Johannesburg restaurants celebrate JHP Gourmet Guide wins

The 2026 JHP Gourmet Guide was launched earlier this week with a glittering celebratory event at Time Out Market Cape Town. 

South Africa’s finest restaurants and culinary masters gathered to honour excellence in the gourmet sector. The evening brought together chefs, restaurateurs, and food enthusiasts from across the country to recognise the talent and innovation shaping South Africa’s dining scene.

Now in its tenth year, the JHP Gourmet Guide has been championing excellence and driving positive change within the local and global food landscape.

“The 2026 JHP Gourmet Guide™ is so much more than a collection of ratings. It is a celebration of resilience, creativity, talent, and progress. This guide stands as a commitment to fairness, transparency, and the highest standards of culinary recognition,” said curator and founder Jenny Handley.

This year’s guide once again highlights South Africa’s diverse and dynamic food culture. Among the winners, four Johannesburg restaurants stood out for their exceptional contributions to the city’s vibrant culinary scene, reaffirming Joburg’s place as one of the country’s leading gastronomic destinations.

Awards explained:

• One Plate: Excellent cuisine
• Two Plates: Exceptional dining that demands a detour
• Three Plates: World-class destination dining worthy of a flight
• Green Plates: Responsible, sustainable practices
• Gold Plates: Globally iconic restaurants

The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg

The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg was awarded Two Plates. The restaurant took to Instagram to celebrate and give a special shout-out to Head Chef Ebie du Toit and the team for serving up consistently sizzling, flavour-packed dishes. 

📍 The Peech Hotel, Melrose

Gigi

Gigi, known for its contemporary South African-inspired dining with global flair, was honoured with a One Plate rating for its excellent cuisine. The restaurant also celebrated the achievement on social media, thanking guests for their continued support. 

📍Waterfall Corner Shopping Centre, Corner of Waterfall Drive, Woodmead Drive, Waterfall City, Midrand. 

Les Creatifs 

For the third consecutive year, Les Créatifs has been awarded Two Plates, maintaining its reputation for exceptional dining and creative gastronomy under the direction of Chef Wandile Mabaso. 

📍 12H Hobart Grove Centre, 52 Hobart Road, Bryanston, Sandton. 

Embarc

The elegant and modern Embarc restaurant received a One Plate in the 2026 JHP Gourmet Guide, celebrating its commitment to fine dining and innovation.

📍 Cnr 4th and 13th St, Parkhurst, Johannesburg.

Full list of winners: 

One Plate

Excellent cuisine

• Cavalli
• Chorus
• COY
• de Tafel
• Delaire Graff Restaurant
• Eike
• ëlgr.
• Embarc
• FABER
• Galjoen
• Gigi
• Marble, Johannesburg
• Post & Pepper
• Serendipity
• Terrarium
• The Chefs' Table
• The Happy Uncles
• The Red Room
• The Tasting Room at Creation
• Tokara
• TTK Fledgelings
• Upper Union 

Two Plates

Exceptional dining that demands a detour

• Aubergine
• Belly of the Beast
• beyond
• Chefs Warehouse Maison
• Chefs Warehouse Tintswalo Atlantic
• Cyra
• DUSK
• Epice
• Fermier
• Le coin Français
• Les Créatifs
• MERTIA
• Qunu
• Rust en Vrede
• The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira
• The Pot Luck Club, Cape Town
• The Pot Luck Club, Johannesburg
• The Waterside
• Wolfgat

Three Plates

World-class destination dining worthy of a flight

• Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia
• Hōseki
• La Petite Colombe
• PIER
• SALON
• The LivingRoom 

Gold Plates

Globally iconic restaurants

• FYN
• La Colombe
• Salsify at the Roundhouse 

Haute Performance Awards

Haute Platform: Luke Dale Roberts

Haute Property: Curate at Ellerman House

Haute Potential: Seebamboes

Haute Precinct: Nevermind

Haute Pride of Africa: COY

Haute Pastry (runner-up), in association with Wild Peacock Products & Valrhona:
Caitlin Drake, Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia

Haute Pastry (winner), in association with Wild Peacock Products & Valrhona:
Catherine Adonis, Saxon Hotel

Avante Haute Pour Award – Programme of Beverage: Jennifer Hugé

Avante Haute Pour Award – Wine List: Grub & Vine

Haute Decade Award

• Aubergine
• La Colombe
• The Pot Luck Club, Cape Town

James Gaag of La Colombe won the lucky draw for a culinary tour to Vietnam in 2026. 

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