Restaurant Review: Chinchilla in Camps Bay

So you guys all know since I moved to Cape Town in 2017 I’ve been on what some may call a “hunt” for Cape Town’s finest. Finest Thai cuisine, best Eggs Benedict, best cocktail. You name it. I don’t consider myself the most accurate foodie because I’m not so hard to please. Just give me great service, a good vibe and tasty tasty food and this gal is one happy camper. Okay – so maybe that is hard to come by. But ladies and gents, you’re in for a treat because Chinchilla in Camps Bay knocked those categories out the park.

When Chinchilla invited me to come try out their menu I was excited. I’d already seen some glam Instagram pictures of yummy cocktails and my interest was piqued. If you haven’t heard of it yet, Chinchilla in Camps Bay is an exclusive rooftop venue and the first of it’s kind in Camps Bay.

Chinchilla in Camps Bay is the place to be for sundowners!

The Vibe

I feel like it is only apt to start with the vibe and feel of Chinchilla because it’s a major drawcard. Think beachy boho-chic, bold and brilliant colors with panoramic views. Add on some fab music, a sunset and some comfy couches and you have Chinchilla. The restaurant is filled with lovely lamps and pot plants which add a nice addition.

Because I went in the evening I thought I’d take a sneaky photo off Chinchilla’s website because you have to see it during the day:

Drinks

What better than having sundowners in the most beautiful city in the world. Their extensive cocktail menu and relaxed setting is definitely something I would return specifically for (Even though the food is delicious!). They have some fantastic signature cocktails, but I settled for a classic. The Mango Daiquiri! And it was one good daiquiri. For R65 it was a large glass.

If you’d adventurous they have a large selection of signature cocktails. I’m quite keen to try the Yuzu Jasmine Sours – looks very interesting!

Food

Food wise we went all out carnivore! I’m not a vegetarian but I did notice there weren’t many vegetarian dishes on the menu, for those of you looking for vegetarian friendly places. However, there were some nice looking salads and crudites. I had the beef carpaccio and unfortunately words cannot explain how soft this meat was. The best I can say is that it literally tore apart. Topped with cracked salt and pepper – that dish is a winner and I could probably have just munched four for supper alone. Mouthwatering.

For mains, as I said I went carnivore. The classic steak and chips with Bearnaise sauce. I like my steak medium rare and mine was done perfectly. Nothing worse than a medium rare steak completely overcooked. The chips were thin and crispy and that sauce. If I could buy a bottle and take it home, I would. If it wasn’t socially unacceptable I’d be tempted to lick my plate. Simply delicious.

It’s worth mentioning the presentation of the dishes is also topknotch! (See what I did there :)) . I love the pan dishes, lovely glasses and plating. Very nice!

Service

Special shoutout to Rabia who was our waitress for the night. She was friendly, attentive and did everything with a smile. All the staff were very upbeat and helpful. Our food was also very prompt. Definitely impressed with the service!

Prices

For my absolutely delicious 200 gram steak with fries it was R220. While this is definitely more expensive for those on a student budget, it is on par with the prices you’ll expect for a steak as well as for restaurants in the Camps Bay area. However, it could be nice to maybe add a few more reasonably priced items like a gourmet pizza

The Kove Collection‘s newest spot certainly didn’t disappoint. Excellent service, outstanding food quality and delightful views. Chinchilla in Camps Bay is definately your new cocktail spot, Cape Tonians!

Have you tried Chinchilla before? What were your thoughts?