In This Article:
While February’s food scene is flooded with Valentine’s Day specials and events, there are also loads of new and exciting restaurants to explore! From natural wine bars and fiery dining experiences in the Cape, super fresh and fast pasta in Durban, and forest picnics in Gauteng, the list of February’s must-have reservations is brimming with tempting dining options.
Cape Town and the Winelands
Pavement Special Wine Bar
(Woodstock, Cape Town)
Pavement Special is a new wine bar at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock. Their wine list features top-tier alternative, low-intervention, and natural wines made by talented South African winemakers. From the bright blue pizza oven, they serve deliciously authentic Neapolitan-style pizza made using their 48-hour slow-proved dough recipe. The resulting pizzas are light, perfectly charred and blistered – and topped with interesting toppings too! Drop by for a glass of vino and a tasty snack after work, or join them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to sample some of the tastiest pizzas around!
Nikkei
(Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town)
Bree Street is now home to Nikkei restaurant which specialises in Japanese-Peruvian cuisine. The unique menu offers a wide selection of shareable dishes, from signature sushi rolls, piqueos (small bites), robatayaki (skewers grilled over hot coals at the table), and crudo y marinados (raw, marinated dishes and classic Nikkei-style ceviche). The bar menu features cocktails created by an award-winning mixologist and a selection of Japanese whisky, sake and gin. Don’t miss out on the weekly specials, including “Pisco Hour” with half-priced pisco-based cocktails and “Sake and Sushi Sundays” with great deals on sushi platters and sake cocktails with live music courtesy of their resident DJ.
Highly recommend Nikkei. We had an amazing experience from start to finish, amazing decor and feel of the restaurant. Good attention to detail… Can’t wait to return to try more dishes.
FYRE Dining
(Simondium, Paarl)
Situated amidst the lush greenery of the Olijvenkraal Olive and Wine Farm in Paarl, this modern and minimalist restaurant provides a striking contrast to its surroundings. FYRE Dining welcomed its first guests through their doors in early February, serving South African classics cooked over an open fire. The menu features a selection of quintessential “Fyre bites” like pap en vleis, braaibroodjies, skilpadjies, and bacon and cherry “oepsies”. For mains, they offer braai favourites from prawns, chargrilled fillet, and lamb chops to venison, ribeye, and fire-roasted chicken served with the beloved braai sides: salad, pap en sous, and potato salad. Make sure you save room for some malva pudding cheesecake or melktert ice cream for dessert!
Durban
Rain Farm Game Lodge
(Umhlali, Dolphin Coast)
Just 20 minutes from Ballito, Rain Farm Game Lodge offers a variety of fun, family-friendly activities. Enjoy a tranquil game drive to observe the animals and enjoy the beautiful views of the Umhlali hills and the meandering Mhlali River, or try something a bit more active like a hike along one of their many trailed walks. For those seeking some adventure, try the popular Adventure Hub Combo for a day of paintball, archery, and rock climbing. Otherwise, book a relaxed picnic and enjoy a basket of fresh snacks next to the dam, or a leisurely lunch at Acacia restaurant with Chef Chris’ simple and seasonal dishes on the patio. Rain Farm also offers accommodation and a spa, making it an ideal destination for a family day out or a relaxing weekend getaway.
This place is amazing!
Il Pastificio
(Umhlanga Rocks, Durban)
Il Pastificio, AKA The Pasta Factory, is one of Umhlanga’s newest restaurant openings – and a great addition to the Durban food scene. Featuring a unique self-service model where you order and pay at the counter, they specialise in serving freshly made focaccia sandwiches, pasta, and gelato. Explore their extensive menu, offering a wide variety of paste lunghe (like spaghetti and pappardelle), paste corte (like rigatoni and conchiglie), pacchi (like ravioli), and baked pasta “al forno” options, all served with traditional homemade sauces and fillings. Save room for dessert, as a scoop (or two) of their silky house-made gelato in a freshly made waffle cone is a definite must! On your way out, you can also grab some of your favourite pasta shapes to take home.
Johannesburg and Pretoria
Kleinkaap Picnics
(Clubview, Centurion)
Escape the city hustle and bustle and treat yourself to a luxurious and tranquil forest picnic at Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel in Centurion. Choose from a variety of picnic baskets, including standard, vegan, and vegetarian options, all filled with delicious goodies like bread, cheese, charcuterie, quiches, meatballs, chicken lollipops, salads, chocolate truffles, and more. Take a look at their picnic menu for the details. Grab a bottle of wine from their wine list and relax at one of the tables nestled under the lush trees. Picnics are available from Tuesday to Sunday between 10h00 and 17h30, with the last time slot at 15h00. Prices for picnic baskets start at R770 for two people and bookings need to be made 24 hours in advance.
Amazing tranquil setting and beautifully presented picnic basket. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND! Friendly staff! Thank you!
0 Comments