Cape Town’s rainy winter weather is unlike anywhere else in South Africa, where winters are dry, dusty, and freezy cold. While winters in the Mother City may not be the coldest in the country, after a couple of rainy days the chill can start to creep under your skin. In winter Cape Town’s eateries go into full winter-mode, with cosy fireplaces and hearty meals to warm your toes and your tummy. Here’s a look at a couple of restaurants where you can get cosy during the winter chill.

1. Jonkershuis Constantia

One of Groot Constantia Wine Estate’s dining gems, Jonkershuis draws you in with its character, olde world charm and cosy ambience. During the Cape’s colder months get cosy by the fireside while indulging in fresh cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The stunning outdoor areas are kept warm with large gas heaters so don’t let the chill keep you at home. Bookings at Jonkershuis are essential.

Website: jonkershuisconstantia.co.za/

2. Foxcroft Constantia

The industrial chic setting with screed floors and coppery tones makes for an elegant backdrop for the delicious cuisine. It’s impossible to pigeonhole Foxcroft into a style of cuisine, with flavours ranging from spicy salsa matcha to kimchi ‑ each plate a surprise, whether you’ve signed up for the smaller four‑course menu or the eight‑course feast.

Website: foxcroft.restaurant

3. Kloof Street House

Beneath the pressed ceilings of this twentieth century Victorian house is a feast of design passion. From beautiful chandeliers to a suitcase‑stacked bar, the restaurant is a visual treasure for the diner. Every inch of the house is a memoir of a time or place that escapes the modern city around us. As the chill of winter sets in, curl up on the chesterfield couches in the library lounge or savour the glow of the dining room fireplaces.

Website: www.kloofstreethouse.co.za

4. Azure Restaurant

As far as views go, nothing comes close to Azure at the Twelve Apostles as it looks out over the Atlantic ocean, especially during a typical Cape Town winter storm. The restaurant offers an indulgent fine dining experience in their luxurious dining room that features two grand fireplaces. Booking essential.

Website: 12apostleshotel.com/dining-and-drinks/the-azure-restaurant

5. Rick’s Cafe Americain ‑ Restaurant & Bar

With its three fireplaces and Moroccan‑themed decor inspired by the film Casablanca, Rick’s is cosy personified. The kitchen serves predominantly Middle Eastern inspired comfort fare, but there are also burgers, tapas and grill choices.

Website: rickscafe.co.za/

6. The 41, Camps Bay

The 41, based on the Camps Bay strip, offers unsurpassed vistas across the white sandy beach and glistening ocean. With an extensive, multifaceted menu, the restaurant offers a diverse culinary experience. The chic, minimalist setting with dark hues and illustrious Mumm Champagne bar fountain creates an atmosphere of understated opulence.

Website: the41.co.za

7. The Wild Fig Restaurant, Mowbray

A stone’s throw from the CBD, and set in a beautifully restored 18th-century Victorian building, is The Wild Fig Restaurant. The restaurant’s large open fireplace provides a warm, cosy atmosphere, while the kitchen serves up hearty home-style fare. The restaurant’s bar, Annie’s Arms, offers more than 35 single malt whiskies to savour with your meal.

Website: thewildfig.co.za

8. Caffe Verdi, Wynberg

A long-standing Southern Suburbs favourite, Caffe Verdi in Wynberg is a cosy English pub that serves delicious pizzas from their wood fired oven in a friendly atmosphere. In winter their fireplace keeps visitors warm while they enjoy a slice, a drink, and the game on the big screen.

Website: caffe-verdi.co.za