"The no-menu Camps Bay seafood institution where you pick fish from the display by weight — book it for a relaxed first date."
About Codfather
There is no printed menu. You walk up to the seafood display, point at what looks good, and pay for the fish by weight. Codfather has worked this way in Camps Bay for more than twenty years, with around ninety percent of its fish bought straight off the boats at the Western Cape's harbours. Half the room is a sushi counter with a conveyor belt and a chef making sushi to order; the other half is a fish market that cooks whatever you choose. It is informal, fresh and reliably busy, a few blocks back from the Camps Bay beachfront.
The Kitchen
The kitchen runs on a single idea: serve the freshest fish in Cape Town and let the diner choose it. About ninety percent of the catch comes off local boats working the seven harbours of the Western Cape, displayed on ice so you select the exact piece you want and the kitchen cooks it to order. The sushi side, made fresh rather than sitting on the belt for show, is a genuine draw in its own right. Because everything is priced by weight, a meal lands roughly R350 to R600 per person depending on what you pick. After more than two decades it remains the default seafood table in Camps Bay. For the wider city, see the best seafood restaurants in Cape Town, the Cape Town dining guide, and our best seafood worldwide.
The Room
The room splits in two: a sushi counter with a conveyor belt on one side, a fish-market-meets-restaurant on the other. The energy is buzzy and casual, busy most nights with a mix of locals and Camps Bay holidaymakers, so expect a lively hum rather than a hushed dining room. Lighting is bright and functional, tables turn steadily, and dress is smart-casual, beach-town smart rather than formal. Service is brisk and friendly. Book ahead; the room fills, especially in the summer high season.
Best for a First Date
Book Codfather for a first date because it is fresh, easy and conversation-friendly without trying too hard. Choosing fish together at the display is a built-in icebreaker, the sushi gives a lighter option if nerves kill the appetite, and the casual room keeps the stakes low. It is relaxed rather than romantic, which suits an early date that should feel fun, not formal. Book a table away from the busiest stretch of the room. For more, see the best restaurants for a first date and the Cape Town dining guide.
Not for
Not for a fixed budget or a formal hush. Pricing is by weight so the bill is hard to predict, and the two-part room runs loud and casual.
Frequently Asked
Is Codfather in Cape Town worth it?
Yes, for genuinely fresh seafood in Camps Bay. Codfather has been the area's go-to fish restaurant for over twenty years, with no printed menu, you pick line fish from the display and pay by weight, while the sushi is made to order. Expect roughly R350 to R600 per person. Go for fresh fish and a relaxed evening rather than for fine-dining polish or a predictable bill.
How does the no-menu concept work at Codfather?
Instead of a menu, Codfather displays the day's catch on ice. You walk up, choose the exact fish or shellfish you want, and the kitchen cooks it to order, charging by weight. About ninety percent of the fish is bought off local boats from the Western Cape's harbours. The sushi side works conventionally, made fresh to order. It rewards asking staff what landed that day.
Do I need to book Codfather?
Yes, reservations are recommended. Codfather is one of Camps Bay's busiest restaurants and fills most evenings, especially in the summer high season from December to February. Book direct through the restaurant. Because pricing is by weight, it helps to set a rough budget with your server when you choose at the display. See the Cape Town dining guide for more.
What should I order at Codfather?
Order whatever line fish looks freshest at the display, that is the whole point, and ask staff what came off the boats that day. The local catch grilled simply is the move. If you would rather eat light, the made-to-order sushi is a strong option and a Camps Bay favourite in its own right. Pair it with a Western Cape white from the list.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Codfather
Book direct. There is no printed menu, you choose fish from the display and pay by weight.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address37 The Drive, Camps Bay, Cape Town
NeighbourhoodCamps Bay
CuisineSeafood & Sushi
PriceLine fish priced by weight; expect R350–R600 per person
Dress CodeSmart-casual
SeatingBuzzy two-part room: sushi conveyor and fish market
ReservationReservations recommended; pricing is by weight at the display
