When it comes to food, summer in the Western Cape means an abundance of fresh, local produce. Think artichokes, beetroot, courgettes, green beans, mushrooms, sweet peppers and juicy apricots. Light salads are enjoyed with grilled courgettes, radicchio and green beans, while chilled soups are accompanied with fynbos honey and local cheeses.

Vineyard tours are encouraged during the balmy summer days, following the late-summer grape harvest between January and April, prior to the cooler winter months. We recommend paying a visit to the Cape Winelands district to visit some of the oldest and most well-established wineries in the Western Cape or sampling some Caperitif (an amalgamation of “Cape” and “aperitif”), a spiced vermouth infused with the indigenous African fynbos bush, citrus fruits and spices such as cardamon, cinchona, quinine, and rooibos. 

March and April are still great months to visit the wine region, as the temperatures remain mild and wine is a year-round staple. As the days cool, hearty fruit and vegetables become primed for soups and roasts. Enjoy sweet potatoes, mushrooms, butternut squash, radishes, apples and persimmon. Sauces, juices and cordials are made using freshly picked produce and stored for the winter months ahead.

Winter in the Western Cape means citrus fruits such as oranges, naartjies and lemons, root vegetables including carrots, turnips and sweet potatoes, and iron-rich leafy greens such as kale and Swiss chard. Comfort foods such as bobotie (a type of casserole), bredies (stew) and curries are popular during the colder months, as is rich red wine from local vineyards. 

As the warmer weather starts to take hold, the traditional “braai” – feasts of grilled meats and vegetables – returns to daily life in South Africa. Seafood is a staple across the West Coast, such as yellowtail, snoek, and kabeljou, alongside mussels and oysters bathed in garlic and dill butter. Karoo lamb, chicken and other meats are paired with marrows, broad beans, squash, asparagus and cheesy roosterkoek – a relic of the region’s Dutch ancestors. For dessert, expect bountiful fruit salads with apples, blueberries, figs, peaches and mangoes...or finish up with some delicious local cheeses, biltong and droëwors.

While in the Western Cape, we recommend booking a room at the Mont Rochelle Hotel & Vineyard or La Residence, which combine scenic views with exquisite wining and dining. Explore our full selection of luxury hotels at ASMALLWORLD Collection and enjoy VIP benefits such as room upgrades and more at no extra cost.