Our guide to dining out in Gay Cape Town

Smoky garlic & lemon drizzled prawns, mussels, shrimps, lobsters and crayfish smoked or barbecued on the beach, the tide tickling your toes as you wait.

Mouth watering cardamom infused savoury coriander Cape Malay curries, briyanis and boboties served with sweet yellow rice sprinkled with raisins and for dessert, koeksisters or milk tart. Traditional African cuisine – spicy chakalaka sauce over mealie pap, morogo (steamed green vegetables) teamed with a succulent lamb shank or as a special treat, eaten with grilled or fried chilli mopani worms. To this add in an generous helping of French, Italian, German, English and Mexican restaurants and a wholesome dash of Eastern eateries from India, Thailand, Japan and China and you’ll soon discover that restaurants in Cape Town and the Western Cape cater for every taste bud.

The cuisine of Cape Town can truly be described as”international.” Menus will consist of a lot you’ll recognize (pizza, pasta and hamburgers), often some game (always ostrich, occasionally something like kudu medallions), and the more local, Malay (a sort of Muslim, Indian, Indonesian mix). Fresh fish is plentiful, and, of course, the local wines make the perfect accompaniment.

You’ll find that much of the gay scene revolves around De Waterkant, a compact district of cobblestone streets on the northeastern edge of downtown, not far from the V&A Waterfront. In this little quadrant you’ll find several excellent restaurants and cafes,