Vegetarian dining at Gingko restaurant is a real treat. Not only does it serve a range of hearty breakfasts, wholesome mains for lunch and everything in between, but you can also choose between its impressive buffet and a mouth-watering à la carte menu. It’s an absolute must for vegetarians and vegans. more

Since Yum Yum opened its doors in Tzaneen in 2008, the trendy bistro has enlivened dining in the Lowveld town. Head chef Jonathan Taylor’s innovative, globally inspired menus and his insistence on fresh, organic produce ensure that food lovers from far beyond the northern province of Limpopo come to here to feast. more

Durban's Freedom Café is one of the funkiest places to eat out in this port city. It is a boutique restaurant set inside a fire-engine red shipping container, and offers tasty dishes inspired by the continent of Africa. Oh, and the venue is dog friendly. more

9th Avenue Bistro, which opened in 2001, has an excellent reputation for delicious light meals that are inventive yet honour classical cooking traditions. Menus are reinvented to match the season in an atmosphere that is sophisticated yet laid-back, in true Durban style. more

South Africa's major centres – Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg – offer superb bistro restaurants. And if you look further afield, to places like the Cape Winelands, you'll be amazed at the quality of bistro dining available. Some of the country's best chefs specialise in giving a new interpretation of the French bistro, with delicious results. more

The Gourmet Shed outside Clarens is a worthy pit stop for hungry travellers in search of the finest local fare. The converted sandstone barn offers a unique restaurant and country-style feasting in a very scenic part of the Eastern Free State highlands. Think of tables of meaty treats, fresh fruit and vegetables, and melktert (milk tart) like ouma (granny) used to make. more

Chain restaurants offering vegetarian options have grown in South Africa in recent years. From traditional and health-oriented fast food outlets to sit down eateries, vegetarian dishes have increasingly made their way onto these menus. As a result, vegetarians have much more choice, no matter where they find themselves in the country. more

Cape Malay cuisine is a delicious fusion of Asian, European and African food genres. From clove laden denningvleis lamb to naartjie (tangerine) zest laden tameletjie cookies Cape Malay cooking is seasoned with history, infused with culture and full of fine flavours. more

Afrikaner cuisine has its roots in Africa, Asia and Europe. There are 2 distinct regional forms of Afrikaner cooking: boerekos and Cape Dutch food. Whether you relax with a boerebeskuit rusk or have a super-smart Cape Dutch fine dining experience, boerekos is unforgettable. more

Inspired by the subcontinent, Masala Dosa is a colourful eatery that serves Indian cuisine in an environment that is equal parts Bollywood and Cape Town. The popular South Indian breakfast dish, from which the restaurant derives its name, is a staple on the menu, which also features a number of popular vegetarian options. more

Hungry travelers and epicurean adventurers need look no further. If you have an insatiable appetite for alimentary authenticity Basotho cooking is for you. From tongue tingling ting fermented porridge to meltingly soft ox-tail stews Basotho dishes combine new experiences with great tastes. more

Afro-Lusitanian cooking is a fusion food genre resulting from the presence of many generations of Portuguese settlers in southern Africa . South Africa was never a Portuguese colony, but in recent decades, Afro-Lusitanian food has made its fiery presence known on our plates and palates. more

Afro-Cantonese cuisine is a blend of African ingredients and Chinese preparation methods. Chinese people have lived and cooked in South Africa for over a century. Afro-Cantonese cooking is now being augmented by the arrival of a new generation of Chinese cooks on African shores. more

Little Gujarat restaurant in Durban is one of the city’s best-kept secrets when it comes to traditional Indian food, prepared the Durban way. A popular, unpretentious local lunchtime spot, it caters for vegetarians, vegans and Jain vegetarians, who are spoilt for choice with the array of authentic dishes on offer. more