South Africa

Three South African restaurants ranked among the best in the world

Kirsten Minnaar • 10 June 2025

In the latest World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, three Cape Town-based South African establishments, La Colombe and FYN, and Salsify made the cut.

“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.

This year, three South African restaurants were listed. South Africa has been making an increasingly strong mark on the culinary world.

Recently, two South African coffee shops were also rated among the 100 best in the world: Espresso Lab in Cape Town and The Whippet in Johannesburg.

The country’s wines have also received global recognition. On the world’s most admired wine brands list for 2025, South Africa’s Kanonkop ranked number 24, making it the “Most Admired Wine Brand in Africa & Middle East”.

South Africa’s Bruce Jack Wines also made the list, placing as number 47. This marks the fifth time the winery has featured on this globally respected list since South Africa first appeared in 2017.

With the country’s food and drink industry becoming increasingly popular, the culinary industry is becoming a more and more important tourist attraction.

Below are two of the best restaurants in South Africa, according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

La Colombe

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.

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.”

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 now classic 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.”

Prices range from R1195 per person for the Winter weekday lunch menu (valid until 29 August) to R2195 per person for the dinner menu.

The current dinner menu comprises:
Forest Mushrooms, Celeriac, Brioche
Sourdough, Jerusalem Artichoke, Truffle
Tuna ‘la Colombe’
Namibian Crab, Gamefish, Nahm Jim
Pork Belly, Scallop, Sweetcorn, Kimchi
Blood Orange
Coal Fired Lamb, Sunchoke, Dombolo
Cheese & Honey
Rose, Raspberry, Pistachio
Petit Four Chest

A discretionary 13.5% service charge is applied to the bill. Vegetarian lunch and dinner menus are also available at the same cost.

FYN

Another Cape Tonian restaurant, FYN, was voted the 82nd best restaurant in the world. Located in Speakers Corner, Cape Town, it features contemporary Japanese cuisine.

Although FYN boasts a fine dining experience, it favours comfort over formality and blends the kitchen with the dining experience.

FYN’s founder, Peter Tempelhoff, said this award honours the entire team, from co-owners Front of House & Beverage Director Jennifer Hugé, Culinary Director Chef Ashley Moss, and kitchen and front-of-house brigades to the greater network.

“I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished collectively. It’s been a great year, and this is the cherry on top for the team and the restaurant,” Tempelhoff said.

Prices start from R1,175 for the Winter lunch menu special and go up to R2,175 for the “Experience” and “Pescatarian Experience” lunch/dinner menus. A discretionary 13.5% service charge is added to every bill.

The Experience menu consists of:

Burnt mushroom custard, mosbolletjie
Yellowfin tuna, aged local cheese, Cape rough skin lemon
Cape Malay pickled yellowtail, pomegranate, and coconut
Lambert’s Bay abalone, miso wakame, dune spinach
Seasonal mushrooms, pickled hon shimiji, pine nuts, amasi,
pine needle oil, mushroom kaeshi
East Coast rock lobster, chawanmushi, dashi leeks
Seared chokka, sesame, Madagascan Baerii caviar
Laingsburg lamb, kuri squash, braised kabocha, African mint gremolata, pumpkin seed
Atlantic Ridge kingklip, kapokbos tempura, coastal plants, daikon dashi
Bok Box: Choice of African game, caramelised quince, ancient granola bar grains, Jerusalem artichoke, peanut jus
Rice & Citrus: Citrus rice mousse, koji, lime leaf & coconut rice sherbet, Garden Route finger limes
Wagashi

Wine paintings are also available for all of the restaurant’s different menu options.

Salsify at the Roundhouse

Located within an old 1700s guardhouse, Salsify at the Roundhouse features sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Lion’s Head as a backdrop.

Placing as the 88th best restaurant in the world, the menu is described as hyper-seasonal. Here, guests can choose between two dining opti9os.

The first, the “Reduced Menu”, is available for lunch and comprises five courses. It is ideal for those looking for a lighter dining experience. This option will set guests back R1,240.

Alternatively, guests can also opt to try the 10-course “Chef’s Menu”, which Salsify describes as “an elegant study of local ingredients and unexpected flavour combinations.” This menu is available for R1,890 per person.

This menu comprises of: