Location, location, location is the mantra of the property game, and in Cape Town’s summer, the restaurant game too. Taking over La Med’s prime spot between Clifton and Camps Bay beaches, Bungalow offers a trendy, slightly more upmarket answer to sunset dining.

The food
A broad bistro menu covers all the usual bases. There are healthy salads, seafood, sushi and pretty good burgers. It’s marginally more pricey than La Med. The food, however, is manifestly not what it is all about here.

The mood
More luxury yacht than beach bum, this is a place to see and be seen. The old La Med space has been transformed by interior design company Soda Creations. Outside, a plunge pool surrounded by cushions offers somewhere for the gorgeous people to dangle their tanned legs. There are banquettes for lounging upon, hip tables, and inside the former dance floor space has been given a fresh lick of white paint with gilt frames and chandeliers. The La Med-era wooden decking with stiletto-width death holes is, however, still in attendance, so wear wedges.

The service
Somewhat inconsistent. On the different occasions that members of the Eat Out team visited, it ranged from swift and professional to glacially slow, and riddled with errors. It’s been open less than a month, though, and with seats for 500 diners – if the bar area is included – it’s no surprise that a place on this scale would have teething problems.

The people
Paul Kovensky (who also owns Paranga, Pepenero, Zenzero and The Kove in Cape Town) and Chris Coutroulis (who owns club Taboo in Joburg) are the men behind the latest addition to the sunset strip. Chef Jaco Grové is at the helm of a large kitchen, and specialised sushi chefs take care of the California rolls.

The verdict
A classy addition to the Camps Bay restaurant scene. A big restaurant, it remains to be seen whether something this ambitious will survive in a highly seasonal location. If you do hit them on a bad night, sit back, enjoy the sunset, and gaze at the beautiful people. Be aware that the Glen Country Club next-door charges R25 for parking during high season, so find a spot on the street if you can.