For a tourist in Cape Town, a few tips of where to go!

I came across a couple of Kenyans also on holiday and it struck me that December is probably a popular time for Kenyans to holiday in South Africa — and in particular Cape Town — so here are some pointers on where to eat.

For a good brunch head to the V&A Waterfront at Café Vovo Telo where you can sit outside and watch the activities over the waterfront. The make very good coffee and have a great selection of freshly baked breads.

I recommend pancakes with a dollop of mascarpone and fresh blue berries. If the V&A is too touristy for you then head out to Kloof Street, which has the best concentration of restaurants, cafes and bars in Cape Town.

Melissa’s Food Shop has a breakfast table heaving with seasonal fruit salads, granola and homemade muesli with generous proportions of raw honey, dried fruit, nuts and seeds.

If you prefer lunch then you must try The Grand in Granger Bay. It is a large, old fishing warehouse that’s been converted to a restaurant with oversized chandeliers, antique Indian rugs and Parisian café chairs.

It is set on the beach with excellent food and wine. On Sunday afternoons they have a DJ play really good dance music, so you can kick off your sandals and dance on the sand.

Cape Town as you know is a region with excellent wines, but have you considered afternoon tea? Mount Nelson Hotel on Orange Street does an outstanding afternoon tea service.

Delicate finger sandwiches filled with rare roast beef and rocket, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise or cucumber, followed by delectable dark chocolate cake, lemon meringue and freshly baked scones with clotted cream and preserves – tempting enough?

Dinner choices can be mind-boggling but do bear in mind that South Africans eat early. Reservations at popular restaurants at this time of the year are a must and turning up after 9pm without reservations will result in disappointment.

There is a lot of South East Asian influence in Cape Town, especially Malay cuisine. However Cape Town has one of the finest selections of Thai restaurants in all of Africa.

This last visit, I chanced upon Yindee’s on Kloof Street which is surprising because they have been around for 14 years. A feast of Sweet potato strips in sesame seed batter (crispy fried and served with a tamarind and palm sugar sauce) followed by baked prawns in red curry paste makes for a very satisfying meal indeed

Photos of The Grand too follow!