Salsify at the Roundhouse in Camps Bay has been named as South Africa’s best restaurant as it clinched the coveted Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year at the annual Eat Out Restaurant Awards for 2025.
A Culinary Journey Recognized
\In presenting the award, Abigail Donnelly, Eat Out’s Culinary Director, acknowledged Salsify as “having attained the highest score of any restaurant in the country”. She said: “It is a restaurant that balances the history of its unique setting, acknowledging and critiquing its past while celebrating its immediate environment through hyper-local foraging. This storytelling runs through its menu, complemented by attentive, knowledgeable and friendly service. There is a wonderful sense of generosity here, and guests feel special from the moment they arrive.”
A Tribute to the Team
Accepting the award, Chef Ryan Cole, co-owner and executive Chef for Salsify acknowledged the sacrifice and immense efforts from his entire team.
“Six years of sacrifice, six years of relentless pursuit of improvement – not to be better than anyone but to be the best versions of ourselves – and six years if empowerment and betterment and just trying to find our voice in the South African food scene. We stand for very few things – we stand for no bullshit, we stand for honesty, and we stand for flavour. But it takes an absolute village to pull it all together and put it on the plate.”
Ryan also paid tribute to head chef Nina du Toit’s efforts since day one, as well as manager Eden Danda and sommelier Sam Ross.
“Without everyone on our team, none of this would happen and this is only the beginning,” he added.
South Africa’s Gold Standard in Dining
Eat Out’s star-rating system remains the gold standard in South Africa, with restaurants earning 1, 2 or 3 stars based on their final scores. The criteria cover every aspect of the dining experience, from food quality and technique to service, ambience and value. The coveted 3-star rating is reserved for restaurants scoring over 90 out of 100, while 2-star and 1-star ratings go to those scoring between 80 and 89 and 70 and 79 respectively.
Salsify also received Three Stars, one of seven restaurants recognised for being “at the pinnacle of culinary craft”. Cole’s second restaurant, COY, was awarded the Eat Out VISI Style Award.
Culinary Excellence with a View
With sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic Lion’s Head as a backdrop, Salsify is a cornerstone of Cape Town’s fine dining scene and work to preserve heritage – paying homage to history, stories, and ingredients while crafting light, delicate dishes.
Salsify serves modern cooking, inspired by nature and driven by the seasons. Within the richly storied walls of national monument, The Roundhouse, an opulent culinary journey finely balanced between history, seasonality, and sustainability – a meal at Salsify is unlike any other.
The menu offers up a selection of locally sourced proteins, foraged herbs, ancient grains and preserved elements from previous seasons.
