A restaurant in Cape Town focusing on shared moments, indulgence, and connection through food, wine, and cocktails, with a seasonally led, locally sourced approach.
Upper Union offers a dining experience focused on shared moments, indulgence, and connection through good food, fine wines, and bespoke cocktails. The restaurant emphasizes a seasonally led, locally sourced approach to cooking, drawing inspiration from around the globe.
Customer Perception
Customers generally perceive Upper Union positively, with reviews highlighting its warm and generous hospitality. It is recognized as a notable restaurant in Cape Town, with an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on Tripadvisor based on 87 reviews.
Additional Details
The restaurant has a newly refreshed space and is known for its inviting ambiance. They also celebrate local talent through events like the Women's Month Sunday Lunch Series.
The restaurant updates its menu seasonally, suggesting that visiting during different seasons might offer a varied culinary experience. Specific peak times are not detailed, but it is likely to be busy during typical dinner hours and potentially for brunch.
Went for a relaxing public holiday lunch. Not too busy so felt well taken care of.
My Metropolitan cocktail was perfectly tart and refreshing.
We decided to choose our selection of tapas, but found the menu very meat heavy. This is not unique to Upper Union. We’ve been struggling to find more vegetarian options of late.
The lamb tartare was lovely. The southern fried chicken was a bit overcooked imo, but still tasty. Everything else was just fine.
Glad I finally went, but don’t think I’ll be back.
Upper Union is a true gem tucked into the heart of the city — a spot that effortlessly blends warm hospitality with a dining experience worth remembering. Tuesday dinner here was nothing short of amazing.
From the moment we arrived, the team impressed with their professionalism and deep knowledge of the menu. Each dish was introduced with precision, and their enthusiasm for the food elevated the anticipation before every bite.
The presentation was exquisite, each plate thoughtfully crafted and visually striking. The flavour combinations were sophisticated and adventurous, earning high praise and certainly worthy of impressing international guests. Most dishes were absolutely incredible, boasting balanced flavours and creative touches.
If I were to offer one critique, it would be my main course — the tomahawk. While beautifully prepared and full of potential, it carried a little too much char, which unfortunately tipped the flavour into bitterness. This small stumble kept me from giving the meal a perfect 5 stars.
That said, the overall experience was exceptional. The food, wine selection, and attentive service made for a memorable evening. I would definitely return — and happily recommend Upper Union to both locals and visitors seeking a refined yet welcoming dining experience.
5
Just left an amazing dinner at Upper Union. The service here is honestly unbeatable. My dad has a lot of dietary restrictions, so he had called earlier in the day to "pre-order" a tomahawk steak we’d seen on the menu a few months back. They told him it was no longer on the menu, which was totally fine, and we headed to dinner anyway.
When we arrived, we found out they had actually gone out of their way to bring in a tomahawk just for him! That kind of thoughtfulness is so rare and so so appreciated.
Beyond that, every person we interacted with was outstanding. I ordered the burrata and the green tartare - I’d highly recommend both. Beautiful interior, flavorful food, and a genuinely kind staff. 10/10 experience.
4
Lunch at Upper Union was a memorable experience from the very start. For me, the bread course always sets the tone and they absolutely delivered. The bread was soft, paired with spreads and butter that complemented it perfectly.
To start, I had the yellowtail ceviche which was nothing short of exceptional (it was fresh and full of flavour). However, the standout was the lamb rump, compliments to the chef for such a perfectly executed dish!
One of the main dishes that had butternut didn’t quite suit my taste, but the overall experience remained highly enjoyable. I was on a solo date so I did not finish all the food, the portions are filling so I’d definitely recommend visiting with someone to fully enjoy and share the variety on offer.
One small area for improvement would be the attentiveness upon arrival. I did have to wait for a few minutes before being offered water, which slightly took away from the warm experience. A more proactive welcome from the staff would really elevate the overall first impression.
5
We had a fantastic evening celebrating Mother’s Day. The staff were friendly, attentive and informative. The food - just WOW! We mostly had vegetarian dishes, but did opt for the yellowtail ceviche and the Puglia burrata with prosciutto. I cannot fault any of the dishes - from the presentation and colours, to the flavour and portion sizes. Perfect place for sharing and trying dishes. The bread course was a real treat to start the evening off! I will absolutely be back. Highly recommend.