Pretoria Restaurants and Dining

(Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa)

Like many of South Africa's major cities, Pretoria's restaurants represent a wide variety of cuisines.

From small Greek tavernas to Indian restaurants and traditional steakhouses, it is possible to satisfy most tastes when dining out in one of the city's many eateries.


For those special occasions, Pretoria is also able to lay claim to some rather notable dining establishments and upmarket restaurants.

When to Eat / Opening Hours

In Pretoria, most restaurants open for lunch service during the week, from around 12:00 to 15:00. Evening meals are also served throughout the week, although it's worth remembering that some dining venues may close on Monday.

In the evening, most eateries tend to open from around 18:30 and close at around 22:00. If you've chosen a particularly sought-after restaurant, it's always advisable to book a table in advance. If you're just looking for a snack or breakfast, then Pretoria's cafes and coffee shops stay open during normal business hours, from 09:00 to 17:00.

What to Eat

If you have a sweet tooth, then Pretoria is definitely a good place to visit. Local specialties include the likes of 'sachertorte' (chocolate gateau) and a veritable delight of rich cakes, pastries and tarts. Of particular interest, and worth trying at least once, are 'koeksuster' - doughnuts that are plaited and then covered in sticky syrup. 'Vetkoek' are fat-laden confectionaries and certainly not ideal food for those on a diet!

As far as savoury snacks are concerned, Pretoria is home to the 'boerewors' and the 'sputnik', a potato and sausage concoction.

Pretoria's indigenous cuisine is a real mixture of flavours, including influences in particular from Malaysian, Indian and African cuisines.

Where to Eat

Steaks feature on many restaurant menus in Pretoria. The city also has a number of well-known steakhouses, many of which fit the family restaurant bill quite nicely. A few have lately become much more fashionable and upmarket, with a reputation for serving good food and wine. The Famous Butcher's Grill and Cynthia's Indigo Moon in Brooklyn rank among the most popular dining venues of their kind.

Greek tavernas, Italian 'ristorantes' and Portuguese restaurants also abound, particularly in the suburbs of Brooklyn, Centurion, Menlyn, Lynwood and Waterkloof. The award-winning Ristorante Ritrove in Waterkloof offers haute cuisine amidst impressive surroundings. Authentic food is often matched with similarly styled entertainment, making these lively dining spots where you can enjoy the ambience as much as the food. Think plate throwing and live traditional music. Traditional Indian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese fare can also be sampled at restaurants found throughout Pretoria and its suburbs.

If your budget doesn't allow you to eat out at restaurants as much as you'd like, or if you prefer to eat informally outdoors, Pretoria has plenty of dining alternatives. Head to one of the city's shopping centres and you will find plenty of decent cafes or family eateries where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or delicious cake. Food to take out is available from the city's many delicatessens and bakeries.