South Africa’s culinary elite got the chance to bask in well-earned glory recently at the 2025 Luxe Restaurant Awards! From New Restaurant of the Year to the Best Burger Joint, the winners are:
Johannesburg, South Africa (20 February 2025) – The 2025 Luxe Restaurant Awards unfolded in spectacular, sizzling fashion in Johannesburg recently as the country’s culinary elite united to bask in well-earned foodie glory.
Well-respected for its prestige, the annual awards once again brought together the most influential chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary tastemakers from around the country for an evening where celebration and inspiration were served.
Shashi Naidoo alongside award-winning cookbook author and culinary personality Mogau Seshoene (The Lazy Makoti) guided guests through the evening of glamour and gastronomy, as South Africa’s most exceptional restaurants and chefs were honoured across the board.
Among the many category winners (ranging from Restaurant of the Year to Culinary Innovation), the evening also saw two Michelin-starred chefs honoured for their contributions to the industry!
And the Winners Are:
Category Winners
- Restaurant of the Year – Salon
- Chef of the Year – Candice Philip
- New Restaurant of the Year – Coy
- Pioneer Award – Liam Tomlin
- Culinary Innovation Award – Carla Schulze
- Culinary Media Personality of the Year – Zola Nene
- Culinary Rising Star Award – Amori Burger
- Hidden Gem Award – Good to Gather
- Pastry Chef of the Year – Keshia Louw
- Service Excellence Award – Mertia
- Style Award – Marble Cape Town
- Sustainability Award – Reverie Social Table
- Bar of the Year – Sin + Tax
- Bartender of the Year – JJ Hendricks (Fable Bar)
- Mixology Rising Star Award – Caitlin Crockart
- Bistro of the Year – Mill St Bistro
- Burger Joint of the Year – Brash
- Caterer of the Year – Vicky Crease Catering + Events
- Coffee Shop of the Year – La Cotte Mill House
- Cafe of the Year – Ground Art Caffe
- Casual Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year – Elgr
- Contemporary Restaurant of the Year – Upper Union
- Family Restaurant of the Year – Culinary Table
- Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year – Cyra
- Grillhouse of the Year – Tyler’s
- Hotel Restaurant of the Year – Proud Mary
- International Restaurant of the Year – Club Como
- Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year – Gemelli
- Patisserie of the Year – La Tarte
- Pop-Up Restaurant of the Year – Edge at Vue Short Market
- Restaurant Group of the Year – Tashas
- Rooftop Restaurant of the Year – The 11th Floor
- Street Food Restaurant of the Year – Yatai Ramenbar
- Tapas Restaurant of the Year – De Eetkamer
Luxe Starred Restaurant:
One-Star Restaurants
- Belly of the Beast
- Beyond by Peter Tempelhoff
- Epice
- Fermier
- Hōseki
- Le Coin Français
- Les Créatifs
- Post & Pepper
- The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira
Two-Star Restaurants
- Arkeste by Richard Carstens
- Coy Restaurant
- Cyra by Candice Philip
- JAN Franschhoek
- Mertia
- Rust en Vrede Restaurant
- The Living Room at Summerhill Estate
- The Pot Luck Club (JHB & CPT)
- Wolfgat
Three-Star Restaurants
- Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia
- Dusk Restaurant
- FYN Restaurant
- La Colombe
- La Petite Colombe
- Pier
- Restaurant Klein JAN
- Salsify at The Roundhouse
- Salon
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