Cape Town’s Top 6 Gluten Dairy Free Restaurants and Cafes

by | Apr 1, 2023 | Favorites, Gluten/Dairy Free Foodies, Travel

Having spent a total of 5 months in Cape Town now between two separate trips, it’s safe to say I’ve been to quite a few restaurants. I’ve found Cape Town can be hit-or-miss when it comes to living the gluten free lifestyle. There’s less education around it, and sometimes waiters just don’t know what gluten intolerance/celiac is and don’t take it seriously. So I’d play it on the safe side and go to restaurants that have the options clearly labeled on the menu. Even though this can be frustrating, I still found there were plenty of incredible restaurants and flavorful options for me to choose from. Cape Town is an incredibly foodie city with so much diversity in its population, which is reflected in the incredible food offers – from the restaurants to the markets. While I haven’t eaten EVERYWHERE, here are my top 6 gluten and dairy free restaurants in Cape Town that had me coming back over and over again. Unfortunately I didn’t take the best photos while I was there – I’ll update the pictures in this article next time I go (Hopefully soon?!)

1. Addis In Cape

Ethiopian Restaurant -168 Loop St, CBD, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa

Gluten/Dairy Free Options (Ask Server for advice)

Easily my favorite restaurant in Cape Town earning the top spot in my top 6 gluten and dairy free restaurants in Cape Town. Addis welcomed me my very first night in Cape Town with a whole group of strangers (who then became friends) – fellow backpackers and locals from the Couch Surfing app. The food is exquisite, the vibe is immaculate. I’ve personally never been to Ethiopia, but walking into Addis makes me feel like what I might think Ethiopia would be like. Their menu is very clear with what is and isn’t gluten and dairy free. They offer Gluten/Dairy Free Injera which is crucial to enjoying Ethiopian and not always offered in restaurants in the states. The portions are large and the plates are meant to be shared, so bring your friends and family and prepare your taste buds for mouthfuls bursting with flavor. For a truly memorable experience, I can’t recommend this restaurant enough.

2. Off The Gluten Path

Gluten-Free Bakery – 7 Ravenscraig Road, unit 3, Woodstock, Cape Town, 8060, South Africa

Dedicated Gluten-Free Facility. Ask about dairy-free options.

If you’re heading to Cape Town, you MUST give this bakery/cafe a visit. It is literally, might I be so bold to say, the BEST dedicated gluten free bakery I’ve experienced in the world thus far. We had the opportunity to sit down and chat to the owner on multiple occasions for several hours who was extremely lovely and had so many tips for us while visiting the Cape. I can tell it’s a business run with love and passion. While not all options are dairy free, they have a very wide selection so I found it easy to taste much of the menu. Their sandwich loaf is the most gooey, non-crumbly, delightful gluten-free bread I’ve had yet. Josiah and I found ourselves sitting in there for hours simply ordering more, because I’m not used to being able to have so many options in one place! They also offer coffee beverages and cafe style dine in foods. They began partnering with  the local Vida-E-Cafe coffee shop chain offering gluten-free “Toasties” (essentially grilled cheese), having several choices including some amazing dairy free choices.

3. Swan Café

Corner Buitenkant and, Barrack St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa

French Cuisine – Gluten Free Menu Options, Gluten-Free Savorie Crepes, Ask to remove Dairy

With a variety of savory and sweet crepes as well as incredible tea blends, this place easily one of my favorites in my top 6 gluten and dairy free restaurants in Cape Town. They offer gluten/dairy-free savory crepes made with Buckwheat, as crepes traditionally are. Want a sweet one? Replace the sweet crepe with savory to get gluten free, with all of the sweet toppings. Their teas are custom made for Swan Café and are an absolute delight – I’ve personally never tried tea like it! Adjusting the menu items to leave out any dairy products is easy. The service is wonderful, the vibes bright and cheery, which meant we frequented this restaurant many times on our trip. Add Swan Café to your Cape-Town foodie bucket-list!

4.Vida-E-Cafe

Coffee Shop/Cafe – Gluten/dairy-free options

Considering this is a coffee CHAIN in South Africa, the quality absolutely BLEW ME AWAY compared to any coffee chain I’ve come across in the USA – and trust me, I may be the biggest coffee snob you ever meet. The quality of the beans, the variety of milk alternatives they use, the incredibly talented baristas, and actually offering some healthy menu items – it can’t be beat! My personal favorite is their oat milk latte (their oat milk is certified gluten free from Buttanut). They also offer incredible gluten free “toasties” from Off The Gluten Path that include some dairy-free options that are high in protein. YUM!

5. Nourish’d Café & Juicery

177 Kloof St, Gardens, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
Gluten-Free and Vegan Labeled Menu Items

A delightful juicery with 3 locations across the city – well loved by locals and travelers alike. Nourish’d offers a wide variety of coffee/juices/smoothies, smoothie bowls, salads, sandwhiches/wraps and buddah bowls that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The presentation of each dish is absolutely stunning and instagram-worthy. The quality of ingredients is fresh and healthy. Not an ounce of me feels guilty for ordering food here. Their menu is labeled with easy to follow symbols for gluten-free and vegan which helps me feel at ease knowing I won’t be “glutened” by ordering the wrong thing. For a fresh pick-me-up, you’ve got to check them out!

6. Scheckter’s Raw

98 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town South Africa
All Plant-Based, with labeled Gluten-Free options 

Last but certainly not least, Scheckter’s Raw is entirely plant-based, which means every menu item is dairy free naturally! The menu has easy to reference labels for Gluten-Free. There are so many beautiful options to choose from for main courses, smoothies, baked goods and deserts. They really put care into the quality of ingredients as well as the beautiful instagram-worthy presentation. When in Seapoint, definitely pay a visit to Scheckter’s!

Other restaurants worth mentioning that I visited:

Perhaps they haven’t made it to the list of my top 6 gluten and dairy free restaurants in Cape Town, but still amazing none the less and worth a visit:

7. Lily’s – Cnr Beach Rd & Surrey Pl Shop 1, East West, Mouille Point, Cape Town, 8001, South Africa
labeled gluten/dairy free menu options

8. Mojo Market – 30 Regent Rd, Sea Point, Cape Town, 8060, South Africa

9. KAUAI – Restaurant Chain, labeled gluten-free menu options, request dairy-free

10. Unframed Icecream – gluten/dairy free options. DELICIOUS AND FRESH ICECREAM! GO!

Growing list of other restaurants worth mentioning I haven’t yet visited

From research and your recommendations!

If you’ve visited Cape Town and you think I’m missing an amazing Gluten Free Restaurant from this list, please comment below! I’d love to visit more next time I’m out there.

Wild Eatery (Fully Vegan, labeled gluten-free menu options) 59 Harrington St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa

Written by Heidi Austin

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