South Africa · month by month
Cape Town food calendar
What is in season in Cape Town, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Cape Town
A hard monthThe best of January: Cape Malay food and West Coast rock lobster.
In season
- West Coast rock lobster
The recreational crayfish season; snoek is grilled with apricot glaze.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Cape Town
Shoulder seasonThe best of February: Bo-Kaap iftar, Cape Malay food and Stellenbosch Wine Festival.
In season
- Grape harvest
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Swartland wineries harvest; the vintage is the best time to visit the winelands.
Feb–Apr - West Coast rock lobster
The recreational crayfish season; snoek is grilled with apricot glaze.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Bo-Kaap iftarRamadan
Samoosas, daltjies and boeber in the Bo-Kaap.
Feb–Mar - Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
On the calendar
- Stellenbosch Wine Festival
Late February (KimKim, 2022)
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Cape Town
Peak seasonThe best of March: Bo-Kaap iftar, Cape Malay food and Franschhoek harvest celebrations.
In season
- Grape harvest
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Swartland wineries harvest; the vintage is the best time to visit the winelands.
Feb–Apr - Wine harvest (grape picking at some wineries)
KimKim: autumn (Mar-May) is when the annual wine harvest is underway; exact months not narrowed by source
Mar–May
Eat it now
- Bo-Kaap iftarRamadan
Samoosas, daltjies and boeber in the Bo-Kaap.
Feb–Mar - Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
On the calendar
- Franschhoek harvest celebrationsMarch
Wine-farm harvest events across the valley.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Cape Town
Peak seasonThe best of April: Cape Malay food and Grape harvest.
In season
- Grape harvest
Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Swartland wineries harvest; the vintage is the best time to visit the winelands.
Feb–Apr - Wine harvest (grape picking at some wineries)
KimKim: autumn (Mar-May) is when the annual wine harvest is underway; exact months not narrowed by source
Mar–May
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Cape Town
Peak seasonThe best of May: Cape Malay food and Wine harvest.
In season
- Wine harvest (grape picking at some wineries)
KimKim: autumn (Mar-May) is when the annual wine harvest is underway; exact months not narrowed by source
Mar–May - Winter
Wine-farm restaurants light their fires; bobotie and potjiekos weather.
May–Aug
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season; some beach restaurants close.
May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Cape Town
The best of June: Cape Malay food and Winter.
In season
- Winter
Wine-farm restaurants light their fires; bobotie and potjiekos weather.
May–Aug
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season; some beach restaurants close.
May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Cape Town
The best of July: Cape Malay food and Winter.
In season
- Winter
Wine-farm restaurants light their fires; bobotie and potjiekos weather.
May–Aug
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season; some beach restaurants close.
May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Cape Town
The best of August: Cape Malay food, Winter, Stellenbosch Fine Wine and Food Festival.
In season
- Winter
Wine-farm restaurants light their fires; bobotie and potjiekos weather.
May–Aug
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
On the calendar
- Stellenbosch Fine Wine and Food Festival
Early August (KimKim, 2022)
Plan around
- Winter rain
The wet season; some beach restaurants close.
May–Aug
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Cape Town
Peak seasonThe best of September: Cape Malay food, Spring flowers and asparagus.
In season
- Spring flowers and asparagus
Wildflowers on the West Coast, and new-season asparagus and strawberries.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Cape Town
Peak seasonThe best of October: Cape Malay food, Spring flowers and asparagus.
In season
- Spring flowers and asparagus
Wildflowers on the West Coast, and new-season asparagus and strawberries.
Sep–Nov
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Cape Town
Shoulder seasonThe best of November: Cape Malay food, Spring flowers and asparagus, Summer markets.
In season
- Spring flowers and asparagus
Wildflowers on the West Coast, and new-season asparagus and strawberries.
Sep–Nov - West Coast rock lobster
The recreational crayfish season; snoek is grilled with apricot glaze.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
On the calendar
- Summer marketsNovember to December
The Oranjezicht City Farm market and Neighbourgoods are at their fullest.
Nov–Dec
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Cape Town
A hard monthThe best of December: Cape Malay food, West Coast rock lobster and Summer markets.
In season
- West Coast rock lobster
The recreational crayfish season; snoek is grilled with apricot glaze.
Nov–Feb
Eat it now
- Cape Malay food
Bobotie, bredie and koesisters in Bo-Kaap.
On the calendar
- Summer marketsNovember to December
The Oranjezicht City Farm market and Neighbourgoods are at their fullest.
Nov–Dec
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.