By far the best gelato in Cape Town, this small gelato shop is owned by a local Italian woman who has run it for years. The gelato is home-made of all natural ingredients by one of the family members and there is usually about 20 different flavors. You are guaranteed to get great value for your money.

Try the Coconut or Pistachio flavor which are both extremely unique and delicious. The service is great and quick. We usually make the trip to Hout Bay especially for this gelato along with a visit to the Sunday market across the street.

Must Try: Pistachio or Coconut Gelato

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Good service
• Easy to find on main road with parking lot
• Lovely outdoor tables
• Low prices

Iced Dream
Main Road
Hout Bay, Cape Town
+27 21 790-2494

All the Airstreams are air-conditioned, incredibly well-insulated and feature a full en suite with showers and finished off with the finest cotton linen. You can spend the night in one of the smaller units starting at R945/night (US$99) or the larger units starting at R1490/night (US$149). There’s even a covered outdoor bar with comfortable couches where you can enjoy a sundowner well above the din of the city below.

Inside Scoop: Check out the men’s restroom on the second floor!

The Grand Daddy Hotel
38 Long Street
Cape Town
+27 21 424-7248
www.granddaddy.co.za

This upscale restaurant on the main road in Camps Bay may seem intimidating with its sleek décor but is actually a gem of a breakfast place for the budget-conscious. We were there at 9:00am on a Saturday and got the best spot in the house. Our outdoor table closest to the sidewalk was on a raised platform and provided a commanding view of the beach. The crowd was fairly hip and trendy, mostly in the 30’s and 40’s, with some young families.

The breakfast menu was fairly typical, with the usual variety to cater to every type of eater, as well as an espresso bar. Most of the items on the menu were priced between R40-R80 (US$4-$8). We both ordered the Vegetarian Omelette for R40 (US$4) which was both amazing and a bargain!  They make a great cappuccino and service came with a good attitude and smile.

Best deal: Vegetarian Omelette – R40 (US$4)

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Good service
• Easy to find on main road with street parking
• Great view of Camps Bay beach with lovely outdoor tables
• Average prices with some good deals

Paranga
The Promenade, Victoria Road
Camps Bay, Cape Town
+27 21 438-040
www.paranga.co.za

Camel Rock Restaurant is the one and only restaurant in village of Scarborough. Owned and run by a local resident for the last 20+ years, it has remained unchanged since we were first there. The interior is simple and dining there is similar to having dinner at your parent’s friends’ house, cozy and comfortable. There is never a wait and the crowd is extremely laid back and unintimidating.

They serve an assortment of seafood dishes and usually have a fish special of the day.

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Easy to find on main road with parking lot
• Quiet location with lovely outdoor tables
• Average prices with some good deals
• Good family restaurant

 Cons:

• No views

Camel Rock Restaurant
264 Main Road
Scarborough
+27 21 780-1122

This is one of Simon’s Town’s best-kept secrets. Located at the south end of Simon’s Town and owned and run by a local Capetonian, Sophea Gallery is a spiritual art gallery with various forms of fine art, as well as a Tibetan teahouse offering “food for body and soul”. Their all-day menu consists of a variety of sweet and savory vegetarian dishes, including baked goods, soups, salads, stews and desserts. The prices are extremely competitive, starting at R17 (US$1.70) and capping at R50 (US$5).

We went in to browse their crafts and stayed for lunch when we smelled the delicious lunch being prepared. Being a cooler day in the Cape, we ordered the Gonga Thukpa Soup, a traditional vegetable soup with rice noodles (R35) and Sakarkhanda Ko Tarkari, a Nepalese sweet potato and pea curry served with rice, yogurt and chutney (R49). Don’t forget to try the traditional Tibetan Butter Tea, it is surprisingly fulfilling for the savory taste bud. The vibe is very laid back and the staff is exceptionally friendly – definitely a place we can come on a regular basis without breaking out budget.

Best deal: Gonga Thukpa Soup – R35 (US$3.50)

Must try: Tibetan butter tea R12 (US $1.20)

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Good service
• Easy to find on main road with street parking nearby
• Great view of False Bay with outdoor tables on sheltered verandah
• Low prices
• Vegetarian

Cons:

• No espresso

Sophea Gallery & Tibetan Teahouse
2 Harrington Road
Simon’s Town, 7975
+27 21 786-1544
www.sopheagallery.com

During the summer in Cape Town (Dec-Feb), one of the best ways to cool down is with gelato. And we stumbled onto Gelato Mania in Green Point one fine hot day and were happily surprised.

We ordered one scoop of coconut with fresh fruit in a waffle cone for R18 (US$1.80), which was more than generous. We were astonished at how many flavors they offered (over 30) and how healthy the ingredients were. Using only the freshest, Kosher and Halaal, as well as hormone-free cow’s milk, they handcraft their gelato daily with no additives or preservatives.

Best deal: Single scoop with fruit in waffle cone – R18 (US$1.80)

Pros:

• Easy to find on main road with street parking
• Outdoor tables on sidewalk
• Low prices
• Good family restaurant

Cons:

• On busy street
• No views
• Few indoor tables

Gelato Mania
65 Main Road
Green Point, Cape Town
+27 21 439-2074
www.gelatomania.co.za

After a morning of surfing at Muizenberg, we always head across the parking lot to our favorite after-surf eatery.  Sharing an entrance with the Roxy store, their outdoor tables are usually full of people sitting in the sun. Bustling with a combination of tourists and local surfers of all ages, this is a great place to people-watch. Get there before late afternoon because the outdoor tables will be in shade.

Known for their artisan baked goods, their bakery sells over 20 different types of bread. Whether we’re in a hurry or staying for a long lunch, we usually order the parma ham (prosciutto) and cheese sandwich on a fresh-baked croissant for R25 (US$2.50). Other tasty items are the chicken pot pie (R20) and french fries (R10). They also have serve a great cup of cappuccino. Service is sometimes slow but the wait staff is very friendly and accommodating.

Best deal: Chicken Pot Pie – R20 (US$2)

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Good service
• Easy to find across from beach with parking lot
• Great view of Muizenberg Beach with lovely outdoor tables
• Low prices
• Good family restaurant

Knead Bakery
Surfer’s Corner, Beach Road
Muizenberg, Cape Town
+27 21 788-2909

]]> http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/restaurants/knead-bakery-muizenberg/feed 0 http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/restaurants/the-food-barn-noordhoek http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/restaurants/the-food-barn-noordhoek#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:52:52 +0000 Inside Scoop Cape Town http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/?p=141 The Food Barn Deli is located at the far end of the Noordhoek Farm Village. With its large open kitchen and casual atmosphere, we felt like we’d walked into the middle of someone’s kitchen. The lunch specials were showcased on the counter tops, along with the fresh baked pastries, making it very tempting! They also [...]]]>

The Food Barn Deli is located at the far end of the Noordhoek Farm Village. With its large open kitchen and casual atmosphere, we felt like we’d walked into the middle of someone’s kitchen. The lunch specials were showcased on the counter tops, along with the fresh baked pastries, making it very tempting! They also have several aisles with farm store items, such as hand-made pasta, sauces, spices and other pre-packaged foods for sale.

Don’t order off the menu if you have a budget. Not being too hungry, we split one of their ham sandwiches made on their special French loaves, which was accompanied by a salad for R25 (US$2.50). For dessert, we also split a pastry (R15) and bought six fresh-baked croissants (R6 each) to go.

They have a great bookshop where you can browse books while you eat or wait. This is a great little place to stop for a quick lunch or grab a pre-made potpie to go.

Don’t confuse the Deli for the Food Barn Restaurant which is also located in the Noordhoek Farm Village, but on the other end (Reviewed in the New York Times and Time magazine- so the secret is out!). The restaurant is a slightly more formal affair for lunch or dinner – the food is delicious, beautifully prepared and not pretentious. Check their website for the restaurants opening hours and to make a booking.

Best deal: Sandwich + Salad – R25 (US$2.50)

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Good service
• Parking lot
• Average prices with some good deals
• Good family restaurant

 Cons:

• No views or outdoor tables
• Difficult to find, not easily visible from parking lot

The Food Barn Deli
Noordhoek Farm Village
Village Lane
Noordhoek, Cape Town
+27 21 789-1390
www.thefoodbarn.co.za

]]> http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/restaurants/the-food-barn-noordhoek/feed 0 http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/activities-cape-town/glen-beach http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/activities-cape-town/glen-beach#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:06:08 +0000 Inside Scoop Cape Town http://www.insidescoopcapetown.com/?p=147 Next to Camps Bay Beach on your way to Clifton Beach is Glen Beach.  Large granite boulders create the barrier in the sand between Camps Bay Beach and Glen Beach where multi-million Rand (South African currency) shacks sit right on the beach.  Local surfers have always regarded Glen Beach as home and on a good [...]]]>

Next to Camps Bay Beach on your way to Clifton Beach is Glen Beach.  Large granite boulders create the barrier in the sand between Camps Bay Beach and Glen Beach where multi-million Rand (South African currency) shacks sit right on the beach.  Local surfers have always regarded Glen Beach as home and on a good surfing day there will always be a group of surfers surfing the reasonably consistent right break.

If you’re not surfing, on a good beach day Glen Beach is a great place to get away from the busy Camps Bay Beach.  It feels more secluded and is also great for sun downers or just relaxing on the beach.  Park anywhere along Beach Drive.

We were told that their croissants were amazing, so we excitedly ordered 2 plain croissants for R10 each (US$1) and 2 cappuccinos. Freshly baked and crispy, the croissants very close to what we were so longingly looking for. The coffee was also excellent. During the breakfast hours, they also sell bacon or almond croissants, muffins and other pastries. For lunch, sandwiches and pies are available after 12:30 pm.

Jardine Bakery
185 Bree Street 
Cape Town
+27 21 424-5644

Pros:

• Relaxed ambience
• Easy to find on main road with street parking
• Outdoor tables
• Low prices 

 Cons:

• No views
• No indoor seating