Mzansi

This is a wonderful place. "You are home." The host proclaims. He explains that everyone is free to pour their own wine, grab their own beer. The local "moms" cook a very delicious authentic African meal filled with great chicken, rice, vegetables and more. A local band plays a wonderful combination of jazz, local African music and the host tells the entrepreneurial adventure of creating an experience restaurant. One of the best experiences I have had in Cape Town. Do not miss.

We loved our night out at Mzansi! It’s a real cultural hub in Langa, with local musicians, delicious and authentic South African food, and a painting demonstration by a local artist. The staff were all wonderful and their cooks, “the Mommas,” are amazing. The entire restaurant was up dancing by the end of the night. It is a real local neighbourhood, so staff met us outside as we got out of the car and waited with us at the end of the night to see us off safely, as well. Highly recommend making this a must-visit in your Cape Town travels.

We felt looked after from the moment we entered Langa until the end of our wonderful evening. Mzansi has amazing home-cooked food and the most wonderful vibe with fantastic music. One of our group was vegetarian and had plenty of tasty food. We drove there ourselves and could park securely. We had the restaurant to ourselves as an 8 person group and this was the highlight of the trip for the family members who visited us from abroad.

This is a MUST-VISIT on your Cape Town and South African Trip, regardless of how long you’re visiting or the purpose of your trip. We simply can’t say enough about how much we loved spending Christmas Day/Dinner at Mzansi. If you like getting to know the actual people and culture of your trips, then joining Mama Nomonde and her family for dinner is an absolute must. They treat you like family, and bring to life the history of Cape Town, the country and the people of South Africa. Given they are #1 on TripAdvisor, there is much to read and see from the thousands of people that have made Mzansi part of their trips, so here are a few top things to know about this truly unique find: 1) Don’t listen to your concierge, Uber driver, etc. about being scared to go to the Langa Township for this dinner. They will try to talk you out of going there, but it’s unlikely that they have even been to any of the Townships, which means that they haven’t experienced the joy and warmth of Mzansi. Let’s be clear: you’re probably not going to want to walk around the restaurant or neighborhood, as this is not the shiny, protected area of Cape Town that is made for Tourists. 2) The residents of Langa have not had a fair shake, but they are resilient, hopeful people who are trying to make their community a better place. Unemployment is close to 30%, so supporting this restaurant helps to raise up the entire community. We were there on Christmas Day and they welcomed us into their home with open arms, big smiles and love. The entire neighborhood was celebrating, singing and enjoying life. 3) Reserve your place ahead of time, and please, if anything comes up, be sure to let them know as soon as possible if you need to cancel or postpone. They make all of the food to order in anticipation of the reservations for that night (there are no walk-ups), so if something comes up, let them know so that they don’t waste any food. (We had some folks that were running late, so don’t be ashamed to come late - it’s way better to be late than to stiff them!) The food was fantastic. It was real, it was really tasty and there’s no chance that anyone went home hungry. (I’m still dreaming of the chicken and the dessert pudding!) The families, band and service are unreal - they make you feel at home right from the start, and they will do anything to make your visit and night better. It’s a fun night and it will not be just another dinner on your trip. There was NEVER a moment where we felt unsafe. The restaurant isn’t too deep into the Township and they make sure that everyone feels like a welcomed and special guest to the entire neighborhood. Plan your visit around when you can get a table here, and get ready for an unforgettable night!

First time and it was spectacular! I enjoy jazz music and this is just the place to be for old school jazz and the perfect place to enjoy a real township vibe. I am a tour guide and my American guests asked that I take them to this awesome venue. We booked for dinner and we received such warm hospitality from the amazing family that own the restaurant. You are not only invited into their restaurant, but a home in which you learn more about the family and all that inspires them. I will most definitely take my guests there again for a real township experience and authentic, traditional Xhosa dishes.

Amazing dining experience! I did not know what I was going into, as another person had made the booking in my party; and on the way, the Uber driver was hesitant to take us to this "dangerous" neighbourhood. I'm so glad we went! We were welcomed into a small restaurant/ home, where we enjoyed an evening that felt truly special, as the family and band shared their stories and their beautiful craft. Strongly recommended!