La Colombe in Cape Town voted best restaurant in Africa

Cape Town’s La Colombe restaurant has been voted in the Top 50 in the world – and the best in Africa – in the prestigious The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

The highly anticipated list of The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, was revealed on Wednesday a glitzy and glamourous awards ceremony held at Wynn Las Vegas.

LA COLOMBE RANKED 49TH IN THE WORLD

The event brought together the best chefs, restaurateurs and hospitality industry icons on the planet.

The 22nd edition of the annual ranking features restaurants from 26 territories, five continents and eight exciting new and re-entries.

La Colombe was voted the 49th best restaurant in the world.

The narration on the website read: Taking guests on a gastronomic voyage in an atmospheric, treehouse-like setting atop the Silvermist Wine Estate (following a move from Constantia Uitsig in 2014), La Colombe is the grande dame of Cape Town dining.

In a minimalist space decorated in a muted colour palette, chef James Gaag’s swoon-inducing dishes feature all manner of culinary theatre.

Think smoking Cape Malay snacks, tuna ‘La Colombe’ – a tinned miniature yellowfin tuna creation featuring micro herbs, avocado puree and an umami-rich broth – and the complex, perfectly balanced masterpiece of Karoo lamb.

The eight or 10-course tasting menus are executed with impeccable precision, yet the experience remains playful and approachable, with guests selecting their own canapes as they begin their meal.

As the restaurant is on a wine estate, you’re guaranteed a great glass, although a lot of thought has gone into the low and no ABV options too.

Meanwhile, Disfrutar in Barcelona, Spain, scooped the No 1 spot in this year’s list.

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Earlier, Cape Town’s FYN restaurant, the upscale dining establishment in the heart of the city, once again secured a prestigious position on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Led by Chef Peter Tempelhoff, FYN – pronounced ‘fayn’ – the restaurant tells African stories with a Japanese accent on the fifth floor of a 19th-century silk factory in Cape Town.

Using fish, poultry and meat from the best local suppliers, chefs Ashley Moss and Peter Tempelhoff serve a tasting menu with dishes such as the signature hazelnut-crusted springbok with salt-baked celeriac, black figs and mountain sage.

General manager Jennifer Hugé runs the dining room, underneath which the team also oversees a casual ramen bar called Ramenhead.

FYN RANKED 60TH IN THE WORLD

This year marks the fourth consecutive appearance for FYN on the list, with the restaurant clinching the 60th spot in the esteemed rankings that include the extended 51-100 list.

FYN had secured the 75th position on the list in 2023.

For Tempelhoff, this accolade underscores the dedication and expertise of his team, which includes co-owners Jennifer Huge, who oversees front of house and beverages, and culinary director Chef Ashley Moss.

He attributes this achievement to the collective efforts of his kitchen and front of house staff, as well as the broader network that contributes to FYN’s success.

‘I’m immensely proud of our team and our collective achievements. Our success wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our suppliers, artisans, and the network of dedicated farmers, foragers, and fermenters who contribute to FYN,’ Tempelhoff expressed.