Cape Town Belgian restaurants might not be your first port of call, but if you’re on the Waterfront and looking for something unpretentious, Den Anker is the answer. A perennial favourite, it has been here since the start, located in a disused boatshed which was originally used for trawlers. Some famous individuals have dined here and, in Den Anker’s laid-back spirit, they’ve added their autographs to the graffiti-covered patches of wall around the bar, itself capped by an upturned rowing boat. For the rest, the décor is a comforting blend of exposed wooden rafters, a fireplace, and a swath of wrap-around windows framing wonderful views of the harbour and Table Mountain. As famous for its beer as it is for its homestyle preparation of Belgian specialities such as pepper steak, rabbit, steak tartar, and fillet béarnaise, they’ve also retained such quirky traditions as handing the barman your left shoe when you order a Kwak beer, served in a tall, bauble-bottomed glass (your shoe hangs in a basket above the bar until you return the glass). Whatever you do, don’t pass on the legendary moules marinières, Belgian-style mussels (from Langebaan) cooked in beer, served in a black pot, and accompanied by little bowls overflowing with skinny frites. For something a little offbeat, try the marrow bones; the salmon tartar is a beautiful starter.