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Restaurants.co.za has been named Best Restaurant & Hospitality Discovery Platform 2026 – South Africa and has received the Digital Visibility Innovation Award 2026 – South Africa in the Hospitality Awards 2026, presented by AI Global Media Ltd and LUXlife.

The two awards recognise Restaurants.co.za’s role in restaurant and hospitality discovery, digital visibility and online marketing in South Africa, at a time when the way consumers discover restaurants, destinations and experiences is rapidly evolving. Being visible online is no longer simply about having a website or maintaining an active social media presence.

Founded by Tanja Triebiger Thomas, Restaurants.co.za has evolved beyond a traditional restaurant directory into a broader hospitality discovery platform, bringing together restaurant profiles, editorial features, news, events, specials, search visibility, digital marketing and social media.

A common misconception is that Restaurants.co.za is simply a listing platform.

A Premium Listing on Restaurants.co.za remains one of the most cost-effective long-term marketing and visibility tools in South Africa’s hospitality industry. It is, however, far more than a listing or booking platform. The platform functions as an integrated ecosystem, giving restaurants sustained visibility across search, editorial content and social channels.

This has become increasingly important as digital discovery becomes more fragmented and AI influences how consumers search for restaurants, destinations and experiences. A strong, credible digital footprint, supported by relevant content and search visibility, can continue introducing a restaurant to potential guests long after a social media post has disappeared, making digital discoverability an increasingly important part of the hospitality business itself.

Restaurants.co.za’s hospitality-focused social community, now approaching 500,000 followers across multiple channels, adds another layer of reach, connecting restaurant content with an established audience interested in dining, travel and hospitality.

South Africa has an extraordinary depth of talent, creativity, food, wine, design and hospitality to share with the world. Platforms that tell these stories and extend their reach internationally have an important role to play in positioning South Africa as a destination.

For Restaurants.co.za, that international recognition is equally about strengthening the local hospitality ecosystem. As international platforms increasingly influence digital discovery, there is growing importance in building strong, locally rooted platforms that keep South African restaurants, chefs, producers and hospitality businesses visible — and connected to the value they create.

“Restaurants.co.za is proudly South African, and our ambition has always been simple: to put South African hospitality on the map, while ensuring the map still leads back to South Africa.” — Tanja Triebiger Thomas, Founder of Restaurants.co.za

A special thank you goes to Melissa Bramall and the LUXlife and AI Global Media team for these accolades, and for helping shine a wider spotlight on South Africa’s hospitality industry.

Restaurants interested in strengthening their digital visibility can email tanja@restaurants.co.za.

Follow Restaurants.co.za:

• Instagram: @restaurants_sa
• Facebook: Restaurants South Africa
• X: @RestaurantsinSA and @TopSARestaurant
• Threads: @restaurants_sa
• TikTok: @restaurantssouthafrica