December in South Africa isn’t so much of a month as it is a lifestyle. The air itself feels different, charged with the hum of holiday traffic, overflowing bars, and the scent of sunscreen and braai smoke. It’s a time for exhaling; when sun-splashed days spill into hazy evenings and every meal feels like a celebration. Tables stretch longer, laughter gets louder, and the food tastes a little better for it.
From coastal feasts and vineyard brunches to rooftop sunsets and five-course Christmas lunches, Dineplan has gathered the most memorable places to eat, drink, and celebrate the season. All that’s left is to pick your table and let summer do its thing.
CAPE TOWN
Upper Union Restaurant, Gardens
Perfect for: slow summer lunches in the city
Upper Union manages that rare blend of elegance and warmth, a leafy spot where small plates arrive as confident, flavour-forward statements and staff seem genuinely pleased to be pouring the wine. The five-course festive lunch reads like a love letter to seasonal produce, and the welcome drink and “gifts from the kitchen” set the mood before the food even lands. The final touch? Special-edition Christmas chocolates as a parting treat.
The Offer: Thursday, 25 December from 12h00 R1,550 per person | Optional wine pairing R450
Palm Terrace at Palm House, Wynberg
Perfect for: a glitzy atmosphere and food with opulent flair
Few restaurants capture Cape Town’s verdant beauty quite like Palm House, an old soul of a property, complete with palm-fringed wraparound verandas. For New Year’s Eve, the Palm Terrace transforms into a scene straight out of a Gatsby soirée, with its Carnival of the Cape dinner promising opulent plates, live flair, and a champagne-soaked atmosphere. The venue’s garden spaces make pre-dinner sundowners particularly tempting.
The Offer: Wednesday, 31 December R2,650 per person
SPYCED, Cape Town
Perfect for: a lunch that blends food, colour, with a touch of theatrics
SPYCED is a feast of colour and rhythm, where bright Cape Malay spices, communal energy and a harvest-table approach that invites conversation between strangers. The Christmas Lunch Harvest Table promises plates heaped with warming curries, vibrant pickles and palm-slicked roasted veg. Expect friendly hosts, drumming or live elements at times, and a menu that leans on nostalgia and spice.
The Offer: Thursday, 25 December | 12h30 – 17h00 R950 per person
Chef’s Warehouse & Canteen, Cape Town
Perfect for: snacks and sundowners
Liam Tomlin’s Chef’s Warehouse is about clever small plates and convivial sharing. The Snacks & Sundowners option is the sort of early-evening pop-in: a couple of hits from their tasting sensibility and a drink, at a price that makes experimenting irresistible. It’s understated, effortlessly cool, and the perfect prelude to a summer night in the city.
The Offer: Daily | 16h00 – 18h00 | Ends 31 December R160 per person (snack + one drink)
Retreat Restaurant at Boschendal, Franschoek Valley
Perfect for: long lunches under the oak trees
Sundays at Boschendal’s Retreat feel like a postcard from the winelands – long tables under centuries-old oaks, local produce plated simply, and a sense of calm that’s almost cinematic. Their Sunday Brunch celebrates everything the valley does best: fresh ingredients, slow rhythms, and world-class wines. The perfect way to stretch the weekend just a little longer.
The Offer: Sundays | 12h00 – 15h00 | Ends 27 December R325 per person
Ginologist Distillery, Somerset West
Perfect for: live music and craft spirits
Some places invite you to slow down, sip, and listen, and Ginologist Distillery does exactly that. Their Gin & Jazz Sundays pair local craft spirits with live music in a laid-back industrial setting. Expect botanical-forward gins, blues, and a small but mighty menu of nibbles that complement the juniper warmth perfectly. Ideal if you’re looking for an alternative to standard Sunday lunch.
The Offer: Sundays | 14h00 – 17h00 | Ends 4 January 2026
DURBAN
Tylers, Umdloti
Perfect for: family feasting with an ocean viewFew coastal spots capture Durban’s easy festive energy like Tylers. Their set menu reads like a neighbourhood celebration – think lamb potjie, smoked brisket and wood-roasted chicken alongside sides built for family-style sharing. The setting sun over Umdloti makes a perfect backdrop, and the two Christmas sittings let you choose your pace: long and leisurely or early and sun-soaked.
The Offer: Thursday, 25 December | 11h00 & 14h30 R1,200 per person
GAUTENG
De Vette Mossel, Parys
Perfect for: seafood feasting, family style.
Just a short drive from Johannesburg, De Vette Mossel in Parys brings the beach inland – a casual seafood feast where guests kick off their shoes and eat with their hands. The Christmas lunch is a tidal wave of flavour: from mussels and snoek to calamari and crayfish, cooked simply and served in endless succession. It’s not a formal affair, it’s a sensory one, with two sittings offering flexibility and the family pricing tiers meaning it’s friendly for larger groups.
The Offer: Thursday, 25 December | 12h00 & 18h00 R460 per adult (tiered pricing for pensioners & children)
QLounge Wine Restaurant & Qsushi Bar, Johannesburg
Perfect for: sleek wine and sushi pairings.
For those staying in the city, QLounge brings the Cape winelands to Joburg. Think cool interiors, a sumptuous selection of South African wines, and sleek, contemporary Japanese plates that pair seamlessly with each pour. It’s an experience for those who like their festive season with a side of sophistication, a late lunch that could be the start of the fun evening out.
The Offer: Tuesday – Saturday | 12h00 – 17h00 | Ends 31 December From R270 – R400 per person
Alto 235, Johannesburg
Perfect for: the highlife with a side of bubbles
Picture this: a glass of Moët & Chandon in hand, DJ Chuck SA spinning late-afternoon beats and the Joburg skyline moving through golden hour. Alto’s sunset event is less about formal dining and more about atmosphere – expect a chilled crowd, playful bartending and that “Sunday ritual” energy.
The Offer: Sundays | 16h00 – 20h00 | Ends 30 November R390 per person (includes a glass of Moët & Chandon)
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel, Sandton
Perfect for: the ultimate go-slow Sunday.
Tucked behind lush gardens and white parasols, Fairlawns’ Jazz Sunday Lunch is the city’s answer to a leisurely summer afternoon. Expect polished service, a soft swing of jazz, and a menu that meanders through fresh seasonal dishes. It’s sophisticated yet soulful, the kind of afternoon that deserves to be savoured with a good bottle and even better company.
The Offer: Sundays | 12h30 – 17h00 | Ends 30 November
Wherever you settle, Dineplan makes it easy to reserve your table. Secure your spots ahead of the holiday crowds so you don’t miss out on smaller venues or incredible, limited-time offers.
Bookings to be made via Dineplan.
Courtesy of Dineplan.
