The area east of Cape Town’s city bowl, currently known variously as the East City, the East City Precinct and the Fringe, was the subject of a rebranding excercise by Cape Town Partnership ahead of the World Design Capital in 2014. The project had its critics, however, and subsequent activities have aimed at reclaiming and acknowledging some of the traumatic and nuanced history of the area that also incorporates a section of District Six.

In the meantime, huge changes are taking place in the area centred around Roeland, Buitenkant and Harrington Street. Investment here used to be rare but the area is now becoming a humming design and development district with, according to one property developer, R1.6 billion worth of development planned in the area over the next few years. This includes new headquarters for amazon.com, where Viglietti Motors used to be, and many mixed use developments.

The restaurant scene has seen something of a renaissance, too – it’s now one of the trendiest places to eat in the city. Here’s where to find a feast.

Charly’s Bakery (Canterbury Street)

Charly’s can surely take credit for being in the East City before it was cool, and we’re thankful for their vision. You can pick out a Charly’s cupcake from a mile away – with their decadent chocolate ganache and bright decoration, it’s no wonder why. They’re not just known for cupcakes, though. They also produce some smashing cookies, pies and quiches.

Charly’s bright exterior. Photo supplied.

The Cousins (Barrack Street)

As the name suggests, this traditional Italian trattoria is family-run and their food somehow makes you feel as if you’re part of the family. Chances are you’ve already heard about the famous Cousins pasta dish that has homemade tagliolini mixed together with cream, mushroom and thyme in a Grana Padano cheese wheel. Just trust us and order it. The gnocchi is pretty outstanding too, as is their carbonara.

The famous Cousins pasta. Photo supplied.

Downtown Ramen (Harrington Street)

As one of the first places to serve real ramen, Downtown Ramen specialises in these traditional bowls of hearty broth and noodles. There’s a pork broth, served with pork belly and noodles, and a veggie-based ramen with tofu and noodles. Both dishes come with a boiled egg and chilli.

Bowls of ramen. Photo supplied.

Harringtons (Harrington Street)

Technically Harrington’s is a cocktail bar, but we’re willing to make an exception when a food menu looks as good as theirs. Harrington’s has been part of the resurgence of bars focusing on their food offering, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Alongside their signature cocktails, you can line your stomach with fried chicken, whitefish ceviche and veggie spring rolls. There’s also standard bar snack fodder like biltong, olives and nuts.

The plush interior. Photo supplied.

I Love My Laundry (Buitengracht Street)

A laundromat may sound like the most obscure place to enjoy dim sum, but I Love My Laundry offers you both these things under one roof. The dim sum is freshly made, well-priced and tasty, which means you can enjoy a delicious meal while you wait for your laundry to be done. The dim sum menu is concise and features classic fillings like chicken and mushroom, pork and coriander, and kimchi.

Lefty’s (Harrington Street)

Lefty’s can only be described as a dive bar, but don’t let that put you off. This low-key spot has become the place for proper slow-cooked ribs in Cape Town, thanks to their outdoor smoker, but they also sling out some great pizzas and burgers too. If you’re of the veggie persuasion, don’t overlook the beetroot falafel. These crispy little balls make for an ideal little dish to line your stomach in between double gin-and-tonics.

Lefty’s slow-cooked ribs. Photo supplied.

Lekker Vegan (Barrack Street)

These guys have taken the vegan world by storm by bringing vegan junk food to Cape Town. Though we think of veganism as a healthy way of life, vegans do still enjoying pigging out. Enter Lekker Vegan, offering delicious comfort foods without any animal products. The menu features vegan gatsbys – complete with vegan cheese and ‘beef’ strips – crispy burgers with all the trimmings and even milkshakes. Even non-vegans have been known to be converted by this spot.

One of the huge vegan Gatsbies. Photo: Romy Wilson

New York Bagels (Harrington Street)

New York Bagels is nothing short of an institution in Cape Town. Having set the bagel trend at their original store in Sea Point, they have since re-settled in the East City. Despite the new location, they’ve stuck to what they know and serve traditional Jewish fare like chopped herring and babka, in addition to their famous bagels, baked cheesecake, and smoked fish.

A post shared by New York Bagels Cape Town (@newyorkbagelsct) on Aug 2, 2017 at 10:16pm PDT

Raptor Room (Roeland Street)

With the Instagram-worthy décor and neon lights, this diner-esque spot is hard to miss. Luckily, they aren’t all flash – the food is seriously good, too. Their tongue-in-cheek approach to life translates to the menu, which is made up of remixed classics. Treat yourself to one of their gourmet gatsbys, which are filled with either pork, fried chicken, steak masala or samp falafels, as well as chips and cauliflower pickle. They also serve a Benebagel – their eggs Benedict on a bagel – serious burgers, and smashed avo on toast. We’ve heard that last one practically has magical powers thanks to the accompanying dukkah and candied lemon.

The avo on toast. Photo: Famke Koene