As the unofficial foodie mecca of South Africa, Cape Town's dining scene and the talented chefs that shape it are in the global spotlight, with several chefs being awarded at the acclaimed Best Chefs Awards 2025.
The awards spotlight gastronomy's best
Held in Milan from 1 to 2 October, the official awards ceremony spotlights global culinary talent that embodies excellence, creativity, passion, sustainability and innovation.
It's not just about the culinary flair that each chef possesses, the awards hone in on chefs who are elevating food with the use of technology or science and who make a positive social impact through their kitchen.
The organisation, which first launched its awards in 2017, has stated that its mission is to "globally unite the best thinkers and leaders in the world of gastronomy and fine dining and highlight their process."
The awards are a ranking that focuses solely on the chefs behind the culinary magic created at each restaurant, highlighting the chefs' personal approach to food and what makes them stand out in the industry.
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How the voting system works
Awardees are selected by an esteemed panel featuring chefs from 64 countries and industry professionals from 51 countries. This year's voter base featured a total of 927 individuals.
The voting process requires voters to provide a thorough assessment based on the nominated individuals' skills, impact, and integrity, taking a deep dive into more than just personal preference to ensure fairness, transparency, and credibility.
The awards feature special winners alongside chefs commended based on a three-knife ranking system. The tiered Knife recognition system works as follows:
- One knife recognises excellence
- Two Knives recognises world-class chefs
- Three Knives acknowledges and highlights the highest tier of culinary mastery.
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World-class culinary artistry in Cape Town
In a first for South Africa, the culinary icon and multi-award-winning chef, co-owner, and founder of FYN Restaurant in Cape Town, Peter Tempelhoff, has been awarded three knives, recognising his culinary talent as top-tier on the world stage.
Achieving the highest accolade at the prestigious awards, Peter shares that it is not just an award for him but for his team, "It’s not just a milestone for me personally, but for our entire team at FYN. We’ve always believed in the potential of our cuisine and produce to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s best, and this award shows what’s possible when vision, craft, and dedication come together.”
Here is the full list of chefs in Cape Town who have been awarded
One Knife:
- John Norris Rogers - Pier, Cape Town
- Liam Tomlin - Chefs Warehouse, Cape Town
- Matt Van Den Berg - Mertia, Cape Town, Stellenbosch
- Roxie Mudie - The Waterside, Cape Town
- Ryan Cole - Salsify The Roundhouse, Cape Town
- Vusi Ndlovu - EDGE, Cape Town
- Callan Austin - Dusk, Stellenbosch, Cape Town
- Rikkū O'Donnchu - Rikū's counter, Cape Town
Two Knives:
- Peter Duncan - La Petite Colombe, Cape Town
- James Gaag, La Colombe, Cape Town
Three Knives
- Peter Tempelhoff, FYN, Cape Town
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It comes as no surprise to us that Cape Town’s culinary talent continues to outshine as world-class. A huge congratulations to all of the chefs.
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