South Africa has some of the best hospitality – our restaurants and wines are revered around the world. The combination of quality local ingredients, world-class trained chefs and the finest wine create a culinary delight. In a celebration of the South African dining experience, we have compiled a list of the five best restaurants in South Africa.
The sitting room at Summerhill Guest Estate
Located in the Summerhill Guest House, the LivingRoom is one of the best dining destinations in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Chef Johannes Richter showcases the province’s culinary diversity from garden to plate, expressed through his French training and his passion for Asian techniques. Richter grows his own fruits, vegetables and herbs in the Summerhill garden to use in his dishes, and the spirit of sustainability is the focus of his work. The fine-dining restaurant also has a program overseen by Johanna Richter (his wife) offering a full list of premium South African wines. In addition, Johanna offers non-alcoholic drinks made with house syrups and tonics, kombuchas and juices. The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate received three stars at the Eat Out Awards, the only KZN restaurant of the five winners, also taking the industry’s top spot for Restaurant of the Year.
Salsify in the Round House
Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Salsify (pronounced salt-see-rate), Ryan Cole, has made a name for himself as a pioneer in the South African restaurant industry. Cole amassed foodies when he was head chef at The Test Kitchen. The award-winning chef ventured out on his own by opening Salsify at the Roundhouse in 2018. Cole serves modern and classic cuisine in the historic space with sweeping views of the ocean and Lion’s Head as a backdrop. Camps Bay Restaurant has two menu options: the reduced six-course menu and the 10-course chef’s menu, curated by Cole. The 10-course menu is an elegant study of local ingredients and unexpected flavor combinations that are paired by Cole and award-winning sommelier Victor Okolo, with interesting and often rare and unusual wines. Salsify has had an amazing year, on November 1st it was honored with South Africa’s Best Restaurant at the Luxe 100 Best Awards 2022. Okolo also walked away with the Eat Out WCellar Wine Service Award at the same ceremony.
Wolfgat
Wolfgat Restaurant in the small fishing village of Paternoster is only a two hour drive from Cape Town. Situated in a charming renovated fisherman’s farmhouse on the Atlantic coast, the restaurant is named after the nearby Wolfgat Cave, an archaeological wonder containing remains of an ancient culture and rumored to be a gateway to underground passages. The sophisticated West Coast restaurant enjoyed by none other than South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was named a three-star restaurant in the Eat Out Awards 2022. In 2021, Wolfgat was also named the best restaurant in Africa in The 50 Best Restaurants 2021. The coastal restaurant has won everyone over with its unique dining experience showcasing a selection of indigenous ingredients specific to the coastal location and executed by chef Kobus van der Merwe. Book in advance.
La Colombe Constantia
One of the best restaurants in South Africa, this unique fine dining restaurant is located in Constantia, Cape Town. Prepare to be swept away by an art-on-a-plate experience and exquisite panoramic views. The restaurants of the “Grand Dame of Cape Town” have undergone substantial changes over the years, but it seems that the move from Constantia Uitsig to the Silvermist Estate in 2014, along with the reinstatement of head chef James Gaag, put the restaurant on an award-winning streak. . The recipient of several awards, this year it was ranked 56th on the list of the best restaurants in the world, received three dishes in the JHP Gourmet Guide, was named Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Africa by Trip Advisor and received three stars in the Eat Out Restaurant Awards this year. The contemporary restaurant offers an extensive vegetarian and chef’s menu using local ingredients with a French twist.
Dock Restaurant
Pier is owned by the La Colombe Group, which runs some of the best restaurants in the Western Cape. The restaurant opened in December last year at the V&A Waterfront and has been very well received by locals and tourists alike. Heading up Pier is head chef John Norris-Rogers. The restaurant offers an intimate multi-course dining experience. Norris-Rogers focuses on sourcing the best local produce and was named Chef of the Year at the prestigious 2022 Eat Out Restaurant Awards. Pier Restaurant also earned three stars at the same event, an outstanding achievement for a restaurant that has only been open for a year.
Visit these websites for inquiries;
La Colombe – https://lacolombe.restaurant/
PIER Restaurant – https://pier.restaurant/food
Wolfgat – https://www.wolfgat.co.za
Salsify in the Round House – http://salsify.co.za/reservations/
The Living Room at Summerhill Estate: https://summerhillkzn.com/livingroom/
