Maria's Greek Café — Restaurant in Gardens

“Maria’s Greek Restaurant – A Cape Town Gem for All-Day Dining”

Maria’s is one of my favorite spots in Cape Town, offering excellent food, warm service, and a setting that’s hard to beat. Whether you sit under the shady trees in the courtyard or inside their minimalist, Greek-inspired space, it’s the perfect spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Breakfast: The Greek Breakfast is a dream. Grilled halloumi, soft scrambled eggs with feta, roasted tomatoes, and tahini on greens, served with toast. I added avocado and mushrooms, and it was perfection. The eggs are buttery and rich, and the feta adds a tangy twist. Pair it with their flat white (one of the best in Cape Town) or a fresh mint tea with honey.

Lunch: The Lamb Pita (R156) is unbeatable, chunks of slow-roasted, fall-apart lamb packed into a soft pita with creamy tzatziki and fresh salad. It’s generous, hearty, and comforting. A quick sprinkle of salt took it to perfection. It’s a must-try.

Dinner: Their Linguini with Mussels and Grilled Calamari in Parmesan Cream (R160) might sound unconventional, but it’s incredible. The creamy, salty parmesan balances the briny mussels and tender calamari perfectly. It’s indulgent, delicate, and completely surprising.

Mezze: Don’t skip the Melizanes. Marinated aubergine that melts in your mouth, or the flaky, rich Spanakopita spirals (R72), packed with spinach, onion, and three cheeses. Both are flawless.

The vibe transforms throughout the day: calm and relaxing in the mornings, buzzing and lively at night. The courtyard under soft lights feels magical in the evening, but book ahead. It’s always busy for dinner.

Maria’s combines generous portions, thoughtful flavors, and unbeatable prices, making it a place I’ll keep coming back to. Whether for a quick coffee, a hearty lunch, or an indulgent dinner, it’s a Cape Town gem that I can’t...

Last night was the most unforgettable experience ever. Arrived a few minutes early 7:35pm for our 7:45pm booking and was shunted to the back of the restaurant where even shouting at each other, we couldn’t hear a word. The acoustics are horrific. We requested moving to our actual table we had booked but that was still not available so they moved us to a corner table right next to the kitchen & coffee grinder. The wooden chairs have to be the most uncomfortable ever and when I requested a cushion, I was told there’s only one and they would bring it for me, that took one hour. We ordered starters and mains at the same time but they forgot our starters with the waiter claiming he’d been there since 7:30am and he was exhausted. They then switched our service to a woman who put you in her place if you even looked at her incorrectly. We waited forever for our drinks. My friend waited over an hour for he’s peach tea! Eventually they brought our starter calamari as well as a main calamari 20 minutes apart and gave us the starter on the house and took the full portion back with them which we never ordered! The rice pudding was ice cold and when I asked them to warm it, it arrived two minutes later having been warmed in the microwave and was like soup and revolting. Friends of ours had eaten there on Wednesday and warned us about the service. The lamb flat bread needed a saw to cut and they serve it with a few lettuce leaves instead of some chips and the meat needs to be found underneath a mountain of tzatziki. In closing, I have never ever left a review but last night the 25th of February 2023 was truly the most awful experience we’ve had for many a decade eating in all of Cape Town’s many...

I don’t usually leave reviews, but it would be a disservice if I didn’t this time.

We got the WORST salmonella poisoning at Maria’s and have been ignored.

In April 2025 my family (7 members) went to Maria’s Greek Cafe to celebrate my sister’s graduation. I ordered the calamari (the only calamari dish at the table) of the 7, 4 fell ill. The four that fell ill are the only ones that had a bite from my plate. It was definitely my plate that contaminated.

We were in Cape Town on a 6 day holiday, which I missed completely due to being in hospital for 5 days. I had to have an MRI as I was not responding to treatment for 3 days, it was only after a specialist was consulted and there was a change in treatment that I started responding.

We contacted the restaurant as soon as I was admitted and confirmed to have salmonella poisoning, they were friendly and responsive. However we are constantly being ignored, and there just isn’t and response to a settlement to the fees we incurred and continue to. My medical aid savings are depleted so I’m having to pay out of pocket for follow ups and medication.

My 5 year old daughter was in the hotel room with me when paramedics, hotel security & staff had to come into the room to take me to rush me to the hospital. She’s currently in therapy dealing with the trauma of it all.

This can happen to anyone at any restaurant, it’s how it’s handled by the restaurant that is crucial and to be ignored until we threaten to leave a review, and go to social media, after resorting to lawyers it’s unacceptable for a...