Driving down Lynnwood road your eye might have caught the little blue shop tucked away in the corner of the centre across from Hillcrest shopping centre. Take the time to turn in and satisfy your curiosity, it’s definitely well worth the effort! The unassuming exterior hides an interior that will whisk you away into a stylish café – reminiscent of a true European patisserie. Trendy décor, including Italian style couches with a Vespa scooter elevated above the counter, is complimented by shiny black and white polished tiles. And all around yummy freshly baked goodies to entice your senses. The perfect spot to spoil your mom this year.

A little piece of India on our doorstep! Walking in a statue of a friendly Indian lady will greet you with a colourful pot on her head, and as you climb the steps you will soon forget that you are in Groenkloof. The faint sound of Indian background music will confirm that a foreign cultural exploration is about to unfold. Pride of India has been rewarded with various culinary rewards, including the Pretoria News Reader’s Choice (2002, 2005, 2010) and it has been classified as a platinum Superior Choice Restaurant. Boasting with a wide range of hand-crafted signature dishes, they have found the fine balance of fusing culinary traditions with a modern flair.

A new fresh concept of a combo bakery and coffee shop can be found in Lynnwood Bridge and Woodlands. Vovo Telo has a fun ambience that will make you feel instantly comfortable. With its relaxed atmosphere, it’s very easy to sit back and breathe easy for a moment. They are passionate about pastries and quality food. Each dish is presented with meticulous attention to detail. With a policy of only using the freshest, locally produced, ingredients each meal is a delight to enjoy. If you enjoyed your gourmet sandwich, grab a bread on your way out to recreate the masterpiece at home. You can choose between baguettes, ciabattas, pain au levain, focaccias and many more!

Pizza + wine = a superb evening out! Throw in a funky location and you can’t go wrong. The latest addition to the franchise can be found in the Waterkloof Corner shopping centre. This stylish venue has an easy-going vibe, making it great for gathering with a group of friends or just a nice treat for a family outing. (book the round table upstairs, perfect spot for a nice intimate evening) The big screen television at the downstairs bar is a good incentive for getting the guys out of the house with the prospect of a good view of the sport action. You can keep an eye on the preparation of your pizza with their open-plan pizza oven area. All ingredients have a healthy edge with organic origins; ask for a gluten free base if you are a sensitive diner. Compliment your meal with a choice from their well-balanced wine selection or spice it up with a cocktail.

We have put together a list of the top 5 most romantic restaurants for Valentine's day in Pretoria.

Blu Saffron
With its serene setting in the Pretoria Country Club, it's easy to strike up a romantic mood here. The interior has a warm, inviting ambiance. Inside two lounges and a main dining area will give you dining options galore. Four private dining rooms available, ranging from 4 to 16 guests. Book a private room for an unforgettable night. Or enjoy the expansive outside patio with its lovely view over the golf course.
Mouthwatering food: beef tartare, roasted pork neck, Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

Imperial living can be found hiding away right under your nose! The Royal Elephant Hotel, in Eldoraigne, is a boutique style hotel with extensive catering facilities. This versatile venue is perfect for a business indaba, wedding celebration or just as a great big treat to spoil yourself. The stylish interior with exquisite attention to detail will whisk you away to a chic villa somewhere in North-Africa. Morocco was the main inspiration behind the theme, but it has been fused with modern day style to give it a cutting edge. The hotel has various options for a delightful dining experience. Fezorati Coffee Emporium is a laid-back lounge style café, perfect for a quick lunch getaway or a nice late afternoon cocktail on the outside deck. The Zagora Grill Room is a stylish restaurant area with a classic dining room ambiance, enhanced by a softly lit interior. With a grand piano to the side for soothing background musical accompaniment, you are assured of a posh dining experience. The downstairs Wine Cellar and adjacent Cigar Lounge is the perfect setting for an intimate private party. Also used for regular wine tastings and other connoisseur evenings. Another private dining area can be found upstairs, with the distinct feeling of a Moroccan rooftop café, leisurely couch areas to the sides. A variety of dining options – from casual to formal, public to private – something for every occasion!

It's easy to find a Chinese restaurant in town, but you won't often find an Asian fusion hub to enjoy a wide variety of tastes. Courtesy of Koi, Lynnwood Bridge, you can now travel with cuisine to countries such as Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China and Indonesia in one go! An unique concept of intertwining dishes from the Asian world with a local twist. Stepping inside this sophisticated upmarket restaurant, you will be transported to a contemporary Asian dining experience. The décor is subtle, echoing the modest nature of the Asian cultures, with stylish chic mixed in effortlessly. Using bamboo throughout, it creates the feel of an authentic Asian experience. Prepare yourself to be overwhelmed with options, the extensive menu has something for every taste bud preference. From simplistic spring rolls, to interesting salad combinations, to an ostrich fillet – every dish will pleasantly surprise you with their attention to flavour mixtures and immaculate presentation.

Driving past the high walls of the Moroccan House, you would be oblivious of the hidden world behind them. Built in the typical earthy style of Morocco, every little detail portrays the rich culture of this North African kingdom. Step into the local souq (market) and browse through the colourful tapestry of authentic Moroccan products. Joehan and Louise Erasmus are the masterminds behind this Moroccan hub. After a memorable trip to this fascinating country, they started the process of importing crafts. The downstairs area is just an enticement for the vast product range upstairs. Ascend the stairs, have a good browsing session, and afterwards continue upwards one more level to La Terrasse. This rooftop café captures the essence of a Moroccan house's entertainment area. In the Moroccan culture the highest form of honour, is to be invited into someone's home for a meal.

If you have some time to spare, and want to indulge in a leisurely outing, take a drive to Ludwig's Roses. Conveniently situated just off the highway, it's a 20km drive from Pretoria. This active rose farm has a lovely restaurant, nestled in the heart of the rose hub. Spiced Coffee has a farm-style veranda covering, with elegant tables and chairs to create a sophisticated ambiance. Heike Taschner, daughter of the famous Ludwig, creates decadent dishes with the roses. You will be surprised at how much you can do with the simplistic little flower! From rose tea and coffee, to a rosehip omelette, to a rose scone – you will feel all rosy when you walk out. Earlier this year Ludwig's Roses celebrated their 40th birthday, making them a formidable force in the horticultural industry. Up to date they now have five branches across the country, including two local ones, the original rose farm in the Wallmannsthal area and Soleil Cut Roses in Pretoria East. The recent revamp of the restaurant has added an extended client-friendly aspect to the commercial farm.

In the suburb of Hazelwood a quaint new Italian restaurant has popped up. Only open for a few months now, word has already spread like wild fire and Alfie's is fully booked on most evenings. This is not a wanna-be Italian place – it's authentic with real Italian owners, fresh in the country from Italy. Alfredo and Christiana Fiachetti moved to South Africa just over a year ago and decided to share a little bit of their rich culture with us. With a simplistic, earthy interior it has a quiet unassuming ambiance. But once it is filled up with Italian food enthusiasts, there's nothing quiet about the place! Funky Italian background music and passing Italian conversations will sweep you away to an Italian street café. Sitting at a table outside on the walkway will make you feel like you are really seated somewhere in Italy.