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Cape Town was voted the world’s best food city last year by Conde Nast Traveller for good reason, but it’s not often that the top restaurants of the city get a chance to measure themselves on a global stage against the greats of the whole world. The World’s 50 Best Restaurant Awards (sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna) is one such occasion. Each year 1,080 industry experts rank the top dining destinations globally, and the extended 51-100 list offers a glimpse into the rising stars of the global food scene, celebrating innovation, sustainability, and cultural storytelling in gastronomy. In 2025 three of South Africa’s top restaurants featured on the extended list.

La Colombe appeared at 55 for its sixth year on this prestigious list. “To be recognised on the world stage with this award means an incredible amount to both me and the entire team,” says executive chef James Gaag. “It's something we work towards every day and it’s great to be acknowledged for that. I am very proud of the whole team.”

FYN was ranked at 82 this year.  “To be recognised by the World’s 50 Best for the fifth time in a row is an extraordinary honour,” says chef patron Peter Tempelhoff. “This award is a celebration of the whole team—from our kitchen and service brigades to our foragers, farmers, fishermen and ceramicists. FYN is the product of a deeply collaborative ecosystem, and this recognition is for everyone who plays apart in creating the FYN experience.”

Salsify at the Roundhouse made its debut on the list at 88. “Being recognised on the extended list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is an incredible honour,” says Ryan Cole, executive chef and co-owner. “At Salsify, we push boundaries, embrace creativity, and craft experiences that reflect the essence of South African ingredients and stories. This achievement is a testament to the relentless passion, innovation and dedication of our team – our aim is simple, to be better than we were yesterday.”

The award ceremony in Turin

At the award ceremony in Turin on 19 June 2025, the chefs made the most of a rare opportunity to connect with fellow top chefs from award-winning restaurants on all six continents.

“As well as from indulging in the local culture and cuisine in Turin, it was great to attend the 50 Best talks, and the chefs feast where we socialised with chefs from all around the world and shared our common creativity and passion,” says FYN’s executive chef Ashley Moss. “It was great to see Ryan Cole from Salsify there representing South Africa as well.”

“It was incredible to be at this gathering of the greatest food minds in the world,” Ryan says. “There was such as sense of community among people from so many different regions. In a time when the world is so visibly divided, it’s amazing to see how food is the one thing that brings everyone together. It was obvious that everyone is trying to make a difference, stand for something, and build a community and a sense of place.”

World-class mineral waters

All three of South Africa’s restaurants awarded on this list choose S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna mineral waters for their water service.

“At La Colombe we serve both local and international waters,” says chef proprietor Scot Kirton. “The quality of the S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna mineral waters makes them staples in most fine dining restaurants around the world.”

“We find S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna to be very sustainable in their approach to bottling, choosing types of glass and plastic which are recyclable and reusable,” says Jennifer Hugé, co-owner and general manager at FYN, “and we offer them as an alternative to our in-house, filtered water service. The waters have a high quality too, being very high in minerals. In particular, I enjoy the S.Pellegrino sparkling mineral water, which has a beautiful, defined softness similar to an elegant MCC or champagne. This allows the bar to use it for highball cocktails, adding balance without overwhelming the delicate flavours.”

“We serve S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna mineral waters because it’s the best water in the world, there’s nothing like it,” says Ryan. “The quality of the product is world class. Obviously, our ethos is serving everything local and well sourced, and while S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna are not local they are impeccably sourced, and waters that anyone can recognise. It speaks very much to what we do, serving the very best quality that we can.”

What’s next

The restaurants aren’t resting on their laurels. Expect sparkling new seasonal menus full of creativity as winter turns to spring. Salsify has just re-opened after a winter break which involved an annual décor refresh, and FYN is sparkling and new after an extensive rethink of the décor and layout. “Going into this new season marks a particularly exciting time because of the recent refurbishment,” says Peter. “While FYN has always been a beautiful restaurant, these changes add a new level of finesse to the experience. We have enhanced all of the elements, upgraded the space and adding important details that are not only aesthetic, but support a more streamlined, creative service as well. I honestly can’t wait for all of our guests to visit!”