The Cape Town Central City is known for its eateries. In fact, there are 140 restaurants in the CBD. A selection caters to the city’s Muslim community. Here we list the retailers that are either Halaal or Halaal-friendly establishments.
With South Africa ranked as one of the world’s top 10 Muslim-friendly travel destinations, it goes without saying that Cape Town, with its rich Cape Malay heritage, is one of the country’s top Muslim-friendly cities.
In a bid to make it easy for Muslim visitors to the Central City to find a Muslim-certified or friendly restaurant among the many eateries on offer in the CBD, the CCID has compiled a list for easy reference. It contains 29 Halaal certified and seven Halaal-friendly venues situated in the CCID’s footprint in the CBD.
Scroll down to see the full list. Below is a selection of some must-visit Halaal eateries:
TOP FIVE CENTRAL CITY HALAAL-CERTIFIED EATERIES
1. MARIAMS KITCHEN
With freshly prepared, quality Malay and Indian food, Mariams Kitchen is a well-known eatery for Cape Town staples such as samoosas, mini pies, and chilli bites (dhaltjies). The restaurant is also famous for its gatsby, a foot-long sandwich packed with hot chips and steak, chicken, polony, or viennas. Patrons are spoilt for choice as there are two Mariams Kitchens in the CBD: one on the Foreshore and the other in St Georges Mall. The latter has a small prayer room and is highly recommended for boeka treats for breaking the fast.
31 Heerengracht St and 101 St Georges Mall | 021 421 3737 | www.mariamkitchen.co.za
2. ROCOMAMAS
As the only Rocomamas in the Cape Town CBD, this East City restaurant has established itself as the go-to spot for its popular “smash” burgers South Africans have come to love. Their menu also has delicious wings, burgers, and desserts. The venue is beautifully designed, and family orientated. It’s also near the historic Zeenatul Islam Masjid in District Six, which celebrated its centenary last year.
29 Buitenkant St | 021 201 7422 | www.rocomamas.com
3. ON THE SQUARE AT THE CAPETONIAN
Overlooking Pier Place, On The Square serves a range of mouthwatering, locally inspired dishes for lunch and dinner. The eatery is known for its hearty Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr feasts for breaking the fast and is currently running Ramadan specials. This includes an Iftaar buffet for R165 per person (now on till 13 May) and an Eid lunch buffet for R245 per person on 14 May.
Pier Place (Heerengracht St) | 021 405 5670 | www.capetonian.co.za
4. EASTERN FOOD BAZAAR
This renowned canteen-like eatery serves Indian, Chinese, Malay and Turkish cuisine which is both Halaal- and vegetarian-friendly. The food is prepared daily from the venue’s 10 kitchens. Eastern Food Bazaar can seat 80 to 100 people which means there’s plenty of room for social distancing. Aside from the everyday meals, the venue caters for corporate and private events in a space above the restaurant.
96 Longmarket St | 021 461 2458 | www.easternfoodbazaar.co.za
5. VIDA E CAFFÈ
The area where this Vida is situated is currently undergoing a revival with the construction of mixed-use development Foreshore Place, which is nearing completion. The eatery was renovated last year and is a fresh and inviting space. Besides the great coffee, wholesome breakfast and lunch options are available for both sit-down and takeaway. What's more, the eatery regularly has combo specials available.
4 Adderley St | 021 421 3974 | www.vidaecaffe.com
LIST OF HALAAL-CERTIFIED CBD VENUES
PRECINCT 1 (THE FORESHORE)
- Burger King
Heerengracht St | 021 417 5800 | www.burgerking.co.za - Coffee on the Square at CTICC
1 Lower Long St | Ground floor, CTICC 1) | 021 410 5053 | www.cticc.co.za - Food Lover’s Eatery (Upstairs)
Heerengracht St & Hertzog Blvd (The Towers) | 021 419 0511 | www.foodloversmarket.co.za - Kauai
Buitengracht St & Hans Strijdom Ave (7 Portside) | 021 418 0832 | www.kauai.co.za - Tortilla Modern Mexican
Lower Long St & Hans Strijdom Ave (Icon Building) | 021 418 4599 | www.tortillamodernmexican.com
PRECINCT 2 (FROM RIEBEEK ST TO WALE ST)
- Haiku Cape Town
58 Burg St | 021 424 0000 | www.bukhara.com/haiku/ - McDonald's
24A Long St | www.mcdonalds.co.za - Nando's
Cnr Waterkant & Long streets | 021 419 6191 | www.nandos.co.za - Picbel Takeaways
Picbel Parkade, Shop 17a&b, Waterkant St | 082 972 9640 - The Village Buffet
102 Long St | 021 422 3186 | https://bit.ly/2PzNZW0 - Bukhara
33 Church St | 021 424 0000 | www.bukhara.com - Debonairs Pizza
Cnr Loop & Strand streets | 021 419 6191 | www.debonairspizza.co.za - KFC
Cnr Long & Strand sts | 021 422 3889 | www.kfc.co.za - Steers
Cnr Loop & Strand sts | 021 423 6631 | www.steers.co.za
PRECINCT 3 (FROM WALE ST TO BUITENSINGEL ST)
- Bollywood Café
217 Long St | 021 422 2844 | www.facebook.com/BollywoodCafeCPT - Food Inn India
156 Long St | 021 422 5060 | www.facebook.com/FoodInnIndiaCapeTown - Malay Coffee Company
214 Loop St | 060 390 0057 - Pedros
217 Long St | 021 201 6786 | www.pedroschicken.co.za/stores
PRECINCT 4 (EAST CITY)
- Debonairs
Cnr Strand & Adderley sts (Golden Acre) | 021 425 2637 | www.debonairspizza.co.za - Kauai
No 1 SRG, Mostert St | 021 461 0841 | www.kauai.co.za - KFC
Cnr Spin & Plein sts | 021 462 3191 | www.kfc.co.za - La Menara
48 Harrington St | 061 583 1892 | www.facebook.com/lamenaracapetown - McDonald’s
Shop 4, Adderley St (Grand Parade) | 021 462 4940 | www.mcdonalds.co.za - Nando's
Shop 6v, Adderley St (Grand Parade) | 021 465 8080 | www.nandos.co.za
HALAAL-FRIENDLY VENUES IN THE CBD
PRECINCT 2
- Baran’s
36 Burg St & Shortmarket streets| 021 426 4466 - Hemelhuijs
71 Waterkant St | 021 418 2042 | www.hemelhuijs.co.za - Iron Steak & Bar
114 Bree St | 021 422 1175 | www.ironsteak.co.za - Mesopotamia
36 Burg & Shortmarket sts | 021 424 4664 | www.facebook.com/mesopotamiakurdishrestaurant
PRECINCT 3
- Cappadocia
210 Loop St | 073 919 7335 | https://bit.ly/3aISR2e - Café Frank
160 Bree St | 021 423 0360 | www.cafefrank.com - The Heritage Tea Garden
17 Queen Victoria St | 021 423 2919 | https://bit.ly/3dZNYE2
If we missed your venue, please contact Aziza Patandin at aziza@capetownccid.org.
IMAGES: CCID, Rocomamas