FYN takes top honours as Cape Town sweeps Eat Out awards

Cape Town has once again cemented its status as South Africa’s culinary capital, taking the lion’s share of honours at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards.  

If you've been wanting to experience the city-based restaurant FYN, securing a table at chef-patron Peter Tempelhoff's establishment is going to be harder than before, after it adds yet another accolade to its growing list of culinary excellence wins. 

Crowned Restaurant of the Year for its refined fusion of Japanese technique and South African identity, the awards' judges described FYN as “a world-class dining experience defined by precision, creativity and balance.” 

FYN’s selection for the UNESCO sustainability pilot earlier this year further reflects the strength of its team, backed by Tempelhoff (also behind Sushiya and Ramenhead at Time Out Market Cape Town ), chef Ashley Moss, and service and beverage director Jennifer Hugé.   

Durban's growing appeal  

Another of the evening’s most anticipated honours included Chef of the Year, which was awarded to Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate in Durban. Marking his second consecutive win, it firmly places Durban's restaurant scene on the radar of foodies across South Africa.  

Still, Cape Town's dominance extended across most of the Awards categories with multiple Cape Town establishments, including La Colombe, Pier, Salsify at the Roundhouse and Salon, recognised for their outstanding efforts.    

The awards also spotlighted sustainability with its Green Stars presented across three categories this year to highlight the different approaches required depending on an establishment's location: namely, Rural, Urban and Emerging. This year's green awards went to The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate, Dusk and Terrarium respectively, recognising them as leaders in responsible dining.

See the full list of eatout.co.za winners below: 

Three stars are awarded to restaurants scoring between 90 out of 100, representing the pinnacle of excellence.

• FYN (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• 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)

Two stars are awarded to those scoring between 80 and 89, showcasing exceptional quality.

• Belly of the Beast (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Beyond (Constantia, Cape Town)

• Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia (Constantia, Cape Town)

• COY Restaurant (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)

• Dusk (Stellenbosch)

• Epice (Franschhoek)

• FABER at Avondale (Paarl)

• Fermier (Tshwane)

• Good to Gather (Stellenbosch)

• Hōseki (Stellenbosch)

• Meraki by Charlie Lakin (Hillcrest, eThekwini)

• Ouzeri (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Post & Pepper (Stellenbosch)

• Protégé (Franschhoek)

• Rust en Vrede Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

• The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira (Stellenbosch)

• The Pot Luck Club Cape Town (Woodstock, Cape Town)

• The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)

• The Waterside Restaurant (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)

• Vuur Goose Island (Stellenbosch)

• Wolfgat (Paternoster)

One star is awarded to restaurants scoring between 70 and 79 – a mark of distinction that sets them apart.

• BLOEM at Paul Clüver Family Wines (Elgin, Grabouw)

• Cavalli Restaurant (Somerset West)

• Chefs Warehouse at Maison (Franschhoek)

• Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay, Cape Town)

• CHORUS (Somerset West)

• Creation Wines Tasting Room (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)

• CURATE at Ellerman House (Bantry Bay, Cape Town)

• Cyra (Houghton Estate, Johannesburg)

• Eike (Stellenbosch)

• ëlgr (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Embarc (Parkhurst, Johannesburg)

• Ember & Oak (Constantia, Cape Town)

• Galjoen (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Kapokbos Restaurant (Bonnievale)

• Le coin Français (Franschhoek)

• Leeto (Paternoster)

• Les Créatifs (Bryanston, Johannesburg)

• Marble Restaurant Johannesburg (Rosebank, Johannesburg)

• Melfort (Stellenbosch)

• Merchant Bar & Grill (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Nevermind (Cape St Francis)

• Ongetem (Gardens, Cape Town)

• Orangerie at Le Lude (Franschhoek)

• Qunu (Sandhurst, Johannesburg)

• Reverie Social Table (Observatory, Cape Town)

• Saint Restaurant (Sandton, Johannesburg)

• Seebamboes (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• Spek & Bone (Stellenbosch)

• Table Seven (Salt River, Cape Town)

• Terrarium (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)

• The Bistro at Brookdale Estate (Paarl)

• The Chefs’ Table (Umhlanga, eThekwini)

• The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg (Melrose, Johannesburg)

• The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse (City Bowl, Cape Town)

• The Test Kitchen Fledgelings (Woodstock, Cape Town)

• Tyler’s (eMdloti)

• Upper Union (City Bowl, Cape Town)

Special awards

• Eat Out Woolworths Rural Green Star Award: The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate

• Eat Out Woolworths Urban Green Star Award: Dusk

• Eat Out Woolworths Emerging Green Star Award: Terrarium

• Eat Out Woolworths Rising Star Award: Aren Pollack at Embarc 

• Eat Out House of Suntory Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award: Ken Forrester

• Eat Out Callebaut Dessert Award: Catherine Adonis at Qunu

• Eat Out Patrón Mixology Award: Beyond and FYN (sister restaurants)

• Eat Out Best Destination Restaurant: The Table at De Meye

• Eat Out Wine Service Award: Elton Damon at La Petite Colombe

• Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award: MERTIA

• Eat Out VISI Style Award: Amura

• Eat Out Woolworths Best New Restaurant: Amura

• Eat Out Woolworths Trailblazer Award: Margot Janse, the celebrated chef and former Eat Out chief judge