The restaurant named the best in South Africa
FYN in Cape Town was named South Africa’s best restaurant at the 2026 Eat Out Awards for its world-class, creative fusion of Japanese techniques and local flavours.
On 23 March, the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards were held at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town. This annual competition honours the restaurants and chefs who continue to define and elevate South African dining.
During the event, the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year award was granted to Cape Town-based FYN for its “seamless fusion of Japanese techniques with a South African identity”.
“The judges said FYN delivered a world-class dining experience defined by precision, creativity and balance,” said Eat Out’s culinary director Abigail Donnelly.
Eat Out’s star-rating system is considered the gold standard in South Africa, with restaurants earning one, two or three stars based on their final scores.
The criteria cover every aspect of the dining experience, from food quality and technique to service, ambience and value.
Over eight months, seven anonymous judges visited restaurants across the country, ensuring a rigorous and fair evaluation process that upholds the integrity of these prestigious awards.
Donnelly said they are thrilled to see that, in 2026, the number of starred restaurants grew to 66, reflecting the continued evolution and excellence of our culinary landscape.
There are three groups of “starred” restaurants, ranging from one star (awarded to restaurants scoring between 70 and 79) to three stars (awarded to restaurants scoring between 90 and 100).
Apart from FYN, there were seven other restaurants which also earned a prestigious three-star rating. These include:
- La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)
- La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)
- MERTIA (Stellenbosch)
- Pier (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
- Salon (Woodstock, Cape Town)
- Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay, Cape Town)
- The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate (Pinetown, eThekwini)
“The Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards are a celebration of the incredible talent, passion and dedication that make South Africa’s food scene so extraordinary,” Donnelly said.
“It’s about more than just the food – it’s about the people, the stories and the community that bring it all to life.”
South Africa’s best restaurant
Located in Cape Town’s City Bowl, FYN is no stranger to fine dining accolades. In fact, it was previously named among the 100 best restaurants in the world on the 2025 World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
FYN was voted the 82nd best restaurant in the world. Just two other South African restaurants, La Colombe and Salsify, made the cut.
Founded by Peter Tempelhoff, FYN boasts a fine dining experience, featuring contemporary Japanese cuisine. However, it favours comfort over formality and blends the kitchen with the dining experience.
Prices start from R1,675 for the lunch menu and go up to R6,590 for the “cellar and parties pairing”. A discretionary 13.5% service charge is added to every bill. The Experience dinner menu consists of:
- Cape Peninsula: Cape Point tuna fin-to-tail
- Land plants: Heirloom tomato, tulbaghia, prenia
- Sea plants: Kelp and abalone, sea lettuce and octopus, hijiki
- Wild African game: Springbok, ostrich
- Warm Agulhas Current: KZN langoustine, plankton
- Cape farms: Karoo lamb, garlic buchu, aubergine
- Field & orchard: Honey, amazake, mango
- Fruit n nut: Pecan, pineapple, blueberry
“Being named Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year 2026 reminds us why we ask ourselves, ‘How can we push FYN one step further?’ every day,” the restaurant wrote on its social media.
“What can we do to strengthen the experience for guests? What can we do to elevate our beverage program? How can we develop a compelling narrative about South African ingredients?”
Inside FYN
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