Self-catering is the cheapest way to eat in Cape Town, and it can also be good fun. Apart from braais , which happen anywhere with any excuse, there are countless places on beaches, in the forests or up Table Mountain where you can enjoy a terrific picnic , or you may just want to cook at your accommodation. Lots of delis can be found down Kloof Street and in Green Point and Sea Point. By far the most atmospheric places to buy seafood are the Hout Bay and Kalk Bay harbours.

SUPERMARKETS

The easiest places to shop for food are at the big supermarket chains. The larger branches of the better supermarkets also have fishmonger counters where you can buy fresh fish.

Woolworths Branches at Adderley Street (Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat 8am-2pm); V&A Waterfront (daily 9am-9pm); Cavendish Square Mall, Claremont, (Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm); Blue Route Mall, Tokai (Mon-Thurs 9am-5.30pm, Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm). The South African version of Britain's Marks & Spencer stores is excellent for quality fast-cook meals, fresh produce and cold foods, such as olives, houmus and various Mediterranean dips, but can be pricey.

Pick'n'Pay V&A Waterfront, daily 9am-8pm; Gardens Shopping Centre, Mill Street, Gardens (Mon-Thurs 8am-7pm, Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm); Main Road, Camps Bay (daily 9am-7pm); Main Road, Observatory (Mon-Thurs 7am-8.30pm, Fri 7am-10pm, Sat 7am-10pm, Sun 8am-2pm); corner Main Road and Campground Road, Claremont (Mon-Thurs 8am-6pm, Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 9am-2pm); Blue Route Mall, Tokai (Mon-Thurs 8.30am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8am-2pm, Sun 9am-2pm). In a similar vein to Woolworths but considerably larger and cheaper, with a good deli counter and a choice of prepared meals, among which you'll find their excellent-value ready-grilled whole chickens. It's also one of the best places for all groceries.

DELIS AND FARM STALLS

Thanks to the city's cosmopolitan population, there are some excellent (if pricey) delicatessens, several of which are strung along Main Road, Green Point and Sea Point. You'll also find delicious food and some unusual fruit and vegetables at the more sophisticated farm stalls.

The Barnyard Farm Stall Steenberg Road, adjacent to the well-signposted Steenberg Wine Estate, Tokai tel 021 712 6934. One of Cape Town's nicest farm stalls, with a selection of high-class cheeses, breads, home-baked cakes, wines, patés, coffee beans and many other delights. There's also the major attraction of a very good outdoor café with a children's playground attached. Daily 8.30am-5.30pm.

Giovanni's 103 Main Rd, Green Point tel 021 434 6893. Excellent breads and delicious Italian foods to take away and - if temptation overcomes you - there's always the option of sitting down for a coffee and a snack. Mon-Sun 8.30am-9pm.

Melissa's 94 Kloof St, Gardens tel 021 424 5540. Expensive imported and local specialities, which you can either eat in or take away. Mon-Fri 7.30am-9pm, Sat & Sun 8am-9pm.

New York Bagel Deli 51 Regent Rd, Sea Point tel 021 439 7523. The best bagels in town and a great selection of Eastern European Jewish fillings - salt beef, gherkins, chopped liver and pickled herring - and an array of delicious pastries. Daily 7am-9pm.

Old Cape Farm Stall turn-off to Groot Constantia, on Constantia Nek Road tel 021 794 7062. A good place to pick up a picnic, where you can choose from their delicious selection of dips and ready-made foods such as olive bread, couscous and other salads, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables. Daily 8.15am-6pm.

FRESH FISH

Fish Market Mariner's Wharf, Hout Bay Harbour. Fresh seafood from South Africa's original water-front emporium, but slicker and less atmospheric than Kalk Bay Harbour. Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat & Sun 9am-6pm.

Kalk Bay Harbour Harbourside, Kalk Bay. Buy fresh fish directly from the fishermen and have it gutted and scaled on the spot. Availability is subject to weather.

WINE

Supermarkets tend to have decent wine at competitive prices, but for more interesting labels and well-informed staff, there are some first-rate specialist wine merchants in town.

Enoteca Branches on the corner of 125c Buitengragt and Bloem streets, Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm; and Castle Building, on the corner of Kildare Lane and Main Road, Newlands, Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm. An excellent selection of South African and foreign wines from a knowledgeable and helpful outfit.

Vaughan Johnson's Dock Road, V&A Waterfront tel 021 419 2121. One of Cape Town's best-known wine shops, which has a huge range of labels from all over the country, but can be a bit pricey. Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 10am-5pm.

Woolworths Branches at Adderley Street, Mon-Fri 8.30am-5.30pm, Sat 8am-2pm; V&A Waterfront, daily 9am-9pm; Cavendish Square Mall, Claremont, Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm, Fri 8.30am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm; Blue Route Mall, Tokai, Mon-Thurs 9am-5.30pm, Fri 8.30am-7pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun 9am-2pm. The own-label wines of South Africa's upmarket supermarket chain have come a long way since the days when you'd sneakily decant them so no one would know their source. Cognoscenti now happily flaunt these competitively priced good-quality wines.