Hailed as a culinary innovator for The Test Kitchen – voted South Africa’s best restaurant for the fifth year in a row – the British-born chef has gained a cult following of discerning diners in his adopted home town. Here, Luke shares his highlights of the Mother City’s foodie scene

Weekend brunch worth battling the queues for
When we introduced brunch at The Pot Luck Club in the Woodstock neighbourhood three years ago, it was quite a new concept for Cape Town. I was inspired by Asia, where the brunch culture is massive, and wanted to make it an occasion: not too ‘breakfasty’, but a real in-between meal, with bottomless Champagne and jazz in the background. It’s turned into a bit of an institution.

Where to impress on a date
I’d take my wife to Nobu (pictured) and stay the night at the One&Only Cape Town on the V&A Waterfront. My son loves it as well – they’re both obsessed with miso soup and Nobu does an exceptional version. If you sit at the bar or in a booth at the front, you really get the atmosphere of the kitchen.

Best ‘grab-and-go’ snack
My wife and I often take our son to New York Bagels in the East City precinct to grab a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel. The standout bagels are crunchy and homemade the traditional way.

Lunch spot for taking care of business
Easy: the Shortmarket Club because it’s in the city centre and near the business district. Get the hard talk out of the way in the bar area and then go through into the main restaurant for a lavish lunch (pictured) – it’s not too noisy, so you can still have a conversation. Wesley Randles (head chef) does an amazing job – the market fish starter is always a winner.

Foodie souvenir to take home
Go straight to Chefs Warehouse in the city centre and pick up a beautiful copper pan. For something edible, I’d take a big stick of biltong back home; Chops Biltong in Constantia Village is my go-to supplier. And don’t forget a bottle of fine South African wine.

Local independent that deserves to stay in business
Hallelujah (pictured) at the bottom of Kloof Nek Road is a small, quirky and edgy restaurant serving dim sum-style plates – the lobster roll alone is a good enough reason to hope the place survives forever.

Hip hangouts where kids are welcome
A Tavola in Claremont – for the southern suburbs, it counts as hip. It’s good, honest Italian cooking that feeds the soul. The linguine gamberi is my standard order, and when it’s in season, they do a killer porcini bruschetta.

Dining experience worth leaving town for
The Table (pictured) at De Meye in Stellenbosch is very cool and totally unpretentious. It’s not fine dining, but the food is well cooked and comforting. It gives you a sense of being in the countryside in South Africa. 

A reliable place for a pre-dinner sundowner
Camps Bay can be hectic, so I recommend the Grand Café and Beach in Granger Bay. There’s nothing better than sitting barefoot on the sand, looking out over Table Bay with a glass of bubbly or pint of ice-cold lager.

Interview by Brandon de Kock


Luke Dale-Roberts puts his name behind four establishments in South Africa: The Test Kitchen, The Pot Luck Club and The Shortmarket Club in Cape Town, as well as Luke Dale Roberts X The Saxon in Johannesburg. 

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This article has been tagged Food + Drink, Travel Tips