735 reviews
#8 of 893 Restaurants in Cape Town CentralRR - RRR, Italian, Romagna, Vegetarian friendly+27 83 273 9604+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
17:00 - 22:00
Mon
17:00 - 22:00
Tue
17:00 - 22:00
Wed
17:00 - 22:00
Thu
17:00 - 22:00
Fri
17:00 - 22:00
Sat
17:00 - 22:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Italian, Romagna, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Menu
Antipasti
Starters
Affettati Misti
A board of selected sliced cold meats: Parma ham, salame, bresaola & coppa (meats may vary) served with our hand-made gnocco fritto bread. *With Cheeses
US$295
With Cheeses
US$355
Vegetarian Platter
Grilled aubergine, baby marrow, grilled tomatoes & creamed spinach, prepared in the Italian way.
US$160
Crostini Mix
Five slices of Italian bread, grilled and topped with five delicious toppings. *Add truffle option
US$170.00
Impepata di Cozze
Peppered mussels served with crostini.
US$170
Beef Carpaccio
Thinly sliced beef served on rocket, topped with parmesan cheese shavings.
US$160
Insalate - Salads
Caprese Salad
Special mozzarella braid served with wild rocket, tomatoes & homemade balsamic reduction.
US$165
Pere e Gorgonzola salad
Rocket, caramelized pear, gorgonzola & pecan nut.
US$160
Does this restaurant serve Romagna food?
Details
About
"Founded in September 2012, our story began with two cousins, Andrea and Simone, driven by a deep love for their Nonna's traditional Romagna recipes. They decided to share their passion in the city they adore, Cape Town. One year later, Luca, the third cousin, joined the family business, infusing even more flair and passion. We wholeheartedly welcome you, just like family."
PRICE RANGE
R 199.00 – R 795.00
CUISINES
Italian, Romagna
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Meals
Dinner, After-hours
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
735 reviews
Excellent
529
Very good
129
Average
43
Poor
15
Terrible
19
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement.
Tatjana O
Budel87 contributions
Sept 2024 • couples
In the bustling heart of Cape Town, tucked away in a cosy corner, lies a jewel of a restaurant: The Cousins Trattoria. For lovers of authentic Italian cuisine, this is an absolute must-visit. From the moment you step inside, it feels like you've landed in a small trattoria in Italy, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and decor that perfectly captures the charm of the country.
What makes this trattoria so special is the emphasis on homemade pasta and traditional Italian recipes, prepared with love and craftsmanship. The flagship of the menu is without a doubt the famous "The Cousins Pasta," a creamy tagliolini with truffle sauce, freshly prepared and served at the table from a wheel of Parmesan cheese – a spectacle in itself and a taste explosion. Every bite takes you back to Italian cuisine where simplicity and pure flavors are key.
The rest of the menu doesn't disappoint either. From delicate antipasti to perfectly baked meat and fish dishes, everything is hand-selected and prepared with the finest ingredients. The wine list offers an excellent selection of Italian and South African wines that complement the dishes beautifully.
The service at The Cousins Trattoria is extremely friendly and attentive. The owners, who are Italian themselves, make every guest feel at home, with personal recommendations and stories about the dishes.
In short, The Cousins Trattoria offers an authentic Italian dining experience in the heart of Cape Town. With delicious cuisine, a warm ambience and excellent service, this restaurant is a place you want to come back to again and again. An absolute must for those looking for a tasteful and unforgettable dinner!
Automatically translated
Written 26 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ASF
Sao Paulo147 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
A good option for those who want mass. Smooth table, service ok, delicious food but it is not especially unforgettable. The most famous dish quietly serves two people. There are vegan and vegetarian options. We didn't taste the dessert but we were happy to try the tiramisu.
Automatically translated
Written 11 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yaku Tours
Cape Town64 contributions
Nov 2024 • friends
Incredible Italian food in a warm atmosphere. Friendly welcoming and staff is effective and friendly. We all had had the house speciality. The mushroom linguini is served out of a massive wheel of Parmesan cheese. I highly recommend Cousins and we will definitely be back!
Written 2 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Penny B
2 contributions
Nov 2023 • couples
A really superb Italian restaurant in Cape Town which we highly recommend. We ate here on spec one evening in early November and were immediately impressed by the attentive and polite staff. The restaurant has a nice ambience as well.
Particular mention must go to our server - Stefan - whose knowledge of the menu was outstanding. His recommendations hit the spot without exception.
They also serve an exceptionally good Negroni Sbagliato here and the wine list is comprehensive and well priced.
Our meal was nicely rounded off with a complimentary Limoncello in the proper Italian style.
If I have one tiny grumble it's that the lighting is very low and the writing on the menu a little small - but that might just be an age thing.
Overall though a really great Italian restaurant and we will definitely visit again.
Written 10 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ciao Penny
Big thanks for the awesome vibes in your review! 🌟 Thrilled you dug our superb Italian scene, Stefan's menu mastery, and those free-spirited Negroni Sbagliato vibes. Your feedback rocks, and we're stoked to have you back for more good times!
Saluti
The Cousins Family
Written 21 November 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Paul
Cape Town Central28 contributions
Jun 2024 • family
5 thanks Vincent, once again the Cousins have blown it out of the water. I had the T Bone which was cooked to perfection accompanied by the beans and mushroom sauce, left me in food heaven, my wife had the mushroom tagliatelle which was also cooked to perfection. Had the beef carpaccio which was a lovely way to start the meal. Our favourite wine was also stocked so we were very happy
Written 15 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ah che bello,
what a nice thing to read that you had such a good time. Thanks a lot
Untill next
Arrivederci
The Cousins Famiglia
Written 2 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ahokiegirl
Warrenton56 contributions
Jun 2024 • friends
We went here with our tour guide on her recommendation. We were so pleased, first our hostess Munashe held our reservation for us as we were held up in traffic. She welcomed us in to the restaurant like we were family. The table service was outstanding as was the pasta dish that they prepared at the table. The manager accommodated my friend’s dietary needs and offered to exchange her meal if it wasn’t to her liking. The pasta was fresh and superbly prepared!
I will be recommending this restaurant to my friends.
Written 13 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ciao
Grazie mille for this review dear!! Our main goal is to deliver to you the best experience from the moment you make the reservation till the moment you leave. Your review is very appreciated.
Untill next
Arrivederci
The Cousins Famiglia
Written 2 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Edward M
Portola Valley23 contributions
Mar 2024 • couples
This restaurant was a welcome oasis within walking distance of our hotel. We could not make a reservation before the late seating at 8:30 PM on a Saturday night but we arrived one hour early!
The manager found us a perfect small table for two, and the waiter (Linga) brought us samples of red wine to sample. We quickly zeroed in on a local Cabernet mix and ordered butter and sage coated spinach-ricotta-pecan filled ravioli as well as Tagiolini del Scoglio, both of which were expertly assembled and delicious. The muscles, shrimp and baby squid in the latter dish were freshly cooked to perfection and suspended in a delectable fish broth sauce to die for. We felt like we had drifted to Bologna just as one of the cousins stopped by our table to chat! We quickly identified the origins of the cousins inspiration was to have grown up in that gastronomic center of the universe! Ah, Bologna in Cape Town, what could be better?
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
A CULINARY MIRACLE... This was enough to leave us speechless. There are no words we can add to express our immense gratitude. This review means a lot to us. Grazie!
The Cousins Family
Written 12 April 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
goodliving01
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • friends
In terms of what it claims to be which is a traditional italian restaurant and in terms of its rich legacy i am dissapointed to share that i think the food is becoming a complete hit and miss.
The positives - the actual pasta is very good.
The negatives - some of the sauces taste one dimensional. The bologneise which claims to be passed down through generations was extremely dissapointing with hardly any depth of flavour lacking sweetness, acidity and seasoning. To be honest pasta aside the bologneise was almost exactly the same as a woolies take away bologneise.
Then the deserts came. The panna cotta was so dense you could harldy cut through it with a knife. We sent it back - the manager then told the staff to omit it from the menu for that evening ( makes me wonder how it was sent to the table in the first place) arent the owners supposed to be working the kitchen with passion and care?
The Tiramisu wasnt much bette either and not traditonaly made.
Overall the restaurant still has a loyal following but the truth be told i feel there are far better italian restaurants and owner run service.
This is my 2nd visit and i wont be going back.
Written 6 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ciao and Thank you for your feedback.
We're truly sorry to hear your experience was disappointing. We value your input, but it's hard to hear that you believe a grocery store Bolognese is better. While Woolies might pay a lot for our Nonna Tina's recipes, we can’t sell our heritage—unless they offer a couple of million, of course! Jokes aside, we understand you were expecting something different, and we apologize for not meeting your standards. Rest assured, our Bolognese sauce recipe has never changed and never will; it’s a must for us.
I’m sorry you won’t come back, but we hope you might change your mind and try something else that better matches your taste.
Until then,
Arrivederci,
The Cousins Famiglia
Written 19 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PalmSpringsCA
Palm Springs664 contributions
May 2024 • solo
My goodness, this resto is amazing! The tagliatelle was clearly fresh-made and you can tell the staff and owners care about their resto. The owner came over a couple times to make sure all was ok. Nice wine last like in most spots in CPT, a good salad to start with alongside these pillowy breads that were out of this world. Incredible pride in their food and menu and the space overall makes this a must-visit in CPT. The owner was even nice enough to offer me a ride home afterward. Now that's service!!
Written 16 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ehi it was a plesure to meet and have some nice chats!
And we are very happy you'd enjoyed the experience it was our bigger plesure!
Untill next
Arrivederci
The Cousins Famiglia !
Written 2 July 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jade
Surrey37 contributions
May 2022 • friends
We booked our dinner more than 24 hours on advance.
We were reminded by the restaurant upon four occasions that we had the table from 6pm and needed to be done eating by 8pm:
1. When telephonically updating the booking from 2 to 3 people
2. Via SMS
3. When we arrived at the restaurant
4. Upon being offered dessert at the restaurant
Coming to CT on a holiday from JHB we really didn’t feel like going to a place where we needed a timer on our holiday. As lovely as the food and atmosphere was, next time we’ll go somewhere we don’t feel rushed during our dinner so that we can relax and go with the flow.
Written 19 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Simone B
Ciao
Thanks for this review and
thanks for taking your time to give us your feedback this means a lot to us.
We do understand your frustration and this is absolutely not the kind of experience we'd like to offer.
Let me just try to explain a bit more about our booking system. This may help you and everyone else to avoid similar situation.
The Cousins offers different sittings. Sometimes the floor gets very busy and we offer the option of an early booking (which was the case regarding your booking). Early booking is a table that was booked at 8Pm so our system gives the option to whoever want to come for the early dinner.
At the moment you've booked probably the 6Pm early sitting was the only option available. That's why the website offered you that option.
However every night there are open tables (called relax dinner) mostly from 7Pm that will give you the chance to enjoy your experience without any time limitation ( Unless Ramaphosa give us another Curfew hopefully not anymore ;) )
So first of all we'd really like to see you again and this time for a nice and relaxed dinner just make sure you choose one of the options from 7Pm.
Definitely we might have over reminded you and this is our apologies we hope you accept it.
Next time limoncello on the house :-)
Have a beautiful Night
The Cousins
Written 22 May 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Destiny
7 contributions
Apr 2024 • solo
I’m solo traveling so I was there by myself. The hostess, waiter, and who I assume could be the owner/manager were all very attentive.
I love trying out as many different things as I can when in another country so I ordered 3 dishes, which were all delicious. One of them had to come back with me takeaway style.
The owner was so amused by my efforts that I got a lemon sorbet on the house. Delicious! It had built in vodka.
Get the Cousins pasta- it’s amazing and comes in a delightful tableside cheese wheel!
Written 18 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ehi! Grazie mille for this review!!
Solo or not, you’re always welcome at The Cousins.
Thanks again for this great review!
Until next time,
The Cousins Famiglia
Written 19 September 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Claudio G
8 contributions
Dec 2024 • couples
Hardly when you eat Italian abroad, you find exactly the same flavors, but this time it was like diving into an Emilian/Romagna cuisine.
Exquisite kindness, elegant and enveloping environment, high level of cuisine, wide selection of wines, I must say one of the best restaurants outside Italy ever found.
Try the gnocchi with gorgonzola, the asparagus appetizer and any dessert present.
Automatically translated
Written 7 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allan cohen
2 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
People we met on top of Table mountain, in the cable-car suggested this restaurant but said we had to book long time in advance. We took a chance and the Uber driver waited for us until we confirmed we could eat there. Luka, i think his name is, with a charming Italian accent, welcomed us (they had just had a cancelation) and put the seven of us in a secluded spot. What an experience. It took a while to get used to their accents, but after that, everything was superb. They have one, a recommended dish that is actually made and carried in a huge thing of cheese. I wanted a pizza but they don't do that and gave me a mushroom sort of pasta. Out of this world. I can't remember exactly what the others had, but we were all equally impressed. I could go to Cape Town, just to go there again.
Written 15 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg W
106 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
This is among my favourite restaurants anywhere in the world, they consistently get almost everything right; the food, the drinks, the service, the ambiance and the value. Authentic Italian trattoria dining with the addition of wonderful quality fresh South African fish and meat.
We started with a Negroni as we perused the menu and had a bottle of SA Pongrácz on ice delivered plus a bottle of The Cousins gently carbonated mineral water. Complimentary hot soft and crispy deep fried layered bread pillows arrived to take the edge of our hunger - delicious and morish.
Service at all times was genuine, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, it feels like a true pleasure to be served her, and yet it’s not overly formal or intimidating.
Our starters were a range of 5 differently topped bruschetta slices, and burrata filled with stracciatella di buffala and truffle. Soft and exquisite.
Despite the T-bone Steak and Prawn specialities on offer we chose pasta main dishes; strozzapreti al matriciana with pigs cheek and wine garlic and grana padano and tagliatelle al bolognese.
We shared a small desert, affogato hot strong espresso coffee over icecream, and paid the bill that was the equivalent of ÂŁ30 per head including service.
It really doesn’t get better than this. Italian taste, South African welcome and world class dining.
Written 18 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meander19731529091
1 contribution
Dec 2023 • couples
If you have ever gone on a trip to Italy you know that Italians make their food with passion for their heritage.
The experience was like being taken back to Italy, with the photos and intricate interior. The food was incredible and so was the service. We were served by the amazing Linga who had been so accommodating with everything we had needed.
The Cousins trattoria is a must if you are craving authentic Italian food!
Written 19 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luca Pantani
Ciao e Grazie infinite for your glowing review! We're thrilled to have transported you to Italy through our passion-infused cuisine. Linga is truly a gem, ensuring your experience was nothing short of exceptional. Can't wait to welcome you back for more authentic Italian delights! Arrivederci! 🇮🇹🍝
The Cousins Famiglia
Written 25 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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