Luxe 2026 Winners: Salon's Carla Schultz named chef of the year

The Lux Restaurant Awards have landed, revealing white-tablecloth heavyweights, buzzy newcomers and must-try, lesser-known neighbourhood spots.

Leading the charge is Mertia in Stellenbosch, crowned Restaurant of the Year, while Chef of the Year went to Carla Schulze, whose deeply considered, sauce-driven approach at Salon has won admiration across the local food world for cooking with heart as much as precision. Not forgetting the delectable How Bao Now offering, co-founded by Carla, also available at the Time Out Cape Town Market and new Oranjezicht City Farmers Market alike. Read our sit-down interview with Carla here.  

See the full list of winners for 2026: 

Restaurant of the Year: Mertia
Chef of the Year: Carla Schulze
New Restaurant of the Year: Amura
Pioneer Award: Marble Hospitality
Culinary Innovation Award: Callan Austin – Dusk
Culinary Rising Star Award: Nic Charalambous – Ouzeri
Hidden Gem Award: Melfort
Pastry Chef of the Year: Arno Ralph
Service Excellence Award: Hōseki
Style Award: Amura
Sustainability Award: Fermier 

Restaurant Group of the Year: Olives & Plates
African Restaurant of the Year: Qunu
Bakery of the Year: Lion’s Bread
Bistro of the Year: Le Bistrot de JAN
Burger Joint of the Year: Le Pickle
Cafe of the Year: Café Sofi
Casual Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Coy
Concept Restaurant of the Year: The Wiggle Room
Contemporary Restaurant of the Year: Embarc
Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year: Rust en Vrede Restaurant
Food Truck of the Year: Briskets & Biscuits
Grab and Go Restaurant of the Year: Slaps Sandos
Grillhouse of the Year: Vuur
Hotel Restaurant of the Year: The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg
International Restaurant of the Year: De Eetkamer
Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year: Ocaso
Supper Club of the Year: Nine Lives
Street Food Restaurant of the Year: How Bao Now
People’s Choice Award: Club Como

LUXE Diamond Star Awards

• La Colombe
• Salsify at the Roundhouse
• Fyn

LUXE Three Star Awards

• Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
• Dusk
• La Petite Colombe
• Mertia
• Pier
• Salon
• The Living Room at Summerhill

LUXE Two Star Awards

• Belly of the Beast
• Cyra
• Hōseki
• JAN Franschhoek
• Rust en Vrede
• The Pot Luck Club Cape Town
• The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg

LUXE One Star Awards

• Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic
• Curate
• Galjoen
• Le Coin Français
• Les Créatifs
• Marble Restaurant
• Ouzeri
• Post & Pepper
• Reverie Social Table
• The Tasting Room at Creation
• The Test Kitchen Fledgelings
• Upper Union
• Vuur