[Image: Tang / South Africa Restaurant Awards 2025]
The South Africa Restaurant Awards 2025 brought the heat to Hotel Sky Sandton on Monday night – and it wasn’t just coming from the kitchens.
The glitzy bash pulled out all the stops to honour the culinary rockstars, putting Mzansi on the global foodie map.
Hosted by entrepreneur Jordan Kensington and media maven Nicole Watson, the night was a whirlwind of gourmet gossip, fierce competition, and well-deserved wins. Chefs, restaurateurs, and hospitality heavyweights came dressed to slay – both on the red carpet and on the plate.
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Over 950,000 votes rolled in from the public – proof that South Africans know their chow and aren’t afraid to back their faves. From luxe fine dining to lekker local gems, the awards served up a delicious cross-section of what makes our food scene world-class.
Broadcast live on VooVix TV, the ceremony brought the sparkle to screens nationwide, so even if you weren’t sipping champagne in Sandton, you could still get a taste of the action.
And the winners? Let’s just say they didn’t come to play.
Best Culinary Experience 2025
TANG Asian Restaurant & Bar (Sandton) – Sleek, stylish, and seriously scrumptious. TANG walked away with this coveted title, and rightfully so.
Best Restaurant – Cape Town
Salsify at the Roundhouse – Elevated dining with a view that slaps. No surprises here.
Best Restaurant – Johannesburg
Flames Restaurant in Randburg – The finest of flavours, exquisitely prepared with an artisanal touch.
Best Chef 2025
Moses Moloi, sponsored by Crispa Gold – The man, the myth, the kitchen legend. Moloi’s got the golden touch.
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The room wasn’t short on heart, either. Big moments. Happy tears. Loud cheers. And a few shocked gasps when the underdogs claimed the stage.
Some standout shoutouts:
- Mamasamba (Rosebank) – Took home Best Hospitality 2025 for service that makes you feel like royalty.
- Golden Hour – Nabbed Best New Restaurant 2025, proving fresh faces can dish it out with the best.
- Sin + Tax – Won Best Bar 2025. Still mixing drinks like they’ve got superpowers.
- MasterChef SA & Expresso Culinary Hotline – Joint winners for Best Cooking Show 2025. TV never tasted so good.
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Regional Champs Represent!
From surf to turf, the regional winners proved once again that South African cuisine doesn’t mess around:
- Eastern Cape: Muse Restaurant (Port Elizabeth)
- Western Cape: Salsify at the Roundhouse (Camps Bay)
- KwaZulu-Natal: The Livingroom at Summerhill Estate (Durban)
- Northern Cape: Klein Jan
- Gauteng: Trumps Grillhouse & Butchery
These spots didn’t just make the cut, they carved out culinary dominance with flair.
Golden Hour’s win as Best New Restaurant was a chef’s kiss to bold ideas and fresh thinking. And Tempo in Sandton flexed hard with the Best Restaurant in Sandton title. Local pride, plated to perfection.
Sara Kensington, Partnerships Director of the World Restaurant Awards Group, couldn’t hide her pride, saying “We are thrilled to honour South Africa’s culinary community. Their dedication inspires us all.”
As the night wrapped with applause (and maybe a few celebratory tequila shots), it was clear: Mzansi’s food game is fierce, fearless, and flavour-packed.
From fine dining masterpieces to unpretentious platefuls of magic, 2025’s Restaurant Awards reminded us exactly why South African cuisine is stealing the global spotlight.
[Source: South African]
