The South African restaurant that ranks among the best in the world
Cape Town-based fine dining restaurant La Colombe ranked as the best South African restaurant in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
La Colombe was among three South African restaurants that made the 2025 ranking. Cape Town-based Fyn and Salsify ranked as the 82nd and 88th best restaurants in the world, respectively.
“The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list provides an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of 1,100 international restaurant industry experts,” the ranking’s website explained.
“It is a globally recognised gastronomic reference point which showcases leading trends and highlights great restaurants from all corners of the Earth.”
What constitutes “best” is left to these judges. While there is no pre-determined checklist of criteria, there are strict voting rules.
The voting process and results for the World’s 50 Best Restaurants are subject to independent adjudication by Deloitte, a world-renowned professional services consultancy.
The list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants has been published every year since 2002, except for 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the global restaurant industry.
In the most recent ranking, La Colombe, located in the Silvermist organic wine estate at the top of Constantia Nek, Cape Town, was ranked the 55th best restaurant in the world. This was the best ranking any South African restaurant received.
The restaurant offers beautiful views of the Constantia Valley towards the sea. La Colombe is the flagship restaurant of Scot Kirton’s La Colombe Group, comprising a slew of the country’s top restaurants.
These include La Petite Colombe, Pier, The Waterside, and Foxcroft. Chef James Gaag and his team have consistently won local and international awards.
According to the ranking’s website, they “create elegant dishes grounded in French technique and accented with Asian flourishes”.
Dining at La Colombe
Guests at La Colombe can enjoy the eight or 10-course tasting menus, which are executed with impeccable precision.
“The experience remains playful and approachable, with guests selecting their own canapes as they begin their meal.”
“The journey, which also features a vegetarian offering, begins with the Dove’s Nest, a refreshing combination of lemongrass, ginger, pomelo and kalamansi served in little egg-shaped vessels.”
A charcuterie spread is followed by the Tuna La Colombe, which is prepared tableside. However, the restaurant’s accolades aren’t confined to the food.
“La Colombe’s award-winning, extensive and well-curated wine list will impress even the most discerning oenophiles with the flexibility to opt for a pairing, bottle or carafe.”
A lot of thought and care has also gone into low and non-alcoholic options to ensure inclusivity for guests who don’t consume alcohol or wish to consume less.
“The menu leans heavily on local and seasonal produce, allowing the ingredients in their prime to shine in each dish. Though their presentation may be elaborate, when it comes to flavour, the dishes are clean, classic and uncomplicated.”
The dinner menu will set guests back R2,395 per person. A discretionary 13.5% service charge is also applied to the bill, and guests are required to pay a deposit in advance. The current dinner menu comprises –
- Silvermist vegetable garden – Herb garden extraction, smoked tomato buenelo, and garden tartlet
- Wild boar snacks – Smoked boar broth, wild boar, kimchi, crackling, and bacon chawanmushi
- Sourdough, Jersey butter, artichoke, and truffle
- Tuna La Colombe
- False bay market fish, caviar, and nahm jim, or Namibian red crab and tamarind curry
- Salted agave
- Coal-fired lamb, broccoli, and smoked neck
- Spring strawberries, matcha, and lemon verbena
- Rose
A vegetarian menu is also available at the same cost. This option consists of –
- Silvermist vegetable garden – Herb garden extraction, smoked tomato buenelo, and garden tartlet
- Forest floor – Smoked porcini broth, King oyster, tofu slider, and mushroom and artichoke chawanmushi
- Sourdough, Jersey butter, artichoke, and truffle
- Beetroot La Colombe
- Cauliflower, tandoori, and coriander, or sweetcorn and tamarind curry
- Salted agave
- Girella, artichoke, pine nut, and beurre noisette
- Spring strawberries, matcha, and lemon verbena
- Rose
Inside La Colombe
Comments