Few stretches of coastline anywhere in the world pack in as much beauty and buzz as Camps Bay. With the Twelve Apostles rising dramatically behind and the icy-blue Atlantic stretching out in front, the Camps Bay strip on Victoria Road has become one of Cape Town’s most iconic dining destinations. Palm-lined pavements, golden sunsets, and a lineup of restaurants that range from barefoot-luxury beach bars to elegant sunset lounges. This is truly where the city comes to see, be seen, and eat exceptionally well.

At the heart of it all is Kove Collection, the hospitality group that has quietly shaped the Camps Bay dining scene since Paranga first opened its doors in 2002. Today, the Collection’s outlets dominate the strip, each with its own personality but sharing the same non-negotiable: that unbeatable Camps Bay view. Here’s your guide to the must-visit spots.

Surfshack: Laidback Vibes

If you’re wanting something low key but with that gorgeous Camps Bay’s view, Surfshack is where you land. Think shareable plates, wood-fired pizza, and a cocktail menu designed for long, sun-filled afternoons. It’s the perfect spot for a relaxed lunch with friends or family without ever losing sight of the ocean.

Paranga: Camps Bay’s Original

No conversation about Camps Bay dining starts anywhere but Paranga. Born in 2002, it’s the restaurant that essentially defined the Camps Bay lifestyle, with coastal dining and stylish crowds spilling from lunch into dinner over Champagne and langoustines. Perched right on the beachfront, Paranga remains the Collection’s flagship, and it’s still the address locals recommend first when out-of-towners ask where to eat in Camps Bay.

Bilboa: Elevated Dining

One floor up from the beachfront bustle, Bilboa is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that brings a more polished, cosmopolitan energy to the Camps Bay strip. With its chic interiors, open-air setting, and uninterrupted views over the Atlantic, Bilboa is built for elegant lunch and dinners rather than casual beach lunches. 

Chinchilla: Sunset Drama

Chinchilla Rooftop, voted one of Time Out’s best rooftop bars in the world, is where sundowners really comes alive. This is the Collection’s drinks-focused venue, and it has earned its reputation as one of the best rooftop bars in Cape Town, if not the country. Come for golden-hour cocktails, stay for the DJ and the kind of 360-degree sunset that makes you forget to check your phone. Chinchilla is non-negotiable.

la Belle: The Local Favourite

For a slower pace, la Belle Bistro is the spot. It’s a charming all-day café serving bistro classics and fresh-baked treats. Open from early morning, la Belle is a firm favourite with the locals for their morning coffee, a light lunch, or a catch-up with friends on the sunny deck overlooking the ocean.

Zenzero: Wood-Fired Menu on the Strip

Meaning “ginger” in Italian, Zenzero is all about fire. Think coal-roasted seafood, skillet-seared meats, fire-roasted vegetables, and woodfired pizza, all cooked in full view on an open-plan wood-fired oven. It’s family-friendly, ocean-facing, and home to what might be the most coveted terrace on the entire strip.

Beyond Kove Collection

Other Camps Bay Favourites Worth Knowing

While Kove Collection has shaped much of the strip’s identity, Camps Bay’s dining scene is bigger than any one group, and a handful of independent stalwarts have earned their own loyal followings over the years.

Codfather Seafood & Sushi has been a Camps Bay institution since 1998. There’s no set menu. Instead, you browse a display of the day’s fresh catch, and have it grilled or turned into sushi exactly how you like it. 

Mantra Café sits right in the thick of the action, with an open deck perfect for watching the palm trees, the beach, and the people go by. The café-style menu spans generous plates like smoked yellowtail crudo and butter-basted ribeye, with an extensive wine list and strong cocktail game.

The Hussar Grill is set slightly back from the beachfront buzz, up the hill, but that hasn’t stopped it becoming a firm local favourite. As part of the well-known South African steakhouse group, it’s all about premium aged beef, skilled grilling, and old-world charm.

Harry’s Beach rounds out the list as one of the strip’s best-reviewed newer additions, known for its seafood and relaxed beachfront setting.

Together with the Kove Collection venues, these spots make Camps Bay one of the most diverse and satisfying stretches of restaurants anywhere in Cape Town. Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a table with a view waiting for you.

Plan a Day of Dining in Camps Bay 

The beauty of the Kove Collection’s footprint in Camps Bay is that you can build an entire day, or night, around it: coffee and pastries at La Belle, a beach lunch at Surfshack, sundowners with a view at Bilboa or Chinchilla, and a fire-cooked dinner at Zenzero or a long, glamorous evening at Paranga. Each venue has its own character, but together they capture exactly why Camps Bay remains one of Cape Town’s most beautiful places to spend a day.

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