Since opening in 2022, Ouzeri has quickly become a favorite for savvy locals in search of a true taste of the Mediterranean in Cape Town. Taking inspiration from his own travels and well-thumbed family recipe books, owner Nic Charalambous offers diners an authentic snapshot of Greek and Cypriot cuisine with a spotlight on produce and provenance.
Think Greek octopus with potato and caramelised garlic, or anari dumplings with fresh tomato dumplings from Cyprus. A summertime standout is the cured, smoked pork loin that is cooked over wild rosemary to offer a modern taste of Crete in the Mother City. It's a Mediterranean menu you won't soon forget, and a memorable experience that has now been recognized with a listing in the latest edition of the respected 50 Best Discovery City Guides.
'The menu is far from stereotypical,' reads the new entry for Ouzeri. 'Instead, dishes are multi-layered and impressively detailed. Kick things off with eliopita , an olive-and-anchovy bread with roasted garlic before digging into lahanadolmades , a dish of cabbage leaves stuffed with chicken and rice and doused in a truffle lemon sauce.'
50 Best Discovery is an extension of the annual World's 50 Best ranking, shining a spotlight on restaurants and bars that are worth seeking out. Upwards of 500 new venues were added in February 2025, with more than a hundred cities and towns now represented on 50 Best Discovery for the first time, showcasing the world's up-and-coming dining, drinking and travel destinations around the world.
'It's such an honor to be recognized by the World's 50 Best Discovery list,' says Charalambous. This achievement reflects our dedication to creating an authentic experience for our guests. From our humble beginnings as a pop-up experience to this incredible milestone, it's really been a journey of passion and perseverance.'
Ouzeri joins a number of other under-the-radar local favorites on the World's 50 Best Discovery list for Cape Town, including Art of Duplicity, Belly of the Beat, Fable, Salsify at The Roundhouse, Thali and Talking to Strangers. Find the full list over here.
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