Looking for best seafood restaurants in Cape Town? This shortlist favours fish identity in our directory — sushi-and-grill rooms, harbour tables, Portuguese seafood energy — not every high-scoring Cape Town steakhouse with one hake plate.
Neighbourhood context: [Cape Town seafood guide](/blog/2026-07-18-cape-town-fish-restaurants-seafood-guide). Live listings: [fish restaurants in Cape Town](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town) · [South Africa hub](/fish-restaurants/south-africa). Species: [lobster](/fish-guide/lobster) (for crayfish comparisons), [mackerel](/fish-guide/mackerel) (oily grill cousin to snoek), [prawns](/fish-guide/prawns-shrimp).
Ratings reflect FishRestaurants.com guest scores at writing time.
Cape Town seafood quick shortlist
| Mood | Go here | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Seafood & sushi institution | Codfather Seafood & Sushi | Clear seafood identity, strong volume | | Waterfront seafood polish | Sevruga Restaurant | Harbour-side seafood signalling | | V&A Belgian-harbour classic | Den Anker | Long-running waterfront table | | Portuguese seafood energy | Dias Tavern | Grill and Atlantic-Portuguese plates | | Lobster night | Burger & Lobster by PAN | Straightforward lobster logistics |
Top-rated Cape Town seafood restaurants
Codfather Seafood & Sushi
[Codfather Seafood & Sushi](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/codfather-seafood-sushi) · 4.5 (3,700+ reviews)
When visitors search best seafood Cape Town, Codfather is the kind of room that still reads as fish-led: sushi, grilled catch, and enough review volume to be a practical first booking.
Order: local grilled fish when named (kingklip, linefish), prawns if the size/price is clear, and sushi only if the ice and turnover look serious.
Best for: first seafood nights and mixed groups (raw + cooked).
Sevruga Restaurant
[Sevruga Restaurant](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/sevruga-restaurant) · 4.4 (3,500+ reviews)
Waterfront-adjacent seafood signalling — useful when your stay is clustered around harbour logistics.
Order: shellfish if priced transparently, a simple grilled fish, and skip mystery “seafood platters” if the board is vague. Use [how to choose a seafood restaurant](/blog/2026-08-12-how-to-choose-a-seafood-restaurant).
Best for: harbour evenings when you still want a fish-first menu.
Den Anker
[Den Anker](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/den-anker) · 4.4 (5,200+ reviews)
A V&A Waterfront fixture with Belgian-harbour DNA. Judge it by tonight’s fish, not only the view of Table Mountain.
Order: mussels if you like the house style (see [mussels guide](/fish-guide/mussels)), then a grilled local fish. Confirm what is actually Cape catch.
Best for: waterfront first-timers who shortlist instead of walking into the first neon crayfish.
Dias Tavern Portuguese Restaurant
[Dias Tavern Portuguese Restaurant](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/dias-tavern-portuguese-restaurant) · 4.5 (3,100+ reviews)
Portuguese Atlantic cooking travels well to the Cape — expect grill energy closer to Lisbon than to a generic tourist buffet.
Order: seafood rice or grilled fish, prawns if the kitchen is busy, and compare with our [Lisbon seafood 2026](/blog/2026-08-05-best-seafood-lisbon-restaurants-reviewed) notes if you know that cuisine.
Best for: diners who want fire and garlic more than sushi theatre.
Burger & Lobster by PAN Collection
[Burger & Lobster by PAN Collection](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/burger-lobster-by-pan-collection) · 4.4 (3,200+ reviews)
A clear lobster night when you do not want a 40-item menu. Still confirm size and whether you are eating local rock lobster / crayfish or imported tails.
Order: lobster the way the house is set up to cook it; add a simple side. Species context: [lobster guide](/fish-guide/lobster).
Best for: celebratory, focused shellfish dinners.
What to order in Cape Town
- West Coast crayfish / rock lobster — confirm size and price
- Snoek — oily braai classic when fresh
- Kingklip / linefish — ask for the actual name
- Calamari — flash-fried; see [squid guide](/fish-guide/squid-calamari)
- Oysters — cold-water discipline still applies
- Grilled whole fish — the honesty plate
How to choose in Cape Town
Strong signals
Named local fish, busy waterfront *and* neighbourhood rooms at dinner, crayfish priced by size, and staff who distinguish Atlantic vs Indian Ocean catch.
Weak signals
Identical “seafood platter” photos on every V&A board, empty tourist rooms at 19:00, or menus that never change with season.
FAQ: best seafood Cape Town
Where should first-timers eat seafood in Cape Town?
Start with a named-fish grill or seafood-sushi room such as [Codfather](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town/codfather-seafood-sushi), then decide if you want waterfront atmosphere. Browse [Cape Town listings](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town).
Is V&A Waterfront good for seafood?
It can be, if you shortlist. Views are not a freshness guarantee. Use ratings plus the checklist in [how to choose a seafood restaurant](/blog/2026-08-12-how-to-choose-a-seafood-restaurant).
What fish is Cape Town famous for?
Snoek, kingklip, linefish, and West Coast crayfish (rock lobster). Ask which is actually on tonight.
Cape Town or the Winelands for fish?
Cape Town wins for product proximity. Winelands restaurants can still plate excellent fish — just confirm supply and cooking, not only pairing.
Plan your next meal
Open [Cape Town seafood restaurants](/fish-restaurants/south-africa/cape-town), re-read the [travel guide](/blog/2026-07-18-cape-town-fish-restaurants-seafood-guide), and study [best fish for grilling](/blog/2026-08-12-best-fish-for-grilling) before a braai night.
*Last updated: August 2026. Ratings and hours change — confirm on each restaurant page.*