Constantia Nek Restaurant
According to their website, the Constantia Nek Restaurant is the oldest restaurant in Cape Town. I think that my mother would contest that as she often feels like her kitchen is the oldest restaurant in Cape Town. 
Seriously though, I can’t confirm whether or not it’s true, but based on the fact that the restaurant is in a spot secluded from the city’s development I guess that it’s possible that the restaurant is the oldest surviving restaurant in Cape Town. I have to be honest and say that we’ve never had dinner there, but I do remember stopping by for a couple of beers while watching a friend of mine play guitar in a band.
Back then the inside was decorated old-style, with benches that you’d expect to find in an old English tavern. What was really cool about the place was that they had extra-warm (that’s slightly warmer than warm) fires burning inside to keep the place nice and toasty during winter evenings. While I stood outside taking this photo, I could hear voices and laughter emanating from the building – it would seem as though that warmth lives on, fire or no fire.
How old is old, I wonder? The oldest pub in Cape Town is the Perseverance Tavern in Buitenkant Street (it’s been going since 1836). Its back room is haunted. There’s a cold spot that moves around.
Hey, I never knew of Perseverance Tavern – thanks for the link! I’m def going to have to check out that cold spot… I’ll get all psyched up by watching Ghostbusters or something.
“The summit of the Nek was an obvious resting point on the road to Hout Bay and as early as 1811 the land was leased, probably to furnish sustenance to travelers. The land changed hands a number of times till April 1923 Sydney Vincent Halls became the owner and the property was broken up. Halls set up a farm stall in the Nek and a couple of years later built the present “Candle Room” in which teas were served.” http://cli.gs/7gbhDt
I guess the writer doesn’t consider a Tavern a restaurant.
Hi howzit? In 1998 I was head chef at the Nek for about 6 months. It was owned then by the Mueller family. I’m a german trained master chef and they came from Namibia and we all spoke german together. There were a great bunch of lads there, Gilbert and Mombassa my two chefs, and Dinky, Jackson, and William just to mention a few of the waiters. Keith and Ally an Austrian, were the managers then. A band called “Ruby” with Ivano on the drums used to play at the weekend. I wonder if they are still all there. I’m now living back in the UK after being deported in 2001, (My papers ran out and I got caught). What happy memories, I’ll treasure them forever. Best wishes to all from Julian.