Three Cape Town restaurants have put South Africa on the global culinary map by landing spots on the prestigious World’s 100 Best Restaurants list.
La Colombe (55), FYN (82) and new entrant Salsify (88) secured their places among the culinary elite in the 2025 rankings, continuing the country’s rising reputation for world-class food and drink.
The coveted list, published annually since 2002 (except during the 2020 pandemic), reflects the opinions of over 1 100 food experts worldwide.
“It is a globally recognised gastronomic reference point which showcases leading trends and highlights great restaurants from all corners of the Earth,” according to the organization’s website.
South Africa’s food scene heats up
This isn’t the only international recognition South Africa’s food and drink scene has received lately.
Espresso Lab in Cape Town and The Whippet in Johannesburg recently scored spots among the world’s 100 best coffee shops.
The country’s wines are also turning heads globally. Kanonkop ranked 24th on the world’s most admired wine brands list for 2025, making it the “Most Admired Wine Brand in Africa & Middle East.”
Bruce Jack Wines also made the cut at number 47 – the fifth time a South African winery has featured since the country first appeared on the list in 2017.
These achievements are transforming South Africa’s culinary industry into a major tourist draw.
La Colombe, views and food to remember
Perched at the top of Constantia Nek within the Silvermist organic wine estate, La Colombe took the 55th spot on the prestigious list.
Diners enjoy stunning views of the Constantia Valley stretching toward the sea while savoring what judges called “elegant dishes grounded in French technique and accented with Asian flourishes.”
Chef James Gaag and his team have racked up numerous awards with their eight or ten-course tasting menus that blend precision with playfulness.
FYN: Where Japan meets South Africa
Claiming the 82nd spot on the World’s 100 Best Restaurants list, FYN (pronounced “fine”) offers a unique fusion of Japanese kaiseki traditions with distinctly South African ingredients and flair.
A dream-team partnership between Peter Tempelhoff (an alum of The Greenhouse) and executive chef Ashley Moss means an unforgettable dining experience. The menu is African inspired, but it’s Tempelhoff’s obsession with Japan that will have you enthralled. His confident exploration of tastes, flavors, textures, and cooking styles come in five-course, kaiseki-style menus.
The restaurant’s stunning interior marries Japanese and African design elements, featuring a show-stopping ceiling installation of wooden discs inspired by a Japanese abacus. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer dramatic views of Table Mountain as a backdrop to the dining experience.
Salsify: Historic charm meets modern flair
Securing the 88th position, Salsify at the Roundhouse brings together historical significance and cutting-edge cuisine.
Housed in a national monument built in 1786 as a Dutch East India Company guardhouse (and later a hunting lodge for Lord Charles Somerset), the restaurant sits in a stunning round building with sweeping views of Camps Bay and the Twelve Apostles mountains.
Executive Chef and co-owner Ryan Cole, recently celebrated for leading Salsify to the title of South Africa’s Best Restaurant at the 2025 Eat Out Restaurant Awards, crafts modern seasonal dishes inspired by nature and driven by local ingredients.
The restaurant’s interior brilliantly blends old and new, preserving the original 18th-century masonry while introducing contemporary elements. Eye-catching artworks include “The Vandalised Viscount” and “The Damaged Duke” – 18th-century figures defaced with spray paint – adding an unexpected edge to the historical setting.
The restaurant embraces a root-to-leaf philosophy with a strong emphasis on sustainability. Diners can also enjoy a unique pre-dinner experience in the Preservation Chamber, which offers cocktails with nostalgic South African touches.
With La Colombe, FYN, and Salsify all earning spots on the global stage, Cape Town is cementing its reputation as Africa’s culinary capital – offering world-class dining experiences that showcase the best of South African ingredients, innovation, and hospitality.
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