Gqeberha's food scene is deeply tied to the sea, and you'll feel that the moment you bite into a freshly grilled snoek at one of the harbour-side spots near Summerstrand. The Eastern Cape coastline delivers some of the country's finest seafood, and locals know exactly where to get it — calamari rings crispy and golden, peri-peri prawns that carry real heat, and linefish platters that change with the catch. Don't leave without trying a proper snoek braai; the smoky, flaky flesh is a rite of passage.

Beyond seafood, the city's coloured and Xhosa culinary traditions add tremendous warmth to the table. At the Walmer Township food stalls and around the North End markets, you'll find umngqusho — a hearty samp and beans dish that's been feeding Eastern Cape families for generations. Spekko rice cooked with lamb stew, braaibroodjies stuffed generously with cheese and tomato, and vetkoek filled with curried mince are the kinds of things locals grab on the go and eat standing up, which is entirely the right way to do it.

For a sit-down experience with genuine character, Gqeberha punches above its weight. The Bridge Street Brewery pairs craft beers with wood-fired food in an industrial space that feels effortlessly cool, while Fushin brings sophisticated pan-Asian flavours to the beachfront strip. Summerstrand's restaurant row along Marine Drive has something for everyone, from relaxed fish-and-chips to proper fine dining, and the vibe is always unhurried in that distinctly PE way — sunny, generous, and completely unpretentious.