The best fish and chips in Cape Town

The False Bay suburb of Kalk Bay is a tourist hotspot in Cape Town, but look past the bars, coffee shops and boho-boutiques and make for the harbour. Kalky’s is an institution here, and owner George Mandalios has been serving up healthy portions of fish and tjips (as the locals call them) since 1996. There’s always hake, often snoek, and if you’re lucky, a selection of fresh line-fish from the boats offloading on to the nearby quayside. Place your order and grab a table with a view.

This much-loved local eatery on the outskirts of Hout Bay Harbour does what it says on the box. From a simple takeaway kitchen set metres from an Atlantic Ocean breakwater, Fish on the Rocks dishes up a reliable menu of fresh fish and seafood platters. There’s hake year-round, but when you can, look for the likes of seasonal yellowtail or snoek (a line-caught game fish with firm flesh and plenty of flavour – a local favourite). Though it’s officially a takeaway with no table service, there are shaded picnic benches with a sea view where you can scran.

If you find yourself in the city centre with a hankering for fish and chips, head straight for Lusitania Fisheries. Set on bustling Waterkant Street, it’s a popular choice with local office workers, and at lunchtime you’ll find a queue out the door. The service is curt and the shop lacks frills, but there’s an old-school charm to this traditional chippie. In the winter, ask for a side order of fried snoek roe. They also serve the most amazing calamari, so opt for that if you aren't in the mood for fish.

For a more upmarket experience, look no further than SeaBreeze Fish & Shell. Set in a historic building above the inner city, this cosy eatery offers an inspired seafood menu that sails from small plates of prawn arancini and locally farmed mussels to whole roasted fish done Asian style. But the classics are cooked perfectly here, too, and the line-caught hake with hand-cut chips is simply outstanding. It’s not the cheapest in town, but certainly your best for an elegant night out. Plus there’s a wonderful seafood-friendly wine list as well.

Giving Lusitania a run for its money is Revelas Fisheries on Long Street. Like Lusitania, there are few frills to be found here, and while the menu is centred on hake and snoek, there’s plenty of choice on how it arrives: grilled, fried, middle cut, with chips, straight up or combo. The choice is yours and the friendly folks behind the counter – including owner Jose de Freitas – are always happy to talk you through it all.

If you’re feeling peckish on your road trip to the tip of the Cape Peninsula, pull in at this charming harbourside restaurant for a parcel of traditional fish and chips. You can order to go, but the handful of tables are set overlooking the famous harbour, so it’s worth taking a break and sitting-in. The Salty Sea Dog menu extends beyond excellent fish and chips to include calamari, fish cakes, fish burgers and platters. They also serve smoorsnoek, a traditional Cape Malay dish.

Besides the safe swimming beach, there are few reasons to spend much time in the sleepy suburb of Fish Hoek. One of those reasons is Fish Hoek Fisheries, a low-key fish shop that serves some of the best fried fish in the southern peninsula. Hake is the standard order, with perfectly cooked chips on the side, but also try the delicious Portuguese fish cakes. Grab your little parcel and head for the nearby beach.

A surf session in the waves at Muizenberg Beach is sure to work up a hunger, but happily, the folks at Lucky Fish & Chips won’t mind if you wander in with water dripping from your wetsuit. Set in the heart of Muizenberg’s beachfront strip, this bright and breezy restaurant offers paper-wrapped packages of perfectly crisp fish (choose between hake or snoek) and delightfully crunchy chips. Both dine-in and takeaway are available, but the best seats are at the front counter, looking out at the waves.

Hidden away at the unlovely end of Albert Road in the gentrifying suburb of Salt River, you’ll find one of Cape Town’s unsung heroes of the fish and chip business. Palace Fisheries dates back to 1955, and the enormous parcels of hake and chips remain the most popular item on the menu. Palace Fisheries is also unique in being the only chip shop in the city using wood fires to heat the oil, and regulars swear they can taste the difference.

Snoekies has been around since 1951, growing from the original branch in Hout Bay Harbour to six stores across the city. They’re all reliably good, with a well-priced menu of dependable favourites, including lunchtime specials and family meals. Stick with the snoek and chips parcel and you won’t go wrong. At the Big Bay outlet, you can wander a few steps to the beachfront to enjoy impressive views of both the ocean and Table Mountain.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t your traditional fish-and-chippie. You won’t find vinegar-soaked chips and paper wrappers at Riva Fish Restaurant, but the authentic Italian experience makes it well worth a visit, with chefs turning out remarkable plates of fresh local seafood. The seared tuna and line-fish carpaccio are superb when in season, and if you’re craving the crunch of old-fashioned fish and chips, you’ll find it in their delightful deep-fried hake, cooked with a crispy polenta crumb and plated with vegetable fries.