South Africa boasts an enviable culinary scene. Its various climate zones produce everything from delicate asparagus to juicy mangoes. Farms also supply dairy cattle, beef cattle, free range chicken and wild game.
Wolfgat in Paternoster offers fine dining at its best, featuring regional and foraged ingredients like seaweed. Chef Kobus van der Merwe excels at pairing regional seafood with this seaweed while pairing lamb with wild sage to produce an exquisite culinary experience.
Eat Out’s prestigious star-rating system
South Africa’s culinary scene is a hub of creativity, with chefs from across the country taking advantage of its fertile Mediterranean and subtropical climates to turn cities such as Cape Town, Johannesburg and Franschhoek into world-class culinary hubs. South Africa is also famous for its outstanding produce – perfect for sampling a range of local ingredients and cuisines; market culture in South Africa should not be missed by food lovers looking for unique culinary finds like artisanal breads and cheeses, fresh seafood or cured meats among others!
The Eat Out Mercedes-Benz Restaurant Awards is a cornerstone of South African food culture, and seeks to acknowledge those restaurants which exhibit excellence in their craft. For 2025 awards, judges will undergo an improved and more robust judging process, staying anonymous throughout the year and visiting each shortlisted restaurant multiple times both during peak and off-peak periods.
South Africa may be known for its love of meat, and even though many locals joke that chicken counts as a vegetable, many restaurants provide vegetarian options and supermarkets stock soy products. The best way to experience South African cuisine is at one of its city centre food markets where you can sample traditional dishes as well as unique finds from this part of Africa; Neighbourgoods in Cape Town has great smorgasbord options while Mojo Market in Johannesburg features American classics.
TripAdvisor’s coveted ’Best of the Best Restaurants in Africa’ list
TripAdvisor’s esteemed list is an indicator that this eatery has been reviewed extensively by past diners, gaining high marks for ambience, food, value, service and overall value – an invaluable tool that allows travelers to quickly locate restaurants that suit both their taste and budget.
South Africa’s culinary scene continues to delight both local and global visitors alike, and three restaurants from Cape Town’s environs – La Colombe, Reverie Social Table and La Petite Colombe – stand out as culinary marvels, captivating diners with their exquisite artful presentation and unforgettable dining experiences.
At this contemporary eatery, an innovative team creates creative dishes to highlight local ingredients. Their 2024 spring menu includes delicate crayfish with tomato and kingklip; pork neck with celeriac and mustard seeds; or beef fillet served up with rocket, black garlic and truffle for extra flair; before finishing up with delicious lemon-thyme-white chocolate strawberry treats to finish.
Chef Tim Pick at this intimate eatery specializes in reinventing classic dishes from various cultures, with Asian, South American and other cuisines being combined into a menu designed for sharing: from yellowtail ceviche to pork tostado and gochujang-glazed chicken wings. All dishes served alongside Uitsig wines which come complete with their signature bottle.
Artistry
Artistry is an impressive celebration of South African art and cuisine, offering diners an immersive multi-sensory experience. Offering top-tier wines alongside innovative dishes like dry-aged beef tartare with bone marrow emulsion and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with fermented garlic – London-based Muza Labs design has ensured its design matches its culinary offerings beautifully.
La Colombe takes top honors on this list with their fine dining establishment located within one of South Africa’s premier boutique hotels in Constantia. Their dedication to sustainable practices means ingredients are sourced locally for an experience in sync with its natural surroundings.
The Red Room at Chef’s Warehouse stands out as another notable fine-dining eatery, boasting an inviting space serving delicious modern South African fare and boasting a chic bar area where patrons can sip signature drinks crafted using locally-sourced spirits and wines.
Galjoen Restaurant is an ideal destination for seafood enthusiasts, celebrating local waters with a changing daily menu depending on what fisherman bring in. In addition, their chefs reimagine traditional Zulu ingredients, such as creamy samp (coarsely ground hominy) and roasted corn served alongside isinkwa sombila as an homage to indigenous vegetables that require fire for growth.
FYN
FYN Restaurant in Cape Town’s former silk factory boasts an innovative combination of Japanese precision and bold South African flavors that has garnered global praise. Chefs Peter Tempelhoff and Ashley Moss created its kaiseki menu using traditional techniques combined with local ingredients and flavors for an unforgettable dining experience. FYN is also distinguished by its world-class setting – cavernous industrial space covered with wood discs as well as an intricate 1.5 ton poplar wood installation which mimics soroban, the traditional Japanese abacus.
SRA’s esteemed three-star rating for this restaurant stands as testimony of their dedication to sustainable cuisine and food waste minimisation, in addition to providing opportunities for young South African chefs through training programmes.
Jennifer Huge’s wine program at FYN is equally impressive, featuring both local gems and international stars sourced with care from around the globe. From aged-vine Chenin Blancs that pair perfectly with delicate sushi pieces to an intense Swartland Syrah that brings complexity to slow-cooked meat dishes – each selection pairs harmoniously with FYN’s umami-rich cuisine.
