Last Updated on November 17, 2025 by Hannah Stephenson
Looking for affordable eats at Cape Town’s Waterfront?
The V&A Waterfront is one the city’s swankiest areas, but you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy yourself here. There are plenty of affordable restaurants where you can get a great meal for a great price.
Whether you’ve got a hankering for steak, seafood, or something else entirely, I promise you that you don’t have to spend a lot to eat well in this area. So if you’re visiting Cape Town on a budget, I’ve got 10 affordable restaurants at the V&A Waterfront for you to check out!
1) The Life Grand Cafe
Words cannot describe how much I love The Life Grand Cafe!
It’s perched right on the harbour’s edge so you get a great view as you dine. It’s a plush restaurant with a stylish interior and a nice veranda right next to the water. Not everything on the menu is cheap, but it’s definitely possible to dine here on a budget.
For example, I usually get the creamy pomodoro linguine, which is R128 for a HUGE meal. You could probably share this, but I’m greedy.
You can also get oysters for R70, a salad for R80, or a whole spatchcock chicken with potatoes and vegetables for R185.
Wine is also cheap here at R60 for a large glass of Franschhoek Cellar white – and I MEAN a large glass. There was about half a bottle in there.
Address: 2 Pierhead Road
Booking needed? No
2) Primi
Primi is a casual urban themed restaurant that serves great steak, burgers, pastas, and pizzas. I like their Waterfront location because you can get a nice view of Granger Bay and Robben Island in the distance.
The Waterfront Primi is in the Victoria Wharf Mall, on the first floor. You’ll probably smell it before you see it!
To give you an idea of the prices, a chicken kebab will set you back around R135 and the Primi Beef Burger costs R115.
Address: Shop 7226, Lower Level, Victoria Wharf Shopping Centre
Booking needed? No
3) Mozambik
Mozambik is a vibrant restaurant that brings Mozam flavour to Cape Town! It’s one of the most popular affordable restaurants at the Waterfront because it has great food and a buzzing atmosphere at a very attractive price!
And with delicious dishes like fish cooked in Zambeziana (an amazing coconut, chilli, and lime sauce), pregos, and peri-peri chicken on the menu, the affordability of Mozambik really becomes a secondary reason to eat here.
But just to give you an idea of the prices, hake Zambeziana will set you back R140 and there are Mozambican curries on the menu for between R150 and R200. This is such a great place to sample Afro Porto cuisine.
Address: Shop 8, Quay 5
Booking needed? No
4) Tasha’s
Tasha’s is an affordable South African chain that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s is doing so well that they’ve even opened up a branch in the UK!
This is a Spanish-inspired restaurant and I love the light and airy feel inside the Waterfront branch. Actually, this is the only branch of Tasha’s I’ve been to so I can’t tell you what the other ones are like!
If you fancy tapas, prices range between R40 and R90 per item. Mains generally cost between R150 and R200. They’ve got breakfast dishes, fresh salads, and plenty of healthy options. As a Brit, I also appreciate their Pimms cocktail!
Address: Shop 7117, Victoria Wharf Mall (near the entrance on Breakwater Boulevard)
Booking needed? No
5) Spur Santa Ana
My South African friends tell me that Spur is where everyone has their birthday parties when they’re little. It’s a casual, family friendly steakhouse that serves up big portions. Leave your diet at the door when you come here!
They’ve also got huge burgers for around R150, or an 800 gram rack of ribs for just shy of R300. There are usually some pretty good combo deals available, as well, like a 200g rump or sirloin steak with onion rings and chips for R110.
If you’re looking for a cheap cheat meal, Spur is definitely a good shout – and the Waterfront one is actually pretty nice! It’s inside the Victoria Wharf Mall and it has nice views over the harbour and Table Mountain. You can even sit out on the terrace if you want, although it was too cold for this when we went.
Address: Shop 280, Victoria Wharf
Booking needed? No
6) Den Anker
Den Anker is a popular Belgian restaurant on the quayside, where you can indulge in Belgian beers, fries, and of course waffles! This is is also an awesome spot for a meal of a view, as it offers direct views of Table Mountain across the water.
Basically, if you’re looking for deep fried goodness, this is the place to be. I also really like the vibe at this place. It’s super light and airy with big windows, and you have great views of Table Mountain if you sit outside.
In terms of price, you can get a bucket of Belgian mussels for R195, fish and chips for R175, or the house peppercorn steak and chips for R295. Desserts range between R65 and R85 – try the Speculoos waffle if you’re a biscoff fan like me!
Address: the Pierhead, V&A Waterfront
Booking needed? During the summer
7) Nando’s
Oh come on, I had to put Nando’s on this list.
Nando’s is a fast casual peri-peri chicken restaurant and naturally, as a Brit, I am obsessed with it.
Even though the food is Portuguese, any South African will tell you that Nando’s is South African. The first one opened in Johannesburg in 1987.
The great thing about eating Nando’s is that it is SO MUCH CHEAPER here than it is in England. The menu is bigger, too.
To be fair, Nando’s doesn’t have as great views as some of the other affordable restaurants at the Waterfront. In terms of experience, I do prefer to eat at the Grand Life Cafe or Tasha’s. But if you want a cheap, fairly healthy meal at a great price, Nando’s is the one to beat.
Address: Shop FC01, Dock Rd
Booking needed? No
8) Tiger’s Milk
Tiger’s Milk is a local bar-restaurant chain and there are lots of branches around Cape Town. They serve “dude food” which basically means burgers, nachos, pizzas, and the like. The cocktails here are decent, but nothing show stopping.
If you want a decent meal and a drink that won’t break the bank, the Waterfront location has a nice vibe. It’s got exposed brick walls, a couple of neon signs, and best of all, views over the quay with Table Mountain in the background.
The food here is pretty cheap. You can get a filling burger and chips for around R150, or a pizza between R1330 and R200.
Address: Shop 261, Victoria Wharf
Booking needed? For dinner
9) The Oranjezicht Market
Okay, so the Oranjezicht Market isn’t a restaurant, but a weekend farmer’s market where you can find a ton of stalls from Cape Town’s best home grown eateries. So for that reason, I still think it deserves a place in my list of the top affordable restaurants at the Waterfront!
Whether you want bagels from Kleinsky’s, bao buns, Cape Malay curry, or yummy Vietnamese food, you’ll definitely be able to fill up on something affordable here. Most dishes cost between R100 to R150, although drinks can be a bit expensive!
The Oranjezicht Market is in Granger Bay and it’s open on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as Wednesday evenings during the summer months. It gets busy, so try to arrive fairly early if you want a table.
Address: Oranjezicht City Farm Market, Haul Road, Granger Bay Blvd
Booking needed? No
10) Quay Four Tavern
Quay Four is a harbourside seafood restaurant. I like the laid back but fun atmosphere, and the fact that they sometimes host live bands.
There are two parts to Quay Four. The Tavern downstairs is more affordable, whereas the Tavern Upstairs is more elegant. You definitely pay a bit more for those beautiful harbour views! However, if you’re looking for a cheap meal, then you can find some fantastic food deals at the Tavern.
For example, you can get sirloin steak and chips, fish and chips, or a spatchcock chicken for R129, which is pretty hard to beat. In fact, I think you’d struggle to cook those meals at home for much less!
You can also get an entire kilogram of mussles for R149, or fish and chips for R175. These prices are so reasonable, especially at the waterfront area!
Address: Quay, 4 Dock Road, V&A Waterfront
Booking needed: No
Thanks so much for reading this blog post! For more on what to get up to at the V&A Waterfront, be sure to check out the following: