"Ten courses of Cape seafood, cooked tableside above the harbour. Book Pier to close a deal that needs a view."
About Pier
Pier opened on the V&A Waterfront from the La Colombe group, the Cape Town restaurant family run by chef-proprietor Scot Kirton, whose flagship La Colombe has long ranked among South Africa's best. Announced in 2021 and opened the following year, Pier took the upper floor of the Pierhead building, a glass-walled room that looks straight out over the working harbour and Table Bay. The format is a single seafood-led tasting menu, much of it finished at the table. See the wider Cape Town dining guide for the rest of the scene.
The Kitchen
Pier is headed by John Norris-Rogers, who came up through the La Colombe group at La Petite Colombe before taking this kitchen. His ten-course menu reads as a love letter to the Cape coast, and several dishes are built in front of you: oysters poached tableside, a snoek-filled takoyaki served with a Cape Malay curry relish that nods to the city's Cape Malay kitchen, and a tuna course done two ways. Seafood dominates, though a dish of mussels with Black Forest ham and chorizo shows the kitchen will reach beyond it. Dinner is R1,650 per person, with a wine pairing at about R1,250 more; a vegetarian version of the tasting menu is offered, and a shorter winter lunch has run around R995. For more in this register, see the best seafood restaurants and the city's tasting menus.
The Room
The room sits one floor up in the Pierhead building, deliberately stripped back so the harbour view carries it: glass on the water side, an open kitchen, and tables angled so almost everyone gets the vista. At dusk the light over Table Bay and the moored boats is the main decoration. Sound is moderate and the pace is unhurried across a long tasting menu, with tableside finishing that brings the kitchen to you. Service is polished and well-drilled, as you would expect from the La Colombe group. Dress is smart-casual; most guests step it up a little. Ask for a window table when you book.
Best for Closing a Deal
Pier is a strong choice for a deal dinner that needs to impress without feeling stiff. The harbour view and the tableside theatre give a guest something to remember and something to talk about, easing the conversation past the small talk. A single set tasting menu removes any awkwardness over ordering or the bill, and the long, paced format gives you the hours a real negotiation needs. The polished La Colombe service reads as serious without being formal. Book a window table for early evening so your guest catches the sunset over Table Bay, and let the meal carry the room. More options in our close a deal guide.
Not for
Not for a quick lunch or a tight budget: this is a long set tasting menu at R1,650 a head, so plan on a full evening and a serious bill.
Frequently Asked
Is Pier worth it?
Yes, for one of Cape Town's most polished tasting menus in its best setting. Pier comes from the La Colombe group and is led by chef John Norris-Rogers, who sends out a ten-course seafood menu, much of it finished at your table, in a glass room over the V&A Waterfront harbour. Dinner is R1,650 per person. See our Cape Town dining guide for more.
How much does Pier cost?
Dinner is R1,650 per person for the ten-course tasting menu, with an optional wine pairing at roughly R1,250 more. A vegetarian version of the menu is available, and a shorter winter lunch has been offered around R995. It sits at the top end of Cape Town dining, so treat it as a special occasion and book ahead for the best window tables.
What should I order at Pier?
There is one set tasting menu, so the kitchen decides, but the courses to look out for are the tableside-poached oysters and the snoek-filled takoyaki with Cape Malay curry relish, a nod to the city's Cape Malay cooking. The tuna, served two ways, and a mussel dish with Black Forest ham and chorizo also stand out. Mention dietary needs when you book; a vegetarian menu is available.
Where is Pier and how do I book?
Pier is on the upper floor of the Pierhead building on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, with views over the working harbour and Table Bay. Book through the La Colombe group's website or its reservations partner, ideally well in advance and aiming for an early-evening table to catch the sunset. The full tasting menu takes a few hours, so leave the night open.
Is Pier good for a business dinner?
Yes, it works well for impressing a client or closing a deal. The view and tableside service give you talking points, the set menu avoids any fuss over ordering, and the long format suits an unhurried conversation. The La Colombe service is serious without being stiff. For a casual or quick meal it is the wrong call. See our close a deal guide.
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Reservations essential; book the tasting menu well ahead, especially for sunset tables.
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
AddressPierhead, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
NeighbourhoodV&A Waterfront (upper level, Pierhead)
CuisineSeafood tasting menu
PriceR1,650 pp; wine pairing ~R1,250
SignatureSnoek takoyaki; tableside oysters
GroupLa Colombe Restaurant Group
Opened2022 (announced 2021)
ReservationBook via La Colombe / Dineplan
