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Warm your tastebuds at the best restaurants with fireplaces in Cape Town
There’s something magical about fire. Ever since our kind discovered it roughly 1.5 million years ago, we’ve been attached to the warmth, light, and comfort it offers.
That’s exactly why, if you ask me to pick between a Cape Town restaurant with a fireplace and one without, I won’t even blink. I’ve been to enough of these crackling spots to know they’re proper cosy and romantic, especially with a steak or glass of red in hand.
If you’re the same, you might want to peep some of my favourites below. They’re the toastiest of the lot.
Chingadas Mexican Cantina Cape Town
From chingadas_ct
Address: 50 Orange St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 201 0325
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 12 pm to 12 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 9 pm
Fiesta-esque afternoons, low-key nights…Chingadas knows how to turn up and wind down.
If you prefer the latter, the fireplace and vintage accents will set the scene, while Mexican offerings handle your palate. The birria tacos are no-brainers, with a heavily spiced and umami character.
To quell (or stir) the dish’s heat, I often go for their famed margaritas. Fruity, peppered, smoked, minty—the range goes beyond a classic marg.
| Tip: Visit from 4 pm to 7 pm to score happy hour deals. |
Asoka Restaurant
From asokakloofstreet
Address: 68 Kloof St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 422 0909
Operating Hours: Daily – 6 pm until late
Rooted in a 150-year-old olive tree and housed within a Victorian-era abode, Asoka feels mystical and posh alike.
While warmed by the fireplace, diners get to indulge in a menu revolving around the elements, with Mediterranean and Asian flavours headlining the bunch. Think butter chicken curry (wind), tempura vegetables (earth), tuna tacos (water), and Wagyu tartare (fire).
| Tip: Follow them on Insta for the scoop on their latest menu sets. |
The Village Idiot
From shakirah.kitching
Address: 32 Loop St, CBD
Contact Details: +27 21 418 1548
Operating Hours:
- Tue – 8 pm to 3 am
- Wed to Sat – 6 pm to 4 pm
While more renowned for its open-to-the-elements balcony and mad dancefloor, The Village Idiot can still soothe weary diners with its indoor fireplace.
Of course, the braai-centric menu is part of the charm. Chakalaka is paired with the barbecued local pork and grilled prawns, so you’ll mostly wolf down fiery and savoury flavours, best toned with craft beer…which they have lots of, thankfully.
| Tip: Don’t forget to bring your IDs. The bouncers here can be strict. |
Constantia Glen
From constantiaglen
Address: Constantia Main Rd, Constantia
Contact Details: +27 21 795 5639
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 10 am to 6 pm
- Fri to Sat – 10 am to 9 pm
At Constantia Glen, I had to make a tough call: 360-degree views of vines outside, or warm by the fire inside. Good thing it turned brisk, which resolved the dilemma for me.
So inside I went, sipping on their cool-climate wines, mainly the Glen Three. It was a deep ruby sip that had what I wanted for a Bordeaux-style drink—sharp plum and blackcurrants, rounded out by herbal notes.
I had the wood-fired flammkuchen beside it. As promised, the French-German flatbread borrowed a lot of nuances from its crème fraîche base, aromatic toppings, and meaty bits.
| Tip: Wednesdays and Thursdays are their most relaxed days. |
On the Rocks Restaurant
From ontherocks_rest
Address: 45 Stadler Rd, Bloubergstrand
Contact Details: +27 21 554 1988
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 9 pm
As if the Atlantic meeting the Table Mountain wasn’t enough, the 56-year-old On the Rocks adds an enclosed fireplace for extra magic.
On the table, the lovely staff offered us fresh catches first. West Coast oysters with lemon opened the meal, followed by the tomato-based Cape Malay curry that had succulent prawns and clean linefish.
I then dug in for my porky fix. The espetada skewers handled that, each chargrilled piece bursting with peppery and tangy nuances.
| Tip: Give them a call if you’re looking for a wedding venue. They usually offer discounts and special deals for weddings with 50+ guests. |
Foxcroft Restaurant
From foxcroftfood
Address: Shop 8, High Constantia Centre, Groot Constantia Road, Constantia
Contact Details: +27 21 202 3304
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 2:30 pm, 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Foxcroft is meant for those obsessed with urban-style and small-plate dining. The renowned Glen Williams crafts the seasonal fare here, so expect refined choices, just toned down for comfort.
The Thai BBQ duck wowed us. The golden-brown meat was smoky, umami, and sweet, with bold red curry wrapping each cut.
| Tip: You can drive to the restaurant. There’s a spacious parking space. |
Harbour House Kalk Bay
From harbourhouseza
Address: Harbour, Main Rd, Kalk Bay
Contact Details: +27 21 788 4133
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 10 pm
Few things beat a beachfront meal by the fire, and Harbour House delivers exactly that. Menu-wise, most plates here are drawn straight from the ocean you’ll be facing.
Linefish anchors that selection. There are several ways to enjoy its clean and delicate meat, such as soaking it in fiery laksa or tossing it with mussels and calamari over homemade pappardelle.
| Tip: Stop by on an afternoon to see the seals at their most active. |
Kloof Street House
From kloofstreethouse
Address: 30 Kloof St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 423 4413
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 12 pm to 12 am
- Tue to Sun – 10 am to 12 am
F. Scott Fitzgerald would probably fall in love with Kloof Street House. The lavishness of the Victorian-era manor where it’s perched remains palpable, enhanced by the courtyard decor and the three antique fireplaces.
Turning to the offerings, contemporary and fusion plates are what they do best. Brunch usually revolves around eggs, bacon, and salmon Benedict, while the latter hours get you heavy-hitters like garlic prawns and aged beef tartare.
| Tip: Into live music? Opt for a Sunday visit. |
Den Anker
From den_anker
Address: V&A Waterfront, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
Contact Details: +27 21 419 0249
Operating Hours: Daily – 9 am to 10:30 pm
The harbour is rarely too cold for the soul with Den Anker around. Matching its scores of Belgian beers is the fireplace, which even gets cosier with a plate of sesame tuna or a Wagyu burger in hand.
That said, it’s the patron’s pick that stole our hearts: bitterballen. Prepared the traditional way, these deep-fried Dutch meatballs (beef or veal) are superbly rich, which means they’re best downed with a cold one.
| Tip: Email them at [email protected] if you’re rolling with a group that prefers a special menu. |
Foresters Arms
From forries_sa
Address: 52 Newlands Ave, Newlands
Contact Details: +27 21 689 5949
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 11 am to 11 pm
- Tue – 11 am to 10 pm
- Wed to Thu – 11 am to 11 pm
- Fri – 11 am to 12 pm
- Sat – 9 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 9 am to 9 pm
Foresters Arms has kept its old-world soul intact since 1852. Stop by on a wintry night, and you’ll see bygone-era leather and wood furnishings lit by a fireplace, often while locals tuck into the joint’s famed Sunday carvery.
The wood-fired selection is also stacked, and it’s honestly what I return for. It’s hard to pass up a classic Margherita with a tangy, 32-cm mozzarella base.
If you want wilder takes, they have that too. The Mexican, for example, has black beans, jalapenos, and ground chilli beef as toppings, finished with a cool crème fraîche to balance the punch.
| Tip: They broadcast anticipated rugby matches. The schedule is posted on their Insta. |
ëlgr
From elgr.restaurant
Address: 75 Kloof St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 422 0384
Operating Hours:
- Wed to Fri – 6 pm to 11 pm
- Sat – 12 pm to 3 pm, 6 pm to 11 pm
The open kitchen of ëlgr gave us front-row seats to the action, though I’d be capping if I say we didn’t settle there for the double-sided fireplace. Straight up, it brought some serious warmth to their Nordic-African staples.
What are those, you ask? The answer depends on the season. In our case, it was white pizza with ricotta and baby potatoes finished with a hit of parmesan.
| Tip: You can score 2-4-1 pizzas on Saturdays. |
The Wild Fig Restaurant
From thewildfigcpt
Address: 1 Liesbeek Ave, Observatory
Contact Details: +27 21 448 0507
Operating Hours:
- Mon – 12 pm to 9 pm
- Tue to Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 4 pm
Like its eclectic Asian-Mediterranean menu, The Wild Fig offers contrasting vibes. Outside, nature and fresh air are the centrepieces; inside, it’s all flickering light and romance.
In terms of offering, their jus-glazed lamb shank is a clear-cut favourite. I gave it a shot twice, and both times, the gamey flavours played beautifully against the tart salsa verde and buttery mash.
A glass of Radley & Finch (or any cab-sav, for that matter) often elevates the said plate. The variety’s fruit-forward notes simply enhance the meat’s sharp profile.
| Tip: Tables of 5+ incur a 10% service fee. Budget accordingly. |
Aubergine Restaurant
From auberginecapetown
Address: 39 Barnet St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 465 0000
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 6 am to 10 pm
- Thu to Fri – 12 pm to 2 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 6 pm to 10 pm
Sophisticated but never cold, Aubergine lures in lovers of east-west cuisine, often into its main dining room, where a wood-burning stove sets the mood.
The menu evolves seasonally, but there are staples, including wild oysters dressed in lime and veggie rolls in black bean salsa.
Most patrons, though, prefer the mild ostrich filet because of its low-fat texture and slightly sweet finish. There are some hints of nuttiness and creaminess as well, thanks to the white poppyseed sauce.
| Tip: About to throw a party? Their function spaces can handle 10–50 guests. |
Upper Union
Address: 3 Upper Union St, Gardens
Contact Details: +27 21 891 0360
Operating Hours: Daily – 12 pm to 4 pm, 6 am to 10 pm
The More Family Collection’s Upper Union warms on every level—literally. A modern stove burns downstairs, while the second floor is made toasty by a Victorian hearth.
Those cocktails bring the heat, too. Bitter Berry is a signature mix I always go for, as its fruity-floral taste deepens into something bittersweet, which is right up my alley.
To match, I normally order small plates. It’s often a toss-up between the tajin-spiced fried chicken and sweet-savoury Puglia burrata.
| Tip: Walk-ins are accepted, but we really suggest booking your seat to avoid disappointment. |
