Ocean Basket V&A Waterfront: Prices, Hours, and Halaal Status
Ocean Basket at the V&A Waterfront sits at Shop 222 on Dock Road in Cape Town, open from 11:00 to 21:00, with tables inside and out on the harbour. Expect to spend roughly R150 to R350 a head. This page covers what it costs, how to get there, whether it’s halaal, and what the Google questions about this branch actually have as answers (updated September 2026).
The Practical Details
| Address | Shop 222, V&A Waterfront, Dock Road, Cape Town, 8001 |
| Trading hours | 11:00 to 21:00 (check public holidays with the branch) |
| Seating | Indoor, plus outdoor tables facing the harbour and Table Mountain |
| Typical spend | R150 to R350 per person with a drink |
| Google rating | 4.1 from about 1,900 reviews at the time of writing |
| Nearby landmark | A short walk from the Two Oceans Aquarium |
| Halaal certified | Not on the SANHA list (see below) |
For bookings, use the phone number on the Ocean Basket website’s store locator. Numbers listed on directory sites go stale, so the official locator is the safer bet. On summer weekends and during school holidays, book ahead if you want an outside table.
Getting There and Parking
From the city centre, take Nelson Mandela Boulevard toward the CTICC, turn onto Coen Steytler Avenue, then go right into Heerengracht Street and follow it through to Dock Road. The Waterfront runs several paid parking garages, and on busy days the ones closest to the harbour fill first. If you park further away, the walk along the quays is pleasant enough that it hardly costs you anything.
Coming by bus, get off at the Jetty 2 stop. The restaurant is about five minutes on foot from there. E-hailing drop-offs work too, though drivers sometimes struggle with the one-way roads around Dock Road, so pin the exact address rather than just “V&A Waterfront”.
What It Costs Here
Ocean Basket publishes one national menu, but franchisees set their own till prices, and tourist sites like the Waterfront often charge more than a suburban mall branch. Treat the figures below as the floor. They come from the current national menu, so the Waterfront bill may land a little higher.
| Dish | National menu price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Platter for One | R235 | One hungry adult who wants a bit of everything |
| Sushi For One | R170 | A lighter lunch while you’re sightseeing |
| Platter for Two | R455 | Couples, and the usual first-visit order |
| Full Deck | R695 | Groups of three or four sharing |
Two things keep the bill down. Bread rolls with the creamy lemon butter sauce come to the table free, so there’s little reason to order a starter. And the Platter for Two works out at R227.50 each, which is cheaper per person than the Platter for One. If you’re a pair, share.
For the full price list, see our Ocean Basket menu prices page.
Sushi at the Waterfront Branch
Sushi is a big part of why people pick Ocean Basket over a straight fish and chips place, and the Waterfront branch serves the full sushi menu alongside the hot food. You can order sushi and a platter at the same table, which helps when half the group wants something cooked.
The menu is mostly salmon and prawn, with a few vegetarian rolls. Here’s what the names mean if you don’t eat sushi often:
| On the menu | What you get |
|---|---|
| Maki | Small rolls with seaweed on the outside, usually 6 pieces. Salmon, prawn and avo versions are the cheapest way in. |
| California rolls | Rice on the outside, often rolled in sesame. Filled with salmon or prawn and avo. |
| Salmon roses | Salmon wrapped around rice and topped with mayo. Usually the first thing to go at a table. |
| Nigiri | A slice of salmon or prawn on a pressed block of rice. |
| Futomaki | Thick rolls with several fillings. The panko and tempura ones are crumbed or fried, so they suit people who don’t like raw fish. |
| Sashimi | Raw salmon slices with no rice, and the priciest item per bite. |
| Sushi platters | A mix of the above for sharing. Sushi For One (R170 on the national menu) is the solo option. |
If you’re sharing, a platter works out cheaper per piece than ordering rolls one by one. If you’re new to sushi, start with the crumbed or tempura rolls and the California rolls, since they’re the least “raw” tasting. For a price comparison with another sushi chain, see Simply Asia vs Ocean Basket sushi.
Is the Waterfront Branch Halaal?
We can’t confirm that it is. When we checked the SANHA certified establishments list, it included Ocean Basket Rosebank (The Zone), Ocean Basket Gateway and Ocean Basket at OR Tambo. The V&A Waterfront branch was not on it. Zabihah, the user-submitted halal directory, lists a Cape Town Ocean Basket but marks it as “verbal assurance” only, which means a staff member said so and no certificate was seen.
In the Western Cape, the MJC Halaal Trust certifies many restaurants, so it’s worth checking there as well. Halaal status is granted per branch, so one certified Ocean Basket tells you nothing about another. Before you eat, check these yourself:
The most reliable check is simple: ask to see the certificate on the wall and look at the expiry date. Our halaal fast food guide explains how to read one.
What to Order Here
Reviewers of this branch keep coming back to the platters, and the False Bay platter gets named more than once. That makes sense for the setting: you’re eating next to a working harbour, and a platter lets you try the fish, calamari and prawns without committing to one. Sushi is the lighter pick if you have the aquarium or a boat trip planned afterwards.
Platters arrive in the pan they were cooked in, with rice or chips. Ask for the lemon butter sauce on the side if you don’t want everything soaked.
When to Go
Weekday lunch is the quietest time. From about 17:00 on Fridays and Saturdays the Waterfront fills with tourists and locals, and wait times go up. If you want the outside tables for sunset, arrive before the rush or book. In winter the wind off the harbour can make outdoor seating uncomfortable, so sit inside and use the window tables for the view.
About the R94 Special
People search for an “R94 special” at Ocean Basket, but we couldn’t find one on Ocean Basket’s own site or social channels. The recent national campaigns, Greatest Hits and Epic Catch, were built around R99 meals, and older deals may have sat at a lower price. If a branch is running R94, it’s likely a local promotion. Ask the Waterfront staff what’s on the day you visit, and see our Ocean Basket specials page for the current national deals.
Who Owns and Runs Ocean Basket
Grace Harding is the CEO. She joined Ocean Basket in 2012 after working at the Edgars Group and has led the business since around 2014. The brand was started in 1995 by brothers Peter “Fats” and George Lazarides, who opened the first restaurant in Menlyn, Pretoria, with about R800 in capital. It now has more than 200 restaurants across 16 countries and serves around 18 million people a year.
Other Ocean Baskets in Cape Town
If the Waterfront is full or you’d rather avoid tourist pricing, these branches are nearby:
| Branch | Why you might pick it |
|---|---|
| Sea Point | Closest alternative on the Atlantic side |
| Century City | Easy parking, handy from the N1 |
| Canal Walk | Inside the mall, good for a rainy day |
| Kenilworth | Southern Suburbs option |
| Strand | Beachfront branch for the Helderberg side |
Confirm hours and addresses on the official store locator before you drive out.
More Ocean Basket
- Ocean Basket menu prices in South Africa
- Ocean Basket specials this month
- Simply Asia vs Ocean Basket sushi prices
FAQs
Is there an Ocean Basket at the V&A Waterfront?
Yes. It’s at Shop 222, V&A Waterfront, Dock Road, Cape Town, a short walk from the Two Oceans Aquarium.
What are Ocean Basket Waterfront’s trading hours?
11:00 to 21:00. Public holiday hours can differ, so call ahead.
Is Ocean Basket Waterfront halaal?
It isn’t on SANHA’s certified list, and we found no certificate from another body. Check the SANHA and MJC Halaal Trust lists linked above, or ask to see a certificate in store.
What is the R94 special at Ocean Basket?
We couldn’t verify a current national R94 special. Recent campaigns were priced at R99. A branch may run its own R94 deal, so ask in store.
Who is the CEO of Ocean Basket?
Grace Harding, who has led the company since around 2014.
Are Waterfront prices higher than other branches?
They can be. Tourist-area franchises often price above the national menu, so use our list as a minimum and check the menu at your table.
Can I book a table?
Yes. Call the branch using the number on Ocean Basket’s store locator. Booking helps most on summer weekends and holidays.
Prices are from Ocean Basket’s national menu as of September 2026. The Waterfront branch sets its own till prices, so your bill may differ.
