Bao Down
Schotschekloof, Cape Town
Restaurant in Cape Town, South Africa
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
Bao Down serves steamed bao and Asian sharing plates in Green Point's Exhibition Building, Tuesday through Saturday dinner plus Saturday lunch. The booking calendar stays open most weeks, the room suits couples and small groups, and the price-per-head lands well below R400. Walk-ins welcome, but the closed-Sunday schedule and thin digital presence mean you should confirm hours before heading over.
About Bao Down
Bao Down is a Cape Town venue with a concise weekly schedule: it is closed on Monday and Sunday, opens Tuesday to Friday from 6–9:30 PM, and opens Saturday from 12–3 PM and 6–9:30 PM. The dress code is smart casual. If details such as menu, service style, pricing, booking patterns, seating, or exact location matter for your visit, check with the venue before you go.
The Bao Down Visit
For readers comparing Cape Town dining options, Bao Down is best approached with the essentials in mind rather than assumptions about format or price. Its name may suggest a particular direction, but dish lists, portion sizes, beverage details, dietary information, and take-out or delivery options should be checked with the venue if those details matter for your group.
Cape Town Location and Planning Notes
Bao Down is in Cape Town. The schedule makes it a Tuesday-to-Saturday option, with a Saturday midday service from 12–3 PM and evening service from 6–9:30 PM on Tuesday through Saturday. It is not a Sunday or Monday option. The dress code is smart casual, so plan for a neat but not overly formal visit.
If Bao Down is not the right fit for your timing, other named options to consider in a broader comparison include Lievita, El Burro Greenpoint, 1800, ROOI, and Banting Kitchen. For a broader view of Cape Town's dining landscape, explore our full Cape Town restaurants guide.
Planning details
- Location
- First Floor, Exhibition Building, 79 Main Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
- Website
- baodowncapetown.com
- Phone
- +27 66 022 1165
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Bao Down sits in Green Point’s mid-tier, casual-creative layer, offering a relaxed alternative to the city’s more formal tasting rooms. Housed on the first floor of the Exhibition Building, it signals intent without ceremony: the room favors clarity and a careful focus on the bao format rather than ornate presentation. The kitchen’s commitment to the steamed bun as a structural and textural discipline gives the place a purposeful, quietly confident personality. It’s approachable and compact in feel, a neighborhood spot that channels creative energy into compact, flavor-forward bites rather than theatrical dining rituals.
Best For
Bao Down’s compact, format-driven menu makes it well suited to informal group gatherings and casual nights out. The bao-centric plates encourage sharing and sampling, so small groups can mix and match Korean Fried Chicken Bao, Pork Belly Bao and other fillings to taste. Its first-floor location on a walkable strip in Green Point keeps the mood urbane but unbuttoned, making the restaurant a good option for low-key celebrations, after-work drop-ins, or weekends spent exploring the neighbourhood’s culinary mid-tier.
Ordering Tips
Because the menu is organized around the bao bun as a deliberate container, ordering benefits from a miscellany approach: pick several different baos to compare how each filling works against the steamed bread’s texture. The format rewards lateral tasting—choose options that draw on different traditions so contrasts are clear rather than redundant. Given the kitchen’s emphasis on concise flavor pairings, avoid ordering multiples of the same profile; instead, prioritize variety to experience how Korean, Japanese, Southeast Asian or Latin-American influences reinterpret the bun.
Venue details
Ambiance
Intimate yet stylish space with soft-pink walls, vintage prints, antique mirrors, origami lights, and a large airy balcony overlooking the lively street.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
View
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Smart Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Upscale Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Korean Fried Chicken Bao
- Pork Belly Bao
- Prawn Toast
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- First Floor, Exhibition Building, 79 Main Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
Planning details
Location
First Floor, Exhibition Building, 79 Main Rd, Green Point, Cape Town, 8005, South Africa · Directions
Also consider
Also Consider
- El Burro Greenpoint, Notable alternative
- 1800, Notable alternative
- Banting Kitchen, Notable alternative
- Lievita, Notable alternative
- ROOI, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
Bao Down anchors the casual end of Green Point's Asian dining tier, booking is easier, checks run lighter, and the format favors groups of two to four splitting bao and rice bowls. El Burro Greenpoint offers a similar price-and-vibe match with Mexican rather than Asian flavors, while 1800 steps up the beverage program and ambiance polish for an extra R150 per head. Lievita lands in the same neighbourhood with wood-fired Italian plates and a stronger wine list, worth the upgrade if you're marking a milestone dinner.
For value-conscious diners who want shareable plates without the V&A; Waterfront tourist premium, Bao Down delivers. Banting Kitchen offers health-focused bowls at a comparable price, though the flavour depth skews lighter. ROOI pushes into fine-casual territory with more ambitious technique and a tighter booking window. If your priority is ease of reservation and a sub-R400 check, Bao Down and El Burro split the top recommendation; if you need Sunday availability or destination-level cooking, look further afield to Babel or the Winelands corridor.
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Bao Down guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Bao Down
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Bao Down | Cape Town | No published awards |
| El Burro Greenpoint | Cape Town | No published awards |
| 1800 | Cape Town | No published awards |
| Banting Kitchen | Cape Town | No published awards |
| Lievita | Cape Town | No published awards |
| ROOI | Cape Town | No published awards |
How Bao Down Cape Town compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bao Down good for solo dining?
Bao Down is open Tuesday through Friday from 6–9:30 PM and Saturday from 12–3 PM and 6–9:30 PM. If you are visiting alone, contact the venue directly about seating and service details.
What should a first-timer know about Bao Down?
First-timers should know the basics: Bao Down is in Cape Town, the dress code is smart casual, it is closed on Monday and Sunday, and it opens Tuesday to Friday from 6–9:30 PM, plus Saturday from 12–3 PM and 6–9:30 PM.
Can I eat at the bar at Bao Down?
If bar or counter seating matters, contact the venue before visiting. The evening hours are 6–9:30 PM from Tuesday through Saturday, with an additional Saturday 12–3 PM service.
What are alternatives to Bao Down in Cape Town?
Other named options you may compare with Bao Down include El Burro Greenpoint, Lievita, ROOI, Banting Kitchen, and 1800. Check each venue's current details directly before choosing.
Is Bao Down good for a special occasion?
That depends on the occasion and your expectations. The dress code is smart casual; for details such as room style, menu format, pricing, and seating, contact Bao Down directly if you need a specific setup.
Is lunch or dinner better at Bao Down?
Bao Down has Saturday lunch hours from 12–3 PM. Dinner is available Tuesday through Saturday from 6–9:30 PM. It is closed on Sunday and Monday.
What should I wear to Bao Down?
The dress code is smart casual. Choose neat, comfortable clothing appropriate for a Cape Town restaurant visit.
