South African Restaurant Awards announces 2026 nominees

South Africa has long built a reputation as a destination that delivers when it comes to food. 

Now in its third edition, the South African Restaurant Awards continue to spotlight the very best of the country's culinary talent. It recently announced this year's nominees, highlighting restaurants that are helping to put South Africa's food scene firmly on the global map.

What sets these awards apart is their inclusive approach. They recognise a diverse mix of eateries across the country while also spotlighting regional excellence, with categories dedicated to provinces such as Gauteng, North West and Limpopo.

In just three years, the awards have established themselves as a respected platform within the industry. Previous editions have honoured leading culinary figures, including celebrity chefs Siba Mtongana and Moses Moloi.

This year's event is expected to bring together influential names in the culinary world once again while celebrating excellence. The awards are supported by the World Restaurant Awards Group, established in 1999 and headquartered in the United Kingdom.

Sarah Kensington, partnership director of the awards, described the third edition as a significant milestone.

"We are honoured to recognise the exceptional talent driving South Africa's culinary industry forward. The growth of the awards reflects the sector's strength and resilience, as well as its increasing global relevance. Through our platform, we aim to spotlight the individuals and establishments shaping the future of hospitality, while positioning South Africa as a leading destination for culinary excellence," she said.

This year's ceremony will take place on 25 May 2026 at Hotel Sky Sandton.

The public is encouraged to take part by voting for their favourite nominees. Voting will close on 20 May.

Categories include Best Culinary Experience, Best Family-Friendly Restaurant, Best Chef, Best New Restaurant, Best Bar, and Best Customer Dining Experience, among others. 

Below is a list of all the nominees: 

Best Restaurant in Gauteng 2026

Flames Restaurant (Westcliff)
Trumps Grillhouse & Butchery (Sandton)
The Terrace at GROUND (Muldersdrift)
Signature Restaurant (Sandton)
Solo Sandton (Sandton)
Artistry Johannesburg (Sandown)
AURUM Restaurant (Sandown)
Fermier Restaurant (Pretoria)
AKTI Restaurant (Rosebank)
Qunu Restaurant (The Saxon Hotel, Sandhurst)
Saint Restaurant (Rivonia)

Best Culinary Experience 2026

TANG Asian Luxury Restaurant & Bar (Sandton)
The Siba Deli Foodshop & Eatery (Cape Town)
FYN (Cape Town)
Epice Restaurant (Franschhoek)
PIER Restaurant (V&A Waterfront)
La Colombe Restaurant (Constantia)
Tempo Luxury Restaurant (Sandton)
AMAN Restaurant (Sandton)

Best Restaurant in Cape Town 2026

Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay)
Dusk Restaurant (Cape Town)
La Colombe Restaurant (Constantia)
MERITA Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
PIER Restaurant (V&A Waterfront)
La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)
Utopia Cape Town (Cape Town)
Grand Pavilion (Sea Point)

Best Hospitality 2026

MAMASAMBA (Rosebank)
Trumps Grillhouse & Butchery (Sandton)
Flames Restaurant (Westcliff)
Level Seven Restaurant & Sky Bar (Kempton Park)
The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)
Tashas (Sandton)
Roar Bistro & Bar (Sandton)

Best Family-Friendly Restaurant 2026

Encore Restaurant (Three Rivers)
Spur Steak Ranches
Mozambik Westrand (Wilgeheuwel)
Papachinos (Clearwater)
Smoke Daddy's (Fourways)
JoyJozi (Dunkeld)
The Old Oak Restaurant & Family Centre (Linksfield North)
Klein Joostenberg (Cape Town)
The Green Room (Greenside)

Best Restaurant in Durban 2026

The Chefs' Table (Umhlanga)
Max's Lifestyle (Umlazi)
The Hussar Grill Oceans (Lagoon Drive, Durban)
The Lookout (Glenashly)
Doughed - Woodfired Dining Experiences (Windermere, Durban)
Butcher Boys Grill (Umhlanga)
Zai Restaurant Durban (Morningside)
Olive and Oil (Umhlanga)
Barnaby's Grillhouse (Durban North)
SPIGA (Morningside)
9th Avenue Marina (Durban)
Best Chef 2026
Moses Moloi
Ryan Cole
Peter Tempelhoff
Bonga Williams
Thabo Phake
Zola Nene
Lorna Maseko
Luke Dale-Roberts
James Gaag
Wandile Mabaso
Callan Austin

Best Hotel Restaurant 2026

Eclipse Restaurant (Hotel Sky)
Level Seven Restaurant (Radisson Hotel and Convention Centre)
Qunu Restaurant (The Saxon Hotel)
Bushveld Terrace Restaurant on Kruger (Bushveld Terrace Hotel on Kruger)
Epice Restaurant (Le Quartier Français Hotel)
Veld at Spier (Spier Hotel)
Azure Restaurant (The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa)
Amuse-Bouche (Fairlawns Boutique Hotel)
Matoppie Restaurant (Groblersbrug, Limpopo)
Best Restaurant Chain 2026 (Sponsored by Mondayrepublic.com)
Col'Cacchio
Nando's
Ocean Basket
Mugg & Bean
Wimpy
RocoMamas
Chicken Licken
Pizza Perfect
Turn 'n Tender
Roman's Pizza
KFC
Best New Restaurant 2026
Golden Hour Asian Grill House (Pretoria)
S!gns (Sandton)
La Salud (Sandton)
Veld at Spier (Cape Town)
Amare (Cape Town)
The SALT Road Houghton (Houghton)
Ikara Restaurant (Edenvale)
The Naked Woolf (Rosebank)
Nine Lives Supper Club (Rosebank)
Zuney Wagyu Burgers (Rosebank)
Forking Good (Bryanston)
Papa Don't Preach (Bedfordview)
Mira (Sandton)

Best Fine Dining 2026 (Sponsored by L'Or South Africa)

AMAN Restaurant (Woodmead)
The LivingRoom (Durban)
Flames Restaurant (Westcliff, Johannesburg)
Dusk Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
Clico Hotel (Rosebank)
The 11'th Floor Restaurant (Bedforview)
La Colombe Restaurant (Constantia)
Stephnie's (Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria)
Zioux Restaurant (Sandown, Sandton)

Best Bar 2026

Proud Mary (Rosebank)
The Living Room Jozi (Maboneng Precinct)
Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
Alto234 (Sandown, Sandton)
San Deck, Bar & Restaurant (Sandhurst, Sandton)
The Ivy Garden (Bedfordview, Germiston)
The Greenhouse (Sandown, Sandton)
Rockets (Bryanston)
Mix Cocktail Bar (Rosebank)
Best Restaurant in Eastern Cape 2026
Muse Restaurant (Port Elizabeth, Qgeberha)
The Hacklewood Restaurant (Walmer, Qgeberha)
Die Walskipper (Jeffreys Bay)
Grazia Fine Food & Wine (East London)
Nevermind (St. Francis Bay)
Ginger The Restaurant (Port Elizabeth, Qgeberha)
Graze by the River (Port Alfred)
De Kelder Restaurant (Summerstrand)
Best Restaurant in Northern Cape 2026
Copper Oryx (Kimberley)
The Heights Restaurant & Bistro (Monument Heights, Kimberley)
Tauren Steak Ranch (Springbok)
The Hussar Grill (Kimberley)
Red Ox Steakhouse (Upington)
The Fat Greek (Kimberley)
Inni Kraal (Colesberg)
Occidental Bar (Kimberley)

Best Restaurant in North-West 2026

La Terrazza Restaurant (Hartbeespoort)
Kosmos Café Restaurant & Bar (Hartbeespoort)
Vista's Restaurant at The Feather Hill (Potchefstroom)
Silver Orange Bistro (Hartbeespoort)
The Raj Restaurant (Sun City)
Palmetto Restaurant & Lounge (Mahikeng)
Vela Contemporary Portuguese Restaurant (Hartbeespoort)
Best Restaurant in Western Cape 2026 (Sponsored by Dechavel Watches)
Reverie Social Table (Cape Town)
Chefs Warehouse Beau Constantia (Constantia)
Foxcroft Restaurant (Constantia)
Eike by Bertus Basson (Stellenbosch)
The Test Kitchen Fledgelings (Woodstock)
The Fat Fish (Plettenberg Bay)
Dusk Restaurant (Stellenbosch)
La Colombe Restaurant (Constantia)
FYN (Cape Town)
Rust en Vrede Restaurant (Stellenbosch)

Best Restaurant in Sandton 2026 (Sponsored by L'Or South Africa)

Tempo Luxury Restaurant (Sandton)
Cilantros (Sandhurst)
TANG Asian Luxury Restaurant & Bar (Sandhurst)
MOSSO SAVOUR TURKISH LUXURY (Sandhurst)
Saint Restaurant (Rivonia)
Gemelli Restaurant (Bryanston)
San Deck Bar & Restaurant (Sandhurst)
Bowl'd Restaurant, Bar & Lounge (Morningside)
Eclipse Restaurant (Sandown)
AURUM Restaurant (Sandown)
Best Restaurant in Johannesburg 2026
Flames Restaurant (Westcliff)
AURUM Restaurant (Sandown)
Ukkō Restaurant (Bryanston)
KōL Izakhaya (Hyde Park)
AMAN Restaurant (Woodmead)
Cyra Restaurant (Houghton Estate)
Les Créatifs (Bryanston)
Marble Restaurant (Rosebank)
Qunu Restaurant (The Saxon Hotel)
Saint Restaurant (Rivonia)
The Pot Luck Club (Melrose)

Best Restaurant in Pretoria 2026

Kream Restaurant (Brooklyn)
PRIVA (Waterkloof Heights)
Golden Hour Asian Grill House (Faerie Glen)
La Madeleine (Lynnwood Ridge)
Wood & Fire (Brooklyn)
Fermier Restaurant (The Willows)
Stephnie's (Lynnwood Manor, Pretoria)
16'th by Koi (Waterkloof Glen)
Prosopa Restaurant (Waterkloof Heights)

Best Restaurant in KwaZulu-Natal 2026

The LivingRoom (eThekwini)
The Chef's Table (Umhlanga)
Tyler's (eMdlotini)
Grimaldi's (Umhlanga)
9th Avenue Marina (Durban)
Max's Lifestyle (Umlazi)
The Hussar Grill Oceans (Lagoon Drive, Durban)
Doughed - Woodfired Dining Experiences (Windermere, Durban)
Butcher Boys Grill (Umhlanga)
Zai Restaurant Durban (Morningside)
Olive and Oil (Umhlanga)

Best Restaurant in Limpopo 2026

Âme Raví (Polokwane Central)
The Hat & Creek (Hoedspuit)
Bushveld Terrace Restaurant on Kruger (Phalaborwa)
CO.FI (Savanah Mall, Polokwane)
Pot 'n Plow (Magoebaskloef)
Nguni Grill (Polokwane Central)
Saskia Restaurant (Polokwane)
Matoppie Restaurant (Groblersbrug, Limpopo)
Mirage Restaurant at Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit (Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit)

Best Cooking Show 2026 (Sponsored by L'Or South Africa)

MasterChef South Africa
Expresso Culinary Hotline
Hammy Eats with Nick Hamman
Taste Master junior
Taste Master
Lorna's Pantry
Come Dine with Me: South Africa
Kokkedoor: Vuur en Vlam
SA Food Stories with Nicci Robertson
Food Trail: South Africa

Best Customer Dining Experience 2026

Amura (Cape Town)
Le Bistro de Jan (Cape Town)
Curate (Cape Town)
The Happy Uncles (Salt River)
Seebamboes (District Six)
Omri (Camps Bay)
La Salud (Sandton)
East City Grill & Yakiniku (Cape Town)
Ce La Vi Restaurant (Sandton)
Marble Cape Town (Cape Town)
Arlecchino (Sea Point)
Turn 'n' Tender Cresta (Cresta)

Best Restaurant / Nightclub 2026

The Address (Cape Town)
Greenhouse on Festival (Pretoria)
Newscafe (Brooklyn)
Max's Lifestyle (Durban)
Alchemy (Ballitoville)
The Greenhouse (Sandton)
A Streetbar Named Desire (Randburg)
Rockets (Bryanston)
Sweetphops Lifestyle (Polokwane)

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