Tables are hard to get at Ginja, an intimate restaurant serving international fusion food close to the V&A Waterfront. This spot has no ocean or mountain views—think instead of a rather urban location with a narrow alley that leads to the front door. But once inside, it's the perfect spot for a romantic dinner, with low lighting and loads of ambience. (You have to walk through the open kitchen to the bathroom, so the energy in chef Mike Bassett's kitchen can be observed firsthand.) A reservation is essential; if you can't get a table, resist the offer of one at Ginja's sister restaurant, Shoga, upstairs (the kitchen crew and menu are different). For starters, try the Around the World Spoons appetizer, where dishes such as baby squid with Italian ricotta are served up in one delicious mouthful. The menu changes regularly, but a standout staple is the rack of lamb that's marinated in a Chinese barbecue sauce and filled with a spicy, curried apple chutney.

Open Mondays through Saturdays 7 to 10:30 pm.

The steamed dumplings alone warrant a visit to this Asian tapas joint in the center of Cape Town. Some of the best dumplings are the spinach and creamed cheese and the prawn. The dishes are meant to be shared, though each person must order at least three selections. Peking duck is the house specialty and arrives with a basket of feather-light moo shu pancakes. Irritatingly, Haiku has two sittings, at 6 pm and 9 pm, but parking is easy at the Mandela Rhodes House garage just opposite.

Open Mondays through Saturdays noon to 3 pm, dinner seatings at 6 pm and 9 pm daily.

Jardine quickly made a mark on the Cape Town dining scene with Scottish chef George Jardine's focused, unfussy food. The menu has a number of tasty winners, including the beet and horseradish tart with pickled vegetables and a double herbed antelope loin. There's also a five-course tasting menu that changes daily. Reserve a seat at the window for a fabulous view of Table Mountain or a table next to the open-plan kitchen to see Jardine in action. A small bar and lounge downstairs cater to the drinks crowd.

Open Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturdays 7 to 10 pm, Fridays noon to 3 pm and 7 to 10 pm.

For a sublime French dinner, head 20 minutes out of the city to the Constantia winelands to one of the city's most beautiful wine estates, Constantia Uitsig. It's always hard to get a table at La Colombe, one of Constantia Uitsig's three restaurants (Uitsig and the River Café are the other two), because the food is superb and the service excellent. It's the kind of place where a shared starter is presented on two plates, diners are escorted to the bathroom, and rose petals are strewn over the table to celebrate a special occasion. The è la carte menu changes every couple of days, and appetizers might include king crab, home-cured salmon, and salmon caviar. For entrees, try the catch of the day, such as kinglip with prawn and asparagus risotto, or gemsbok (oryx) carpaccio.

Open daily noon to 2 pm and 7 to 9 pm.

Mama Africa caters shamelessly to tourists, and many Capetonians look down their nose at it. Nonetheless, it's a lot of fun. The zany design includes a vast chandelier of broken Coke bottles and faux-mud walls. The bar is not your typical elbow parking lot: It's shaped like a snake. Friendly servers dish up vast portions of African food, such as hunter's stew with springbok, okra, and pumpkin. There is energetic live music most nights (jazz, marimba, African), sometimes enticing patrons to get up and dance—a great way to work off the delicious samosas.

Open Mondays through Saturdays 7 to 11 pm.

On the sunset strip of the Camps Bay beachfront, Paranga attracts a glam crowd of scantily clad sun worshippers and after-work partyers. Some conduct trysts in the intimate back booths; others sprawl on the terrace's comfy couches. The chic interior features sandy tones, hand-blown glass vases, and brightly colored candle holders. Everything in the place is carefully selected, from the high-quality wine glasses to the handsome waitstaff. The eclectic selection of international and local dishes—everything from steak to sushi to Karoo lamb chops—is boldly flavored and dramatically presented. The bar boasts South Africa's most extensive Champagne list.

Open daily 9 am to 10:30 pm.

Salt's location, poised on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Bantry Bay, is spectacular; ask for a table at the window to get the benefit of a glorious view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The food is not as impressive as the view, but the sauté of squid, chorizo, butter beans, tomato, parsley, lemon, and garlic is deliciously hearty. Since you don't get the benefit of the view at night, come instead for lunch.

Open Mondays through Saturdays 12:30 to 10:30 pm.