FYN Named Restaurant of the Year at 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Awards
Cape Town’s FYN has been crowned Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards, held on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Baxter Theatre Centre. The restaurant was recognized for its innovative fusion of Japanese techniques with a distinctly South African identity. Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom was named Chef of the Year.
FYN’s Culinary Excellence
FYN’s success is largely attributed to the leadership of executive chef Bea Malherbe, who has collaborated with chef-patron Peter Tempelhoff, culinary director Ashley Moss, and drinks and service expert Jennifer Hugé over the past seven years. The restaurant has gained international acclaim for its ability to elevate indigenous South African ingredients and heritage flavors, weaving the Cape’s natural bounty into its dishes with precision and creativity.
“The judges said FYN delivered a world-class dining experience defined by precision, creativity, and balance,” stated Abigail Donnelly, Eat Out’s culinary director [1].
Chef of the Year and Rising Stars
Johannes Richter of The LivingRoom received the Chef of the Year award, recognizing his leadership and inspirational qualities. Aren Pollack of Embarc in Johannesburg was awarded the Eat Out Rising Star Award, acknowledging exceptional young talent and potential for a thriving culinary career. Chef Ryan Cole received the Eat Out S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Chefs’ Chef award, a testament to the respect of his peers.
Lifetime Achievement and Sustainability Awards
Winemaker Ken Forrester was honored with the Eat Out House of Suntory Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of passion, innovation, and hospitality. The 2026 awards also introduced three Green Star categories recognizing sustainability efforts.
Dusk in Stellenbosch received the Urban Green Star, recognizing city restaurants excelling in sustainability despite infrastructural challenges. The Livingroom at Summerhill in Pinetown was awarded the Rural Green Star, celebrating restaurants leveraging land access for sustainable practices. Terranium received the Emerging Green Star, recognizing newcomer restaurants embedding sustainability principles from the outset.
Eat Out Star Ratings 2026
The Eat Out star-rating system, considered the gold standard in South Africa, awarded stars based on scores ranging from 70 to over 90 out of 100, assessing food quality, service, ambience, and value.
Three-Star Restaurants (90+ out of 100)
- FYN, Cape Town
- La Colombe, Constantia, Cape Town
- La Petite Colombe, Franschhoek
- MERTIA, Stellenbosch
- Pier, Cape Town
- Salon, Cape Town
- Salsify at the Roundhouse, Cape Town
- The LivingRoom at Summerhill Guest Estate, Pinetown, Durban
Two-Star Restaurants (80-89 out of 100)
- Belly of the Beast, Cape Town
- Beyond, Constantia, Cape Town
- Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia, Cape Town
- COY Restaurant, Cape Town
- Dusk, Stellenbosch
- Epice, Franschhoek
- FABER at Avondale, Paarl
- Fermier, Tshwane
- Good to Gather, Stellenbosch
- Hōseki, Stellenbosch
- Meraki by Charlie Lakin, Hillcrest, Durban
- Ouzeri, Cape Town
- Post & Pepper, Stellenbosch
- Protégé, Franschhoek
- Rust en Vrede Restaurant, Stellenbosch
- The Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira, Stellenbosch
- The Pot Luck Club Cape Town, Cape Town
- The Table at De Meye, Stellenbosch
- The Waterside Restaurant, Cape Town
- Vuur, Stellenbosch
- Wolfgat, Paternoster
One-Star Restaurants (70-79 out of 100)
- BLOEM at Paul Clüver Family Wines, Elgin
- Cavalli Restaurant, Somerset West
- Chefs Warehouse at Maison, Franschhoek
- Chefs Warehouse at Tintswalo Atlantic, Cape Town
- CHORUS, Somerset West
- Creation Wines Tasting Room, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
- CURATE at Ellerman House, Cape Town
- Cyra, Johannesburg
- Eike, Stellenbosch
- ëlgr, Cape Town
- Embarc, Johannesburg
- Ember & Oak, Constantia, Cape Town
- Galjoen, Cape Town
- Kapokbos Restaurant, Bonnievale
- Le coin Français, Franschhoek
- Leeto, Paternoster
- Les Créatifs, Johannesburg
- Marble Restaurant Johannesburg, Johannesburg
- Melfort, Stellenbosch
- Merchant Bar & Grill, Cape Town
- Nevermind, Cape St Francis
- Ongetem, Cape Town
- Orangerie at Le Lude, Franschhoek
- Qunu, Johannesburg
- Reverie Social Table, Cape Town
- Saint Restaurant, Johannesburg
- Seebamboes, Cape Town
- Spek & Bone, Stellenbosch
- Table Seven, Cape Town
- Terrarium, Cape Town
- The Bistro at Brookdale Estate, Paarl
- The Chefs’ Table, Umhlanga
- The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, Johannesburg
- The Red Room by Chefs Warehouse, Cape Town
- The Test Kitchen Fledgelings, Cape Town
- Tyler’s, eMdloti
- Upper Union, Cape Town
Special Awards
Additional awards presented at the ceremony included:
- Eat Out Callebaut Dessert Award: Catherine Adonis at Qunu
- Eat Out Patrón Mixology Award: Beyond and FYN
- Eat Out Best Destination Restaurant: The Table at De Meye
- Eat Out Wine Service Award: Elton Damon at La Petite Colombe
- Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award: MERTIA
- Eat Out VISI Style Award: Amura
- Eat Out Woolworths Best New Restaurant: Amura
- Eat Out Woolworths Trailblazer Award: Margot Janse
The Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards’ move to News24 aims to broaden its reach and connect with a wider South African audience. [3]