Review The Firemans Arms - Cape Town Central

Mr Russell

I've had a lot of Sunday roasts, in a lot of countries, and this was by far the best I've ever had. There were no options, it's a mixed roast of beef, pork and chicken which suited me just fine. Each meat has a different flavour, the Yorkshire pudding was delicious and just the right size - some places have massive yorkies to fill you up, and the veggies were top notch. The pork crackling - OMG, the pork crackling!!!! The other food we saw coming out looked equally delicious - especially the enormous square hamburgers The staff (called waitrons in South Africa) were super efficient and friendly. The restaurant was full when we went and I'm not surprised as it has a lot going for it. My only criticism is that people were smoking in the 'outside' part of the restaurant which was basically part of the 'inside' section. But don't let that put you off, it's still an amazing restaurant and well worth a visit - especially on a Sunday for the roast.

Danka Erasmus

We went for Sunday lunch although nobody ended up having Sunday Roast, food is really good, portions are massive so go hungry. The mushy peas and mash are amazing and I will go back just for them! Service is very good the waiter was friendly and service was fast. Love all screens with sport we defs want to go back to watch some rugby or F1. They serve good beer on tap and wine list is very good. Wine per glass is Leopards leap so not the best BUT also not the worst. All in all I would recommend Firemans. My husband is very keen to go back and try their pies as we saw a few coming past and they looked amazing. Real English pub vibe going on!

Rivaash Sewnarain

Best Quiz nights in town. Great setting amazing staff members and delicious food. Would definately recommend this place for People visiting cape town for the first time

Sakamoto

This restaurant has great pizza menus. The environment for people who love watching sports.

Gareth Davies

We had a very pleasant experience. A classic pub atmosphere, perfect for watching sports and having a drink. The food was also quite good.

Marisa Neal

Watched the World Cup RUGBY Final here. Wow. What a crowd. The patience that the waiters and bar tenders had was just amazing, and they still managed to smile.

Halvard Estensen

Visited the Fireman's Arms for the first time today. And what a surprisingly good experience this was. This is the first pub I have visited in South Africa that has given me a proper feel of a pub. We had the best waiter in the pub, Johnny, and he was very attentive and took good care of us. The food was excellent and much better than your average pub grub. I will definitely visit again next time I am in Cape Town.

Jana Visser

Fireman's Arm exceeded all expectations with their absolutely incredible service. The ambiance creates an outstanding vibe, and the food is nothing short of amazing. I highly recommend trying their jalapeño poppers, as they are a true delight. The cocktails offered are simply to die for, adding an extra touch of perfection to the dining experience. The waitstaff at Fireman's Arm are not only extremely friendly but also exceptionally kind. We had the pleasure of conversing with Johnny and Kevin, who were both incredibly helpful and kind-hearted. Their genuine warmth made our time at the restaurant truly memorable. I wholeheartedly recommend Fireman's Arm to anyone seeking an exceptional dining experience. From the outstanding food and drinks to the remarkable service provided by the waitstaff, this establishment is a must-visit. Prepare to be impressed!

David Weber

I attended an informal company lunch with around 30 people in the group and were exceptionally well looked after. I was a little late so I had not ordered with the group. The staff spotted this immediately and jumped on it. Often at places like this, it takes ages to get a beer but not here. All round excellent service. The food is good quality pub food. My burger was tasty and immense!

Keshvir “Kash” Tugh

Really great atmosphere ans amazing vibe. Was packed even on a rainy Sunday afternoon, with everyone watching the first formula one race of the season While there were a few vegan mains on offer, the pricing was not included on the many i ordered a plate of the side veg. It tasted amazing though it barely filled the side plate it was served on. The mushy peas and the veg in the marinara sauce stole the show. Service was ok considering how busy it was and wait staff could have been friendlier. I ended up staying to watch Man United get destroyed by Liverpool, unfortunately. But enjoyed myself in the pub. Will be back soon to try more of the amazing food.

Nicola Olivier

Delishhh food. Spicy prawns are awesome! Thanks for the mouth watering food and service!!

Jom Abraham

Good food , peri peri chicken is really spicy. Service was good. Empty inside during a weekday. Steak lacked flavors but other dishes made up for this

Samukeliso Eneya

The guys at the bar are really amazing They make you feel welcome. Amazing history and just an amazing crowd. I love the fact that there are so many options to choose from beer wise I mean. I am four months pregnant and I still enjoy sitting at their no smoking area and enjoy a cold alcohol free beer or savanna zero I addicted to the wings. Pretty much one of the few reasons I go back.

Andre Breytenbach

Absolutely brilliant pub. Best in cape town by far. Absolutley supurb food super friendly service and extremely well priced. Daytime venue for a lekker kuier !!!

Jackie Terry

There's nowhere better to watch a sporting event than this old place. The 2nd oldest restaurant in cape town and a menu that suits everyone, even the brave he you can handle the firemans pie 😲 the food is always outstanding and the service on point.

Denver Titus

Staff was really friendly and helpful. I had the Fire Fighter pizza. Truly exceptional. One of the best pizzas I’ve had in the city: the salami was flavourful, the cheese really stringy, the jalapeños were spicy. All the flavours worked well together.

Dalton Lester

Great place to watch sport, always a good crowd when rugby is on. Service isn't too great when a game is on and the place is full which is the downside. Ps. Make sure you get there early for big games because it fills up quickly.

Toppie

What a nice bar and restaurant. Eiabein to die for good crackling. Typical reacue bar with good food well priced. Will see us again on a visit or two

Carike Stravino

Absolutely love this gem! So much history is this awesome place. Food is out of this world, specially the pizza! The staff are always friendly and smiling!

Aletha Jeftha

Update: returned during lunch for a margherita pizza. Increasing my score by 1 whole point. It’s not bad at all. Tastes like a wood fired Dr Oetker pizza with triple cheese. Review 1: Attended quiz night on Thursday with a group of my colleagues. Ordered the lamb and lentil soup. Was not a fan! I'm still looking for those lentils. Instead I was fishing out big pieces of thyme and cinnamon sticks. Others around the table ordered the pork fillet and mash, beef burger, pizza and the steak with egg and fries. According to my colleagues, the pizza was good - loaded with toppings on a crispy base. The burger was really nice (I'll have to order this next time) and it was huge!! The pork fillet was unfortunately dry and the steak fairly average.

Lucianrajah

Awesome venue for watching sporting events with speedy service and amazing pizza. The venue is well laid out and is themed extremely well. One of those understated, well organised restaurant that churns out nothing but quality food. Great venue that gets packed easily.

Neil Smith

A Cool place to visit given the history behind it and how long its been there. But a pub like any other pub really. The people are nice and the setting fun. Go there on a night a big game is on for some extra fun!

Gert Hofhuis

Very basic decor but the food quality and value for money certainly makes up for this. The pepper steak pie was amazing and super tasty, as were the accompanying hand-cut chips. Service was a bit sporadic, and the bottle of white wine that we ordered was served at room temperature, a definite no-no!! An ideal venue for a casual lunch.

Mishka

If you are looking for pub grub then here is the spot. Great drinks specials and delicious hearty meals served while watching the game. Perfect for a group of mates. Beware, when they say "very hot", they mean very hot.

Bryan Vally

A very festive spot when there's rugby on - which is when I was there. Not really my scene, but scores of patrons clearly love the place. Service is crisp and ever-present. If a pub filled with sport, beer and some fair looking pizza is your taste, The Fireman's Arms may well be too.

Barbara Ann Hall

Fun pub to go to especially if you enjoy quiz nights or watching a game on the big screen. They have a great selection of craft beers and their pub grub is up to scratch. Also, historically one of the oldest pubs in Cape Town.

Melanie Du Toit

This is always a great spot, either to watch a rugby game or to enjoy one of their (incredibly difficult) quiz nights. For the most part, the waiters are friendly and the food is consistently good.

Magically Nick

A few friends and I had some pub grub at Firemans Arms on Friday night. Despite being half full, it did not lack atmosphere. There was a great selection of beers, and a good variety on tap. Two friends had a burger which was enormous and thoroughly enjoyed. I had a pizza (bacon, avo, feta) which was not large, but filling. Service was excellent. I enjoy a waiter who can remember an order for 5 pax without taking notes and deliver without fault. The only minor mishap was that the pizza arrived 10 tortuous minutes before the burgers.

Talia Lee Cohen

Brilliant place to watch sports! There is a good variety of food: pizzas, burgers, schnitzels, soups and meat of course ;) the lamb and lentil soup has a superb slightly curry flavour (except there are many loose thyme sprigs to pick out etc). The salads are "make your own" with a nice touch of "flowered" radishes (even the lemon for the schnitzel was shaped so) and a garden of edible flowers. However the lettuce was dripping with oil! And there was one lone baby carrot... The service is not good but unfortunately it's what we expect from a sports bar... They are friendly though and the vibe is always good! Don't like that you have to walk through the smoking section to get to the non-smoking area either..

Skye Da Silva

One of my favourite waterholes in Cape Town as I love proper pub vibes. This old school institution has fresh drafts, great service and delicious thin based pizzas. A lovely spot to sit outside and watch others battling through the afternoon town traffic, the inside area is cozy.

Lauren Kim

This is a typical pub with lots of tea to watch sport on. There is a covered area outside with heaters and tables - great for winter. The prices are pretty high considering it's a pub. The pizzas are great on thin bases - if it says hot on the menu (due to chillies, Peri peri etc) they are not joking - you have been warned. The parmigiana was really tasty. Not a bad spot

Clumsy Peaches

The perfect spot to watch some sports on a saturday/sunday afternoon! My fave was The Cape- Foccacia with Biltong Dust, Mrs Balls Chutney, Tomato & Pepperdews!!! So delicious! We also tried the Prawn Curry, nice and flavourful. Portion is just a bit small for men. (And you might have to stop for Mcdonalds on the way home) An intimate setting outdoors, blankets provided when it's chilly! Great Craft beer selection.

Vishal Mistry

Great pub (apparently the 2nd oldest in Cape Town) close to where my wife's cousin's live. The place is fully equipped to show all the sports with flat screens everywhere, an a big screen as well. The pub is full of character with scarfs and flags of sporting teams providing the decor. A great place to enjoy a meal or just grab a beer.

Bobby Louw

We went there not expecting a lot, and we were pleasantly surprised.. Properly surprised! The drinks are epic, vibe is awesome on nights with big sporting events, the food is of a better standard than some of the top tier restaurants I've been to! All in all a good choice for a Friday/Saturday night.

Amber

Amazing pizza. Nice vibe. As a sports pub it really lives up to the standard. Good service. The viewing of all sports can be done here. It is quite big in size. There is also a large variety of beer draughts which most places don't have.

Vince

Epic epic food, great beer and a wicked atmosphere. I would recommend the fish and chips and steak egg and chips with a cold beer and rugby on the big screen. These guy take pub food and drink to the next level.

Ben Kilian

Awesome atmosphere, great vibe during sport games and a fun place to just grab drinks with friends. Service is speedy and friendly. Been coming here for 9 years now. The menu food prices have always been a tad high for a pub, but now seem "Michelin-star" priced after this year's hike ... Very sad :(

Nix

An old school pub in the CBD. I think my dad has been going there since before I was born. I've heard the lamb shank is really good, but I've only ever had the pizza. They add more toppings than I usually like on a pizza, but somehow it works. You would expect this type of place to be cheap and cheerful, but it's actually quite pricey for average pub grub.

MelbourneLops

The Firemans Arms is a solid favourite when we’re looking for a chilled out watering hole. Cold beers, delicious pizza and very friendly service – each and every time.

Jodi King

This is the place to be if you want a relaxed beer and pizza while watching the rugby. Every time my dad comes to visit we always end up here! The waiters are friendly and the atmosphere is super relaxed.

Jon Gericke

Love this place. One of the best kept secrets in Cape Town. Food is always good, service is great and the beer on tap is always varied. Love the decor and the fireplace on a cold winter or summer day.

Jonathan Garisch

Fireman's just about ticks all the boxes. Staff are friendly, great beer, nice variety of food and an awesome pub vibe. I just find them slightly overpriced, R95 for a chicken burger (with chips) is a bit cheeky.

Derek Clark

Great beer selection with daily specials. The service is always impressive. An awesome location for any sport events. Must try the epic "New Yorker" pizza!

Helène Kleynhans

We tend to seek out the cozy 'English' pubs wherever we go, and Fireman's Arms are way up there. We had the bunny chow, which only features on their menu every few weeks, and it is definitely worth counting down the weeks. This place has such a great vibe for a few drinks or lunch with friends. Love it!

Tafel Vir Twee

We stopped in for a quick afternoon drink, having heard so much about this venue. We loved the warm, pub-like atmosphere and huge drop down screens to watch sports. The drinks were a bit over-priced, but you are definitely paying for the vibe that you get here. We will be back to watch rugby.

Tiger Bax

Did someone say quiz night!? Old school pub vibe, good food if not a bit pricey for pub-type food. Love a quiz night on Thursdays, go with group of mates and enjoy a couple of drinks while losing at a thought provoking and fun quiz. Don't be scared to end off with a couple of fireball shots!

Ruan Spies

Cosy old-school style pub with a very relaxing, unpretentious atmosphere. The service is not much to write home about but one can look forward to hearty, generously portioned mains served in an elegant yet traditional pub style. The venue is loaded with big screens displaying a variety of sports and Fireman's thus provides the ideal location to catch the big game and to celebrate the result with real comfort food.

Tania De Jager

Great for sport, beer, pizza, after work drinks. Old fashioned pub vibes with great tasting value for money food and friendly waiters! Love my local!

Sebastian

Awesome for sports! Normal price drinks, food portions are quite big. Pretty much your usual pub food. Very cool to watch the rugby there outside on the wooden tables, do show footie as well

Paris B

Best pub food I have ever had in my life. The shepard's pie is unbelievably good, as are the Kassler chops. Expect pub dishes but receive gourmet meals!

Alex Spero

This place has one of the most authentic pub grub experiences in the city bowl. Great pub for drinks after work or before hitting town. Their pizza's are great value for money and their kitchen is open late. Service is also always friendly!

David M

I've been visiting Fireman's for a while now. I'm always surprised at how good the food is. It's hearty as you'd expect but it's always carefully planned and presented- not to mention delicious. The portions are a good size too which adds to the "value-for-money" of the experience. The staff are always friendly and attentive and there's usually a have a nice variety of beers on tap (including craft beer). The best times to go are generally when they have sport on the big screen. Even if you aren't a huge fan of what's on it's difficult not to get drawn in by the atmosphere. It's perhaps a bit tricky to get to Fireman's coming off of Nelson Mandela Blvd but parking is easy and safe and it's definitely worth it.

David Graham

One of Cape Town's best pubs. Service is always spot on and the atmosphere is always great. Very unpretentious, which can be a welcome change in Cape Town. After work is always a good vibe. Sport events and the pub quiz evening are always great. Menu pretty good and pizzas not at all bad

Robert Breen

Best old school pub in Cape Town. Hands down. Nothing quite like the vibe in there for any big sporting occasion. Well priced drinks, loads of options and great tasting food that will leave you absolutely stuffed! Thursday's are always a great, when they host their pub quiz nights. Get yourself a star studded team though, because the regulars there are tough to beat!

Henriette

Excellent food. The best beef ribs and onion rings. Service is good and value for money excellent. Love the pretty presentation of the plate- completely unexpected in a pub.

Cory

I was told this is the one of the oldest, if not the oldest, pubs in Cape Town. It's a pub, so don't expect fine fare or opulence. The pub food is ok, pub drinks are what's to be expected. The patrons are pub dwellers. The decor is "pub" but then, given its history and sheer age, it's quite quaint. Much fun.

Cary Seach

What a great pub! The vibe and food is excellent and the pizza's out of this world!! Friendly staff and a great venue to watch sport. I would recommend to anyone looking for a vibey pub to go to.

Elizabeth Lorraine Vd Merwe

Great beer selection!

Brit Clamp

The waiters are always around to look after you. The pizza is amazing. Great, friendly atmosphere. Will always recommend and go back when I can

Lisa Botha Gibbon

The food is significantly better than you'd expect in a pub. Beautifully presented and excellent. Service is great. This is a regular!!!!

Riaan Anker

Nice place to chill and watch a game. Nice menu with big variety .. Had a craving for Liver and Mash .. Got it here to my satisfaction .. R85. The pub has an old English feel. Watched many games here .. recommended.

Tracy Poulter

Definitely one of my favourite places to watch a good old Rugga game. I love the wood interior, the English Pub vibe with all the different drafts on Tap, the menu is absolutely fantastic, with a wide variety available from the traditional English bangers and mash to bobotie to steak, egg and chips to pizza's burgers and my personal favourite the Fireman's pie or Shepherds Pie. With the cold rainy day's approaching I'll definitely be spending more time here when going out for fun meals, the place is warm, cozy and always a fun day/night out.. Specially on Games Evenings... If you haven't been there, give it shot - you wont be disappointed.

Ricky Ferreira

What a cool and chilled place! Went there with some people from work and was the perfect spot for after work drinks and was pleasantly surprised to see Hunters Dry on tap - was great to try it out. It's great to see a pub that has a good menu and most importantly good food. As a table we had loads of pizza to share and every single one of them was tasty. The food delivered to other tables looked interesting and did not follow the norms and appearance of Pub-style food. They don't offer fine dining but it's nice to find a bar that doesn't compromise the quality of their food. We decided to take part in the Quiz Nite at the spur of the moment and as a group we had fun and still suprised by other groups knew half the answers. The only thing to raise here is that the quiz is long winded - too many topics or rather too long a break between topics and/or questions. About half way through the quiz our energy levels dropped and towards the end we were just waiting for it to end.