3 Best Restaurants in The Garden Route and the Little Karoo, South Africa

This popular spot is all about free-range, organic, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients, and chances are the garnishes on your plate will have been freshly picked from the organic herb garden outside. The vegetarian-friendly menu changes regularly and features a range of dishes served either roasted or raw. Meat eaters, you have not been neglected. Venison frikkadells (meatballs) are served with a buttery potato mash and beetroot chutney, hearty steaks come with potato wedges, and slow-cooked springbok shanks are dished up with roasted vegetables. You can also sample four craft beers, locally made cloudy cider, or freshly pressed juices. The setting is a wooden cottage where guests are encouraged to linger over their meal. Zucchini is part of Timberlake Farm Stall, which has a number of shops.

Friendly service, great food, and good value are the highlights of this eatery serving authentic Italian food with a local flavor. Try the pizza with butternut squash, goat cheese, and chopped tomatoes or the prawns panfried with fennel, garlic, and caper butter—both local favorites. It's very busy in season, so book ahead if you can. 

A lovely colonial-style house is the setting for this charming restaurant. Eat beneath shady umbrellas in the lush gardens where inviting paths are flanked by nicely trimmed hedges and low stone walls. Sip superb coffee on the cushioned sofa or enjoy some quiet moments on the airy verandah. The food is healthy, tasty, and innovative, and there's a small but comprehensive wine list.