Beachfront seafood restaurant · Melkbosstrand
Seafood by the sea, since 1997.
Freshly caught line fish, local mussels and generous platters, served in a beach cottage on the Melkbos beachfront.

Dineplan
Reviewers’ Choice Newcomer Award, Western Cape · 2025
Tripadvisor
Travellers’ Choice
Eat Out critic’s review
Four stars for food, service and ambience · 2017
Eat Out
Top 500 Restaurants in South Africa · 2015
- All awards →
Welcome to Café Orca
A beach cottage with arguably the best view in Melkbos.
Join us on the beachfront patio or inside the cottage. For more than twenty-five years we’ve been refining one thing: seafood that tastes of where it came from, with a view you’ll struggle to look away from.
- Open since
- 1997
- Dineplan
- 4.9★
- Guest reviews
- 3 971

From the kitchen
Signature plates
From starters of local mussels and baby squid to the famous platter for two. We are, after all, the seafood specialists.
At some seafood restaurants it doesn’t really matter what kind of fish you order, it all tastes the same – here all the fish tastes delightfully different.
Reviews
Loved by locals and travellers alike
What a great location, with good food and great service. Terrance was our waiter and he was fantastic. The food was really superb.
Graham B.· via Dineplan The fish was the best I’ve had, and the views second to none.
Chloe N· via Tripadvisor This was a surprising perfect quaint seafood restaurant, discovered in passing. How welcoming, from requesting off menu items to the delectable recommendation of Ava on the sauce to be paired with the yellowtail line fish, this restaurant and chef is situated across a lovely view of the beach. The bathroom has excellent open setting with a bar and even a smoking section situated in what seems to be the perfect zen balance if you wanted to sit at that bar. Look at the photos of the line fish, this chef or whoever created this balance obviously knows better than most when it comes to palette. Brilliant…
Johan Matthee· via Google Had a wonderful evening celebrating my daughter’s birthday. Everything was perfect. Fantastic service and wonderful food.
Colette P.· via Dineplan One of the very best seafood restaurants I have ever been to.
jenflet2016· via Tripadvisor Booked for lunch today, but there was only space inside. We ordered oysters as starters an kingklip as mains. Bottle of spring water and a bottle of La Motte Sauvignon . Drinks were brought to us quickly and water and wine was poured for us. Then our oysters arrived within 10 minutes; then the waiter told us that there was now a vacant table on the terrace, and we could move there. This is what I call excellent service, doing the best for your customers. Our kingklip came and it was fresh a perfectly cooked, with beautiful vegetables and crispy chips ! The waiters kept topping our glasses as needed. We left Melkbos in 2001, and 25 years later, we are back visiting. This must be one of the best food and service we have received since we have arrived in CT ! Better than the very posh restaurants at the Waterfront ! Even in the UK where we live now, service and presentation does not come near what we had today. Will be back, hopefully soon !😀
Philippe Dartiailh· via Google Always the best ever. From being welcomed by Enrico to the charming Eva. Our special occasion was superb. Food and presentation top notch.
William W.· via Dineplan Such a welcoming place. From the staff that greets you to every waiter that passes your table. Shannon, our waitress was a delight. Very knowledgeable and friendly. Food was tasty and fresh! Great seafood. All in all, great evening out.
Jenna Veldsman· via Google My favourite restaurant in the Western Cape.
Gilbert F.· via Dineplan Biggest oysters ive had. Best tasting. Best platters and that secret sauce... dont get me started. What an awesome experience and one of our hidden Gems. We need to look into a creme bruè. Id be there every week.
Cheyenne Theologo· via Google We really enjoyed our dinner. The quality of the food, preparation and service was of the highest standard.
Johan V.· via Dineplan So good to come back here after not visiting CT for a couple of years. The same exemplary levels of service, exceptional food and great wine. A hidden locals gem for sure!! Thanks as always.
Lawrence Stone· via Google Wonderful place and friendly staff. Quality of food is always excellent!
Michelle C.· via Dineplan Always a pleasure eating at Cafe Orca! Perfect every time. Thank you and keep up the great work!
Angelique M.· via Dineplan
Visit
Come hungry, stay for the sunset.
- Monday – Tuesday
- Closed
- Wednesday – Saturday
- 12:00–15:0018:00–21:00
- Sunday
- 12:00–15:30
Last orders 45 minutes before closing.

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