World’s ‘best city for dining and drinking’ is surprisingly ‘affordable’

A new survey by the experts at Which? has crowned the “best” city destination in the world for top-rated dining and drinking. Cape Town, South Africa, came out on top thanks to its “world-class” options, many of which are locally made thanks to the nature which wraps around the city.

Though you can certainly opt for a high-end meal in Cape Town, you can also enjoy a three-course meal for two people in a mid-range restaurant for less than £30.

According to financial aggregator Numbeo, a mid-range three-course meal is available for 700.00 South African rand (ZAR) which is roughly £29.45. If you want to dine out in an inexpensive restaurant, you can expect to pay an average of 150ZAR – which equates to just £3.68.

The city is also surrounded by many local vineyards, meaning high-quality wine is well within reach at an affordable price. Numbeo says a bottle of mid-range wine will set you back 87.50ZAR which is approximately £3.68.

The world-class vineyards of Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are just a short drive away from the city and offer vineyard tours and tasting sessions.

However, the affordable options don’t necessarily mean scrimping on quality. According to Which?: “High-quality food and drink, awarded five stars by readers, at low prices are a draw.”

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “With its scenic vineyards and unique Cape Malay cuisine, our research has crowned Cape Town the top long-haul city destination for foodies. Travellers were particularly impressed by how affordable Cape Town’s world-class food and drink is.”

If you want to sample local cuisine, the experts recommend trying Cape Malay. Unique to the Western Cape, this type of food is a blend of Malaysian, Indonesian and South African flavours.

“Make sure to sample Babootie: curried ground lamb topped with a savoury egg custard, similar to moussaka,” recommended Which?.

“Koeksister is another classic; a cinnamon doughnut glazed with syrup and grated coconut.”