26 garden eateries in South Africa

Posted by Gabrielle Jacobs on 19 October 2018

Here’s a selection of restaurants with picturesque gardens that will soothe your soul as you eat and drink to your heart’s content.

Port Elizabeth

1. The Rose Garden Tea House

The Rose Garden Tea House at Floradale Nurseries

Who could resist a cuppa here? Credit: @floradalenurseries

The Rose Garden Tea House is conveniently located in the middle of the Floradale Nurseries & Garden Centre, so you’ll be greeted by floral blooms and a garden paradise upon entry.  Breakfasts and lunches are their specialities and the scones are a huge hit.

Address: 63 B Circular Drive, Charlo

Contact: coffeeshopportelizabeth.co.za; 0413681295

 

Durban

2. Nonna at Makaranga, Kloof

Nonna's gorgeous garden view

Exquisite garden views from Nonna. Credit: @MakarangaGardenLodge

Where to begin, the cuisine or the exquisite location? The Nonna menu presents a sophisticated, contemporary fusion of Italian and Southern African fare. Dine indoors or out.  The sprawling gardens and lawns at Makaranga are serene with 18 ponds and a labyrinth to wander through. The outdoor area is both family- and wheelchair-friendly.

Address: 1A Igwababa Road, Kloof

Contact: makaranga.com/nonna; 0317646616

3. Blue Zoo in Mitchell Park, Berea/Morningside

Blue Zoo party flair!

This could be your party venue… Credit: @bluezoo.co.za

Address: 6 Nimmo Road, Morningside, Berea

Contact: bluezoo.co.za; 0313033568

The lush surrounds and vibrant flora might explain why the Blue Zoo’s tea gardens, set in Mitchell Park, is still the place to be over a hundred years on. Established in 1914 this is the oldest restuarant in Durban. The grounds are shaded and spacious, and perfect for unwinding.

4. The Chocolate Garden, North Coast

The Chocolate Garden

The cool, calm and collected Chocolate Garden. Credit: @thechocolategardensa

Address: 1 Robert Armstrong Road, Canelands

Contact: decharmoy.co.za;  0325338187

Inside the De Charmoy Estate’s fragrant edible gardens, you might wander through The Chocolate Garden, an exotically curated dining paradise. The tropical flora and resident giant tortoises bring a touch of the family’s Seychellois heritage with a vibrantly flavoured menu to match.

 

Cape Town

5. The Greenhouse Restaurant at Babylonstoren, Stellenbosch

The Greenhouse, even more enchanting by night.

The enchanting Greenhouse by night! Credit: Babylonstoren

Address: Klapmuts Simondium Road, Simondium, Paarl

Contact: babylonstoren.com; 0218633852

The Greenhouse Restaurant was custom built in France and is a vintage-style conservatory that provides the perfect moment of repose after a stroll through the Babylonstoren gardens. The menu is always seasonal and fresh with artisanal homemade bakes and spreads served in summery picnic style.

6. Table Restaurant at de Meye, Stellenbosch

Your garden dining dreams can come true!

Have a seat at The Table! Credit: @thetableatdemeye

Address: De Meye Farm, Muldersvlei Road, Klapmuts, Stellenbosch

Contact: thetablerestaurant.co.za0726960530

This restaurant on the De Meye wine farm is a homely, family-run outdoor eatery with produce sourced locally and from its farm and gardens. The set menus champion specific ingredients every week to be paired with your choice of the De Meye wines.

7. The Stables and Camphors at Vergelegen

Fine summer dining on the Vergelegen Estate.

The perfect picnic spot! Credit: @vergelegenwines

Address: Lourensford Road, Golden Acre, Somerset West

Contact: vergelegen.co.za; 0218472100

You can enjoy fine and fragrant dining at both the Stables and Camphors restaurants at the Vergelegen Wine Estate.  Picnic dining experiences are available during the summer season and meals can be shared beneath sunny, leafy canopies.

8. The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal

Werf Restaurant from the garden

A view of Werf from the garden. Credit: Boschendal

Address: R310 Pniel Road, Boschendal Estate, Groot Drakenstein, Franschhoek

Contact: boschendal.com; 0218704207

Creativity and fresh seasonal produce is at the heart of the Werf Restaurant’s philosophy and based at Boschendal, you can only imagine the fabulous wine pairings.

9. Little Stream Tea Garden, Constantia

Warm sunshine for an outdoor dining experience

Credit: @littlestreamConferenceCafe

Address: Klein Constantia Road, Constantia

Contact: www.littlestream.co.za; 0877012771

The Little Stream Café’s grounds provide a peaceful and leafy shaded setting for parties and corporate functions. There’s so much to choose from the menu, you’ll have to come back time and time again.

10. The Company’s Garden, Cape Town

The Company's Garden Restaurant

Credit: @thecompanysgardenrestaurant

Address: 15 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town

Contact: thecompanysgarden.com; 0214232919

The restaurant’s location and open setting makes sharing a meal all the more spectacular. The kitchen serves traditional South African fare, light meals and teatime favourites in this oasis of green in the heart of the city.

11. Gardener’s Cottage at The Greenhouse Nursery at the Montebello

The gorgeous Greenhouse Nursery grounds

A beautiful spot for your next Insta post! Credit: @thegreenhousenursery

Address: 31 Newlands Avenue, Newlands

Contact: montebello.co.za; 0216893158

The Gardener’s Cottage is the perfect pretty place to grab a cuppa under the shady and fragrant camphor trees.

12. Starlings Café, Claremont

A little forest retreat at Starlings

The Starlings ‘blanketed garden’. Credit: @StarlingsCafe

Address: 94 Belvedere Road, Claremont

Contact: starlings.co.za; 0216716875

Sit at the main Starlings café, in Belvedere Road, with a friend and you’ll be forgiven for thinking that you are having lunch in your pal’s back garden. Cosy and familiar, enjoy breakfasts and lunches or arrange a business meeting for a quick garden getaway.

13. Garden Lounge at The Vineyard Hotel

The stunning Garden Lounge view

Credit: @vineyardhotel

Address: Colinton Road, Newlands

Contact: vineyard.co.za; 0216574500

The Garden Lounge at The Vineyard brings elegance and sophistication to any tea date. These gorgeous grounds and splendid views will make you forget you’re in one of the busiest suburbs of Cape Town.

14. Kloof Street House, Gardens

Garden party, anyone?

Credit: @kloofstrhouse

Address: 30 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Contact: kloofstreethouse.co.za; 0214234413

The Kloof Street House has a number of vibrant and chic outdoor areas to lounge in.  It’s classy and contemporary with a touch of jazz to take your evenings from zero to a vibey va-va-voom in no time at all.

15. Rumbullion at The Roundhouse, Camps Bay

Awesome views from Rumbullion

Did someone say ‘sundowners’? Credit: The Round House

Address: Round House Road, Camps Bay

Contact: theroundhouserestaurant.com; 0214384347

The Rumbullion in Camps Bay is an outdoor entertainer’s dream.  Here, venue plus view offers every opportunity for a magnificent summer.

16. Blue Water Café at Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie

View from Blue Water Café

You won’t get tired of this view… Credit: @imhofffarm.co.za

Address: Imhoff Farm, Kommetjie Road

Contact: imhofffarm.co.za; 0217834545

Warm and friendly, the grounds are extremely child-friendly and excellent for kids parties. Definitely try out their popular wood-fired pizzas – including wheat-free alternatives.

 

Pretoria

17. Milk Plum Café in Pretoria National Botanical Garden

Milkplum events

Credit: milkplumcafe.co.za

Address: Cussonia Ave, Brummeria, Pretoria

Contact: milkplumcafe.co.za; 0128045840

Outdoor and indoor meld together seamlessly at Milk Plum Café.

18. Royal Café & Nursery, Monument Park

Take a stroll around this sweet nursery

Explore things bright and beautiful. Credit: @royalcafenursery

Address: 25 Solomon Mahlangu Drive, Monument Park, Pretoria

Contact: royalgarden.co.za; 0123471017

The Royal Café is the sweetest little go-to spot for when life gets a bit hectic. The vibe is cosy and relaxed with some room for exploring if you’re up for a quick walkabout.

19. Blue Crane Restaurant (Austin Robert’s Bird Sanctuary)

You'll feel like you're cruising downriver...

Take a break, riverside. Credit: bluecranerestaurant.co.za

Address: 156 Melk Street, Nieuw Muckleneuk

Contact: bluecranerestaurant.co.za; 0124607615

For a riverside retreat, pop in at the Blue Crane for a taste of nature or for an evening of entertainment.

20. Willow Feather Farm, Irene

So much to see at the Willow Farm!

Where to next? Happiness, hmm… Credit: @WillowFeatherFarm

Address: Portion 37, Doornkloof, Rietvleidam, Irene

Contact: willowfeather.co.za; 0636902583

For all things green, Willow Farm is the place to be. There’s a great sense of community and love for what they do wthin the Willow team, so grab a cuppa and take it all in.

 

Joburg

21. Moyo at Zoo Lake

Good times ahead at Moyo Zoo Lake

A good afternoon waiting to happen. Credit: @moyoZooLake

Address: Zoo Lake Park, 1 Prince of Wales Drive, Parkview,

Contact: moyo.co.za; 0116460058

The Zoo Lake Moyo hangout is a vibrant, but most importantly tranquil, escape from the busyness of city life. Take a moment to slow down and sync to the Moyo rhythm.

22. Gabriella’s Tea Room, Parktown North

A peek inside Gabi's Tea Room

Cosy with lovely natural lighting. Credit: gabriellastearoom.co.za

Address: 43 7th Avenue ,Parktown North

Contact: gabriellastearoom.co.za; 011442 187

Drawing from various global palates, this tea room offers deliciously diverse daytime dining in a gorgeous, homley outdoor space.

23. Toadbury Hall

The perfect picnic spot at Toadbury Hall

A picnic paradise. Credit: @ToadburyHall

Address: Plot 64, Beyers Naude Drive Extension, Elandsdrift

Contact: toadburyhall.co.za; 0105937523

The Toadbury Hall Country Hotel wedding and conference venue promises endless delights for the eyes and tummy. Eat at any of the four restaurants: the Bijou Restaurant, Otter’s Deli, WildWood Brasserie or the Badger’s Boma – they all share views of the tip-top gardens.

24. Under the Trees Garden Café at Schäffler’s Nursery, Lyndhurst

Schäffler's Nursery carrot cake claims

Carrot cake, hmm? Credit: @Schafflers

Address: 28 Johannesburg Road, Lyndhurst

Contact: schafflers.com; 0117860242

This family-run business has a lot of heart and soul, which extends to the café that shares nursery space and a menu with wholesome, colourful meals.

25. The Secret Tea Garden at Norscot Manor, Fourways

Plan your next garden event at Norscot Manor...

The perfect garden event venue! Credit: @norscotsecretteagarden

Address: 16B Penguin Drive, Norscot Manor Recreation Centre, Fourways, Sandton

Contact: secretteagarden.co.za; 0114671191

There shouldn’t be anything secret about these lawns.  It’s a great place for entertaining and is child-friendly with a jungle gym that’ll have the little ones imagining themselves in a garden castle.

26. Leafy Greens Café, Muldersdrift

Iced lattes from Leafy Greens

Wholesome iced lattes Credit: @leafygreenscafe

Address: Rocky Rodge Road, Beyers Naude Drive, Muldersdrift

Contact: leafygreens.co.za; 0105954563

At Leafy Greens, healthy has never looked so much fun. Run by SA’s emerging healthy food guru Antonia Hoddinot (née de Luca), you’ll be sampling the yummiest food sourced from their organic garden.

 

 

 

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