Mzansi's Most Romantic Restaurants – As Voted by You!

Reviewed by users:
Mzansi's most romantic restaurants

Earlier this year, we asked you to vote for Mzansi’s most romantic restaurants. Well, (drumroll, please!), here are some of the most-voted restaurants. 

Some of Mzansi’s Most Romantic Restaurants 

In no particular order, here are some of the top restaurants as voted by you.

In Cape Town

Peppa Jack’s Tex-Mex Grill & Bar – Cape Town

A wonderful date-night spot where you can enjoy a delicious meal while the kids play outside. Customers promise to be back for the yummy food and Margaritas.

Ashley’s Family Restaurant – Cape Town

The welcoming atmosphere makes you feel right at home. The menu has a wide range of choices, and each one is delicious. 

Zest Restaurant – Cape Town

After spending a delightful evening at this restaurant, a reviewer rated it five stars as everything from the staff to the food and atmosphere were perfect. 

Black Marlin Restaurant – Cape Town

Beautiful views of the bay are the incredible backdrop to this restaurant. The scenery and delicious seafood make it an ideal place to celebrate love. 

Blue Water Cafe – Cape Town

This restaurant is ideally situated between the mountains, sea and farm life. With these surroundings, the romantic atmosphere, delicious food and incredible staff, you couldn’t ask for anything better. 

Casa Bella – Cape Town

You feel special with the warm and welcoming atmosphere from the moment you enter the door. The delicious, thin-crust pizzas are a standout on the menu. 

Gino’s – Cape Winelands

This intimate restaurant is an ideal date spot to tune the world out while enjoying authentic Italian food. It’s always a memorable experience.

Hamachi – Cape Town

The fresh and delicious sushi is what keeps customers returning to this restaurant. If you think there’s nothing more romantic than a sushi date night, this is the place for you.

Homespun by Matt – Cape Town

One customer describes the food as “out of this world” and another as “heaven in my mouth”. Chef Matt’s passion for food can be tasted in every bite served. Perfect if you’re looking for a fine-dining experience. 

Jackson and Black Tyger – Cape Town

You must book well in advance to get a table for their popular date-night special. With delicious food and a great atmosphere, this restaurant is a must.

La Colombe – Cape Town

Spectacular, world-class food and unparalleled service are what you can expect from this restaurant. This place is truly special, which makes sense since it’s not only one of the best in Mzansi but ranks among the best restaurants in the world.

The Hart Restaurant, Melkbosstrand – Cape Town

A fan says you’ll look for any reason to return to this idyllic spot. With its perfect positioning to enjoy sundowners after a stroll on the beach and its laidback ambience, this restaurant is a firm favourite for all occasions. 

The Olive Bistro – Cape Town

Spectacular food and a superb atmosphere are what you’ll find at the restaurant. It must be good if it has such a loyal customer base.

The Fat Butcher – Cape Winelands 

“Single-handedly one of the best, if not the best, dining experiences of my life,” says one reviewer. With spectacular food and attentive service, this promises to be an all-around incredible dining experience.

Pizzeria Villagio – Cape Town

This romantic setting with delicious Italian food will be a hit every time. This place creates an ideal atmosphere for an enjoyable meal in summer or winter. 

Saray Restaurant – Cape Town

This Turkish restaurant offers exquisite and flavourful dishes along with fantastic service. 

Meade Cafe George – Garden Route 

This restaurant is highly recommended with good quality food, a romantic ambience and friendly staff.

In Gauteng

101 Fraser – Johannesburg

This restaurant serves the ideal combo for a memorable night – friendly staff, a vibey atmosphere, and fantastic food.  

Cafe 41 – Tshwane

Cosy, beautiful, and accommodating are all descriptions of this restaurant. The food is fresh and tasty, and the service is on point. First-time customers that reviewed it on Hellopeter are already planning their next trip back. 

Ukko Restaurant – Johannesburg

A reviewer describes the food as exquisite and the service impeccable, making this a must-visit restaurant.

Vini’s Restaurant – Bedfordview

This Italian restaurant is perfect for a quiet and romantic evening. It’s well known for its incredible service, with the staff going out of their way to give customers an unforgettable experience. 

Geet Indian Restaurant – Tshwane

Serving up a culinary experience from the moment you enter, you can expect friendly and warm ambience, delicious food and great wine. You won’t want to leave!

Il Gusto – Johannesburg

This restaurant offers exceptional personal service, live entertainment and excellent Italian food. Consistency is key to bringing their regular customers back.

La Madeleine – Tshwane

“Dining at La Madeleine is not just a meal; it is an experience,” says one reviewer. The food is a culinary experience, and the personal attention from the staff is unprecedented. Therefore, it is highly recommended for those special occasions. 

La Trinita – Johannesburg

Authentic Italian food where you can taste the love of cooking in every bite. There’s no need for menus as the owner will suggest something mind-blowing – what a treat!

Marble Restaurant – Johannesburg

The food is “a festival of flavours in my mouth” according to one reviewer. This top-notch restaurant boasts beautiful views, exceptional service and food.

Montanelli’s Family Restaurant – Tshwane

You can expect incredibly friendly staff, beautiful décor, and delicious food from this restaurant. The bonus is that there is a play area so you can enjoy conversation and a meal while the children play. 

O Peri Peri – Gauteng 

“Nobody does chicken that good!” exclaims one reviewer when describing this restaurant’s food. O Peri Peri has arguably the best Portuguese cuisine.

Old Ducky French Restaurant – Johannesburg

This unique French-South African fusion comes highly recommended for its superb food and charming ambience. The proof is in the pudding – the carrot cake is to die for!

On the Rox – Meyerton

The delicious seafood platter and amazing cocktails are great reasons to visit this spot. Plus, they go the extra mile for special occasions.

Papa Pronto – Johannesburg

This restaurant is an excellent all-around experience with a great menu, warm and inviting ambience and brilliant service. A perfect romantic dinner spot indeed. 

Pappas – Johannesburg

According to a happy customer, Pappas offers tasty, delicious meals that make it the only place where eating out feels worth it. 

Sakhumzi Restaurant – Johannesburg

You’ll find a wonderful blend of traditional and modern food with good service at this restaurant. One reviewer says you won’t regret trying it.

Signature Restaurant – Johannesburg

This is an elegant restaurant with a fine-dining experience. Along with the delicious food, this restaurant has live music, which sets the ambience, making it a perfect romantic restaurant. 

Smack Pizza Co – Johannesburg

This fantastic pizza place provides delicious meals with excellent service, so customers keep returning with a smile. 

Roots Restaurant – Johannesburg

This is a firm favourite for a special occasion. The menu constantly changes, which makes every visit memorable and leaves you feeling satisfied. This dining experience comes highly recommended.

Thunder Gun – Johannesburg

Named the best steakhouse in town by a customer, this restaurant boasts delicious meals with fantastic service – a definite favourite to celebrate special occasions. 

Truffles on the Park – Johannesburg

The food served is divine, and the restaurant setup is beautiful. The warm, friendly service makes this sushi spot stand out in Jozi.

Texican Eatery & Tequila Bar – Tshwane

“You’ll definitely go back once you’ve tried this restaurant once”, says a happy returning customer. It’s a Mexican-style restaurant with the best craft tequila according to reviews.

The Godfather Restaurant – Midstream

The number of years this restaurant has been in business is a testament to its incredible service and delicious meals. The legacy is why customers keep going back – even decades later. 

Pachas – Tshwane

The personal attention of the owners, the great ambience and the excellent food, are all reasons why one reviewer gave this restaurant a five-star rating. 

In the Free State

New York Restaurant – Bloemfontein

Enjoy every moment at this restaurant, regardless of the occasion. With delicious and unique food, you’ll never walk away disappointed. 

In KwaZulu-Natal

Circus Circus – Durban

This franchise is a favourite, regardless of which one you visit. The staff is attentive, and the food is reliably good. Despite the name, this restaurant is anything but a joke.

Jayz Grill – Pietermaritzburg 

A firm favourite for every occasion, this restaurant has delicious food and a particularly good steak. The staff are great, and customers are left satisfied.

Joop’s Place – Durban

Joops is the “perfect spot for a night out with friends or a romantic dinner with your significant other” according to one reviewer. It has a cosy atmosphere, attentive staff and delicious food options.  

Lazy Moose – KwaZulu-Natal

You will find mouth-watering food, a great restaurant atmosphere, and incredible views. The staff are great, and one reviewer gives high compliments to the chef. 

Little Havana – Durban

This steakhouse knows how to make its customers happy. With good food and great service, it’s a trusted favourite for many South Africans.

Lord Prawn – Durban

This seafood joint has a great atmosphere and attentive staff. “Truly romantic,” says one reviewer and promises to be back after gushing over their experience. 

Oscars Cafe Hillcrest – Durban

The staff at this restaurant are fantastic and even recommended specific dishes from the menu, which one reviewer absolutely loved. This spot comes highly recommended.

Roma Revolving Restaurant – Durban

Dubbed the “most romantic restaurant in Durban” by one reviewer, this restaurant literally rotates as you enjoy your meal. 

Sagewood Cafe –  Pietermaritzburg

This spot is situated in a beautiful nursery with a riverbank on one side and overlooks exquisite views. The food is fresh and yummy and caters to all dietary needs. 

Butcher Block – KwaZulu-Natal

The delicious meals and excellent service keep customers coming back. This is a winning combination for a memorable experience.

In the Eastern Cape

Toro Sushi Restaurant  – Gqeberha

According to a reviewer, this top date-night spot is one of the best restaurants in Gqeberha. They have incredible customer service, and the food is presented impeccably. 

Franchises

Turn ‘n Tender 

According to a happy customer, this restaurant serves up the best steaks everywhere. The delicious food, friendly staff, and great atmosphere are top-notch.

Fire Room Sushi And Grill 

Aptly described as “[the] most romantic restaurant I have ever visited” by a reviewer. The romantic ambience, attentive staff and visually entertaining presentation of the food have made memorable nights for many happy customers. 

Fishmonger 

This excellent seafood restaurant makes for many happy returning customers. According to a review, they pulled out all the stops to make this Valentine’s Day extra special with its delicious food and excellent service. 

Hussar Grill 

The welcoming and friendly staff is a standout experience regardless of which Hussar Grill you visit. The food is delicious, and the turnaround time is great. 

Lupa Osteria 

These restaurants offer fresh, delicious meals and a lovely atmosphere to match any occasion, regardless of the branch you visit. The fantastic service is attentive and adds to your enjoyable experience.

Mo-zam-bik Restaurant 

From the lovely, attentive staff to the awesome atmosphere and even better food, this franchise is one of Mzansi’s firm favourites. 

O’Galitos 

A great atmosphere, with good food at affordable prices, keeps customers returning to these restaurants. 

Pigalle Restaurant  

Enjoy the live music in the background while you and your date feast on a delicious meal. This restaurant is perfect for Valentine’s Day, as you can even boogie on the dance floor after your meal. 

La Pentola 

The ambience is romantic yet unpretentious, the staff are friendly and welcoming, and the food is fantastic. 

Oko Restaurant 

The Oko Restaurants have a top-notch ambience and service, making it a great place to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Yami Rib & Burger 

Good food at great prices, wonderful staff, and fast service can generally be expected at these restaurant. 

Nikos 

Fantastic service, delicious food and fabulous presentation are what you can expect. Returning customers love it and can’t recommend it enough.

Make the Best Dining Choices

Always read reviews before you choose a restaurant for special occassions like Valentine’s Day! Start browsing and writing your own reviews now.

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