In a revamped format that looked to spotlight the chefs over glitz and glamour, the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards 2025 were announced at the Baxter Theater Center in Cape Town on Monday, March 31, celebrating South Africa's talented chefs and restaurateurs.
Claiming the biggest gong was Salsify at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay, which clinched the prestigious Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year Award. A restaurant that blends masterful storytelling and a commitment to sustainability in one of Cape Town's most memorable locations, Salsify also received the highest rating of Three Stars, joining six other restaurants at the pinnacle of South Africa's restaurant landscape.
"Six years of sacrifice, six years of relentless pursuit of improvement - not to be better than anyone but to be the best versions of ourselves," said chef-patron Ryan Cole at the awards. Six years of empowerment and improvement and just trying to find our voice in the South African food scene... we stand for honesty, and we stand for flavour. But it takes an absolute village to pull it all together and put it on the plate.”
In a significant evolution of the awards, Eat Out introduced a more comprehensive and transparent judging process this year. An independent panel of eight anonymous judges visited shortlisted restaurants over an eight-month period, assessing both peak season and off-peak experiences.
"This year's winners represent the pinnacle of South African dining," says Abigail Donnelly, Eat Out's Culinary Director. "The new judging process ensures that every star awarded truly reflects consistent excellence, from innovation on the plate to the overall guest experience. The level of talent and dedication in our restaurant industry is nothing short of world-class."
Another local chef to win big on the night was Nathan Clarke, executive chef at The Test Kitchen Fledgelings in Woodstock. Winner of the Eat Out Rising Star Award, the judges said: "He has carved out his own distinctive path, and his story serves as a powerful reminder of how passion and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievement. In him, we see the bright future of South African food and the inspiring potential of those who pursue their dreams with heart and determination."
Last, but certainly not least, was chef Ivor Jones of Chef's Warehouse at Beau Constantia who walked off with the Eat Out S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Chefs' Chef Award, a gong voted for by fellow chefs in the industry.
Wondering which restaurants bagged a coveted star rating in the 2025 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards? Look no further
One Star
Belly of the Beast (City Bowl, Cape Town)
Cavalli Restaurant (Somerset West)
Chefs Warehouse at Maison (Franschhoek)
Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic (Hout Bay, Cape Town)
Creation Wines Tasting Room (Hemel-en-Aarde Valley)
Culinary Table (Lanseria)
Eike (Stellenbosch)
Elgr (City Bowl, Cape Town)
Farro (Botrivier)
Galjoen (City Bowl, Cape Town)
Hoseki (Stellenbosch)
Kapokbos (Bonnievale)
Le coin Français (Franschhoek)
Les Créatifs Restaurant (Bryanston, Johannesburg)
Marble Restaurant Johannesburg (Rosebank, Johannesburg)
Meraki by Charlie Lakin (Hillcrest, eThekwini)
Nevermind (Cape St Francis)
Orangerie at Le Lude (Franschhoek)
Post & Pepper (Stellenbosch)
Restaurant Klein JAN (Tswalu)
Reverie Social Table (Observatory, Cape Town)
Rykaart's Restaurant at Longridge Wine Estate (Stellenbosch)
Scape at Vrymansfontein (Paarl)
Spek & Bone (Stellenbosch)
Table Seven (Salt River, Cape Town)
The Chefs' Table (Umhlanga, eThekwini)
The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse (City Bowl, Cape Town)
The Table at De Meye (Stellenbosch)
The Test Kitchen Fledgelings (Woodstock, Cape Town)
Upper Union (City Bowl, Cape Town)
Vuur Goose Island (Stellenbosch)
Zioux (Sandton, Johannesburg)
Two Stars
Beyond (Constantia, Cape Town)
Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia (Constantia, Cape Town)
CHORUS (Somerset West)
Clara's Barn (Stellenbosch)
Epice (Franschhoek)
FABER at Avondale (Paarl)
Farmer (Pretoria)
Foxcroft (Constantia, Cape Town)
MERTIA (Stellenbosch)
Ouzeri (City Bowl, Cape Town)
Protégé (Franschhoek)
Peace and Quiet (Stellenbosch)
Salon (Woodstock, Cape Town)
The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira (Stellenbosch)
The Pot Luck Club Cape Town (Woodstock, Cape Town)
The Waterside Restaurant (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
Wolfgat (Paternoster)
Three Stars
Dusk (Stellenbosch)
FYN (City Bowl, Cape Town)
La Colombe (Constantia, Cape Town)
La Petite Colombe (Franschhoek)
Pier (V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay, Cape Town)
The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate (Pinetown, eThekwini)
You'll find most of these on our guide to The Best Restaurants in Cape Town!