From the outside, Kitima at the Kronendal is an interesting and historical building. The Kronendal was apparently the first farm in Hout Bay, and the homestead is one of the oldest surviving examples of its kind. The farm was established way back in the 1670’s.

Inside Kitima at the Kronendal, you’re transported to a whole different world. The restaurant is amazingly decorated to celebrate the connection between the Cape of Good Hope and old Siam, forged by the Dutch East India Company’s original trade route. I had driven past the Kitima building many times and never imagined what was inside! The attention to detail is really stunning—from the menus, to the presentation of the food, to the lighting, paint, and furniture choices.

Kitima offers a little something for everyone, but the focus is mostly on delicious Thai food. They throw in some dim sum and sushi options just to round things out. I visited for a weeknight dinner with friends, and we sampled the prawn spring rolls, crispy duck, paad Thai, and Panang duck and lychee curry. The waiter’s top recommendation was the crispy duck, which is fried duck breast cut into thin strips and served with pancakes and julienned vegetables and a delicious sauce. Everything was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. It’s hard to pick a favorite but the paad Thai came out slightly ahead. It was definitely several notches above normal take-out noodles and came served inside of a thin omelet parcel.

Service was great, friendly, and attentive and the atmosphere of the restaurant is certainly up there with Cape Town’s best. Reservations are definitely recommended, but if you don’t manage to secure one, they also allow you to sit and order food from the low, velvet-covered couches in the swanky lounge and bar area. Even with a reservation, it’s nice to arrive early and spend some time in the bar; it’s one of the most beautiful areas of the restaurant.