert you have a choice between two Italian classics: tiramisu or cannoli.

Helena’s Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

Tuck into a decadent Christmas spread for R945 per adult and R545 per child between age 3 and 12 years. To get your tastebuds tingling, you’ll be served a glass of brut with olives, followed by a starter of beetroot soup. Thereafter, you’ll enjoy a terrine of curried oxtail with homemade pumpkin chutney and chicken liver pate with homemade ciabatta. Mains include all the classics, from roasted turkey to cherry-glazed gammon and all the sides. Dessert includes a festive pavlova, dark chocolate panna cotta and pistachio biscotti. Go for Christmas Eve dinner, Christmas lunch or Christmas dinner.

Cathedral Cellar Kitchen (Paarl)

For R699 per person, celebrate on 24 or 25 December this year at the beautiful Cathedral Cellar Kitchen at KWV, where Chef Mynhardt Joubert will be providing a four-course meal, complete with bubbly and wine. Look forward to delights such as charcoal ciabatta with green fig preserve, a Christmas charcuterie platter with chicken liver pate and beef tongue, and stuffed lamb and pork fillet. Those who want to celebrate the festive season a bit earlier this year, can join Chef Mynhardt at Stasie Street Kitchen on 7pm on 18–21 December where guests can enjoy a bespoke meal at the chef’s home. Bookings are essential.

Please note that while we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information, some prices and deals might change without our knowledge. Bookings are essential and these Christmas specials are subject to availability.