21 Restaurants in South Africa that are open on Easter Sunday

Cape Town and surrounds

Faber at Avondale
Avondale has always been exquisite with a virtually untarnished landscape founded on environmental friendly policies.  Faber opened last year and turned Avondale into a culinary destination. Top South African chef, Eric Bulpit, creates dishes that are delicate, vibrant and gentle towards our natural surroundings. The elegant dishes show off Eric’s craft, of enhancing and matching seasonal produce carefully and creatively. The restaurant sits in an old Cape Dutch Manor that has been moderately modified with a large exposed kitchen. There is also lovely outdoor seating overlooking the vineyards.

The Vineyard
The beautiful luxurious suburban hotel, offers both swanky and casual options for a family or friend-orientated Easter Sunday. If you’re after an elegant, relaxed lunch, The Square is an indoor oasis, with skylights and palm trees, and has a lovely light lunch menu that features dishes like butternut and feta cream pasta, line fish, a variety of wraps and dry-aged beef burgers. The Garden Lounge and Patio is more suitable for family-dining with kids. The patio overlooks the lush garden that is home to giant tortoises. They are well known for their Lady Anne high tea, but they also serve breakfast, light lunches and a snack menu from 3pm to 6pm.

Bosjes Kombuis
Brand spanking new is always exciting and Bosjes offers more than just it’s newness. The farm has been been given a serious makeover, marking it a must-visit in the Breede Valley. The Bosjes Kombuis draws on the traditional elements of food and style of the farm kitchen. Food is simple yet eloquent and hearty, with a contemporary country menu that has an underlying rustic tone. Dishes include fresh Sea Bass, lamb cutlets and tabbouleh and a mushroom quiche with poached egg. There is much outdoor seating and a very striking jungle-Jim for kids to play. In another area of the farm, the circular tea garden offers a bar and tea menu.

The Deck
Bertus Basson has recently launched his new casual dining restaurant in Stellenbosch’s Hidden Valley. The name literally refers to the restaurant’s foundation on a wooden deck that sits over a dam. Chairs are neatly positioned facing the exquisite mountain range and farm. It’s lovely and laid-back, so much so that food is ordered in a wooden hatch, paid for upfront, and fetched by patrons. The food matches this overall vibe with comforting gourmet fast-food on offer like fish and chips and a wagyu cheese burger. Both the scrumptious meals and scenic surrounds make this the ideal lazy Sunday hangout.

The Werf Restaurant or picnics
Situated in Franchhoek on Boschendal Wine Farm, The Werf sits upon a dynamic landscape beneath a dramatic mountain range. Boschendal allows you to make a whole day of it with mountain biking trails, wine tasting and much dining options. If you’d prefer a leisurely picnic in the gardens there’s two options to choose from: the garden picnic or the Rhone classic picnic. Otherwise there’s lunch on offer at The Werf, a restaurant who has brought farm-to-table dining into the new age, with a focus on ethically sourced, wholesome food. The restaurant embodies a traditional country-feel sitting in the old cellar manor, with seating extended outdoors. Both the picnic and restaurant require bookings, so click here for contact information.

Babel or The Greenhouse at Babylonstoren
The two dining offerings at Babylonstoren are vastly different but both ideal for a Sunday lunch, as they both harness the dreamy country surroundings. Babel brings the farm indoors with broad windows, organic finishes and organic food straight from the gardens. The farm-to-fork philosophy embodies plates bursting with colour, and ingredients that show off their natural flavour rather than being engulfed in seasoning. The space is farm-chic at it’s finest and bookings will be required. At the Greenhouse, enjoy picnic-style fare with build-your-own-style wooden crates filled with fresh bread, preserves, cheese and cured meats. You don’t need to book here as it’s first come first serve.

Johannesburg and surrounds

Tortellino D’Oro
Nothing suits a family lunch quite like a proper Italian trattoria. Tortellino D’Oro is charmingly captured in a 90s time warp of light oak finishes and white table clothes and quintessential displays of Italian food stacked on the walls. The space makes up both a deli and restaurant complete with a gelato stand, all adding to its warming character. The food is traditional and all prepared from scratch in house. You may have the best pasta you’ve ever tasted here.

Il Giardino
If you feel like pretending you’re in a Tuscan café courtyard then Il Giardino is your lunch spot. Twirly garden chairs, trickling fountains and tall olive trees provide one of the loveliest settings in Joburg, that really takes you far from the city. The food focuses on Italian mixed with some local flare. They make excellent pizzas, antipasti platters, a signature fillet and line fish.

Sel et Poivre
Sel et Poivre also offers exquisite outdoor dining in their courtyard which embodies French country dining with a menu to match. Chef Patron Coco Reinarhz has been classically trained and combines his refined French techniques with a good dose of South African flavour combinations. The menu changes regularly depending on seasonal produce but you’ll usually find traditional dishes like prawn line fish tagine, steak tartare and a choice of steak with Café de Paris butter, and also others like white wine and sage gnocchi and short rib and mushroom pot pie.

Windmill on Main, Kyalami
The Windmill offers an organic farmstall and restaurant and is set on an impressive urban farm. It feels like you’re right in the country side with tables set beneath whomping willows and next to leafy ponds. The food follows farm-to-fork and organic principals, and offers a large menu of popular dishes from pasta and wood-fired pizzas to signature main dishes like hake and haddock pie and a AAA grade beef burger.

Silver Orange Bistro, Hartbeespoort
Venturing a little out of Joburg’s city, Silver Orange provides a unique and lavish country experience with beautiful views of the citrus orchard it sits on.  The restaurant sits in a thatch manor house which has been passed down for generations as has the grand crystal chandeliers hanging above the tables setting a tone of elegance. The food combines European cuisines and techniques with a focus on South African flavours and ingredients. Dishes include Teriyaki seared salmon, fillet served in various ways, springbok loin and duck breast.

Durban

Market Restaurant, Morningside
It’s hard not to love Market situated in leafy Morningside, with it’s ideallic courtyard. Sky high leopard trees create a forest-like setting, with French garden furniture adding to the overall enchantment. There’s also lovely indoor area that is nicely integrated with the outside. The menu focuses on café fare with the added bonus of pizzas. Casual light lunches include brinjal cannelloni, fish cakes, hoison plum shredded duck and and the Market cobb salad.

The Lounge and Vista Terrace at The Beverly Hills Hotel
This superb restaurant at the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel offers a sophisticated lunch overlooking the sea. They offer a variety of mains, from seafood to traditional Durban lamb curry to gnocchi and the signature Beverly Hills Burger. It’s extraordinary location and chic setting make it an ideal spot for Easter lunch.

Jack Salmon Fish House, Glenashley
Jack Salmon have created a crisp, clean white setting to enjoy fresh fish straight from the sea, which you can view from your seat. The light airy restaurant is just what a Sunday lunch deserves, along with a menu overflowing with delectable seafood. Flavours come from the Mediterranean and Mozambique with dishes like a calamari meze platter, fish and prawn cakes, prawns Pardelle, black mussels and langoustines when available.

The Greedy Buddha, Gateway Centre
The Greedy Buddha delights the taste buds with tantalising fusion dishes. They draw on flavours and cuisines from across the continent with a focus on Japanese and Chinese dishes. The setting offers a great outdoor deck as well as a large indoor dining area elegantly styled with ritzy accents.

Pretoria and surrounds

The Blue Crane Restaurant and Bar
The Blue Crane takes diners on safari with their sweeping views of the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, that places you right in the tranquility of nature. The Restaurant is set right on the banks of a beautiful lake where you can eat on the deck and watch the birds flutter about the water. It’s a wonderland for children who can enjoy a kiddies menu as well. The à la carte menu features classic dishes like salads and toasties as well as hearty meat dishes like oxtail and lamb curry, and also seafood options.

Zest Bistro
Zest offers a relaxed no-fuss bistro with a focus on traditional bistro food and fresh produce. The menu is constantly evolving with a philosophy that the heart and soul of a restaurant is good food, good wine and good company to share the experience. On the menu you’ll find classic French dishes like confit duck, pork belly confit and seafood bisque, as well as fillet and tempura monkfish escalope.

Culinary Table
Culinary Table is a totally unique offering to the area of Lanseria. Owned by a father and daughter duo, the restaurant developed organically just like the vegetable and herb garden that lies beside the it. There is also a deli with imported and local goods that are used in the kitchen as well. Meat is ethically sourced and quality overall is evident in the approach to every aspect of Culinary Table. Enjoy breakfast or lunch with dishes like homemade pasta and gnocchi, beef and vegetarian burgers, free-range meat options and gourmet deli sandwiches.

Port Elizabeth

Thatchwoods
Thatchwoods is a charming events venue that opens to the public on Sundays for lunch. With its thatch roof and wooden finishes, this family-run eatery offers a pleasantly cosy ambience and on colder days you’ll be greeted by the warmth of the fire place crackling in the corner. Their three-course menu fuses traditional Sunday lunch with modern cuisine. It’s ideal for families as they offer a kiddies lunch too and the farm just next door offers plenty of entertainment for the kids. Nestled snugly in its breathtakingly tranquil, country side, the restaurant sets the perfect scene for you to relax and break away from the busy city.

Grassroof
Grassroof holds a restaurant, bakery and rustic farm stall that stocks local organic produce.Situated on the outskirts and not too far from Sardinia Bay, this popular eatery encapsulates the laid-back, beachy PE atmosphere.  The eatery sports luscious green lawns and its unique feature – a pitched roof covered in grass and wild flowers. It’s good for families as it provides plenty of space and entertainment for the kids. Their wrap around deck also offers panoramic views of the PE country side, and on Saturdays and Sundays you can enjoy live music. Their menu offers hearty country styled meals, wood-fired pizza, light lunches, homemade pastries, cakes and freakshakes.

Kitchen windows
Kitchen windows is situated right on the beach which offers an 180 degree view of the unspoilt, crystal clear Jeffrey’s Bay coastline. They serve fresh seafood daily, light lunches, pizza, pasta, prime cut beef and they offer vegetarian options too.  The ingredients used are as organic as possible and nothing is prepared  in bulk but rather made on order. Outside and inside seating provides stunning views and there’s a jumping castle for the kids on the lawn. Dolphins are also a common siting from the restaurant as they frolic in the Eastern Cape waters all year long.