Top Table

Named among the world’s top food and drink destinations in 2016, Cape Town is blessed with a vibrant restaurant scene, spectacular scenery and superb vineyards.

- Matthew Williams

THE theory is that if you fall asleep on a night flight somewhere over Europe then when you arrive in Cape Town, South Africa, you will be as fresh as a daisy – such is the miniscule time difference.

When your driver then whisks you away from the international airport, along roads lined by township shacks and onto sunbathing penguins however, it’s easy to start questioning whether you ever woke up at all.

How’s that for a start to a magical five-day mystery tour? Stood on some rocks, clearing bleary eyes with an ocean view and pinching yourself at the sight of black and white pranksters bounding into the sea like overexcited British backpackers. Located in the town of Betty’s Bay, Stony Point Nature Reserve is home to one of the largest successful breeding colonies of African Penguin in the world.

While penguins are great, whale watching is surely fascinating at the right time of year, hiking up Lion’s Head to look over Table Mountain sounds thrilling and shark diving has the potential to place you on the other side of the dining table, it’s Cape Town and the surrounding area’s booming epicurean experience that’s the real pull for this avid foodie – that and British Airway’s new direct flights from Gatwick.

From sprawling vineyards and fruit farms in the surrounding countryside to the city being named number one in a 2016 Conde Nast Traveller poll to find the best food destination in the world, this is a thriving metropolis with plenty to boast of on its table.

A NATIVE DELICACY