Cape Town Food book launch

From street eats to fine dining, the best food from the Mother City is being served up for perusal in a brand-new brochure. 

In a new book, Food in Cape Town, tourists and locals can read about food available in the city.

The book was launched at TimeOut Market Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront on Thursday, June 19. 

The market is an international "place" where people meet, with the city's best foods and cultural experiences.

The book is put together with the support of the City of Cape Town's economic growth department and its partnership with Time Out.

It is available digitally on thisis.capetownza.

Printed copies will be distributed at select trade shows and other events.

The brochure is broadly aimed at international travelers who might be unfamiliar with Cape Town’s expansive and diverse culinary scene.

The City is also aiming to attract visitors who have a particular interest in gastronomy. 

Cape Town has been voted as the best city in the world for 2025 by Time Out Magazine and was voted the best city in the world for food in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice awards.

Mr Vos said that Cape Town is also where "purpose meets opportunities". 

"Just like our mountains meet our oceans. Match made in heaven," he said.  

Speaking at the launch mayoral committee member for economic growth James Vos said they were spotlighting some of the reasons for these awards.

He said: "There is a saying, 'money makes the world go round'. I believe it is the food that brings value to Cape Town as a destination."

"It is food that brings people to together. Gets conversations flowing and gives you a real taste of our city," he said.

"I often talk about our delicious cuisines, colourful communities, and our beautiful cultures. Those three c's species that make our city a standout destination," he said.

“So from those spicy samosas, to those gatsbys, from wood-fired pizzas, and the Malay curries, we've got it all. All got our beautiful food trucks, bringing our communities alive. “Our sizzling street food, our shisanyama (braaied meat), and the pavement food that we see in our townships, we’ve got braais, we’ve got bistros, and then we’ve got breathtaking fine dining,” said Mr Vos.

He said that promoting the city includes driving bookings, supporting local businesses, and creating jobs, which is what "hospitality is all about".

Russ Meyer, general manager of Time Out Market Cape Town, said that the book was a celebration of flavour, of heritage and of the people who poor passion into "every single plate in the city".

"Cape Town has long been known for its natural beauty. The mountains, the ocean, the wine routes but more and more, it’s our food that’s earning global attention.

"From sizzling street food in Salt River to fine dining in the Foreshore. From family-run fish shacks in Kalk Bay to bold, boundary-pushing chefs in the inner city. Our culinary scene tells a story of who we are: rich in diversity, deep in tradition, and bursting with innovation," said Mr Meyer.