This weekend I was having a chat with someone who had just moved down from Jozi to Cape Town a while back, and of course we started comparing the two cities.

Capetonians have to take it on the chin that we can be a little ‘stick to our clique’ at times, and apparently we have an odd fascination with what schools people went to (no matter how long ago that was), but we do have a lot going for us.

My new Jozi friend couldn’t stop raving about the Cape Town CBD, and in particular how lekker a stroll around the city is. Funky shops, bars, restaurants – the list goes on, and there’s a reason it has become the country’s leading tourist destination these past 12 months.

I’ve always been a sucker for a good pizza, and my portly mate was in agreement. He asked if I could recommend a spot where he could sit down, slap bang in the centre of town and somewhere near those funky bars, to chow a proper pizza. That ruled out Butler’s unfortunately, but I had a plan.

I offered my opinion, and it turns out it’s where many of the cool kids are sitting down to munch down on the good stuff, so I’m not alone in my glowing referral.

There’s a massive buzz around Bocca these days, their wide range of Neopolitan pizzas and Italian-inspired dishes proving popular. Not surprising, considering the success of Open Door and Burrata, owned by the same restaurateurs and boasting executive chef Annemarie Steenkamp at the helm.

What’s great is the relaxed, informal setting on the corner of Bree and Wale, where you can pop in when the mood strikes, rather than having to book weeks in advance and feeling the need to dress up to the max.

If you’re heading in for a First Thursday, for example, maybe you swing past the The Gin Bar for some of the good stuff. They don’t have pizzas, but the folks over at Bocca will gladly sort you out and have it sent over to line the stomach.

We’d recommend the Pork’s Revenge, given that their ground spice pork belly is quickly becoming the stuff of legend, but I’m sure you’ll find something on their menu (HERE) to tickle your taste buds.

You’re free to tell those new to Cape Town to eat where you please, but if you’re punting CBD hot spots this might be one to pass on to our new friends.

See, we went a whole story without saying anything nasty about Jozi? Bon appétit, everyone…