The stage is set for the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards 2025, taking place on 31 March at Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre. While the spotlight will be on South Africa’s finest restaurants earning their Eat Out Stars, the Special Awards remain a highlight — recognising the people and places driving innovation, sustainability, and creativity in the restaurant world.
Celebrating More Than Just Great Food
As always, the Special Awards showcase the diversity and talent within South Africa’s culinary industry, honouring everything from exceptional service and wine knowledge to dessert artistry and mixology. With fourteen categories sponsored by respected partners, these awards celebrate the passion, dedication, and vision that elevate local dining to world-class standards.
Awards to Watch: Honouring Talent and Innovation
The highly anticipated Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant of the Year will go to the top-scoring restaurant, recognised for an exceptional all-round experience — from food to service. Equally prestigious is the Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Chef of the Year, awarded to a visionary chef shaping South Africa’s food scene.
The Eat Out S.Pellegrino and Acqua Panna Chefs’ Chef Award, voted for by peers, honours a chef whose talent, dedication, and leadership set them apart. Sustainability takes centre stage with the Eat Out Woolworths Green Star Award, acknowledging restaurants championing eco-conscious practices.
Other standout awards include the Eat Out Woolworths Financial Services Service Excellence Award for top-tier hospitality and the Eat Out Woolworths Wine Service Award for outstanding sommeliers.
For those raising the bar in drinks and desserts, the Eat Out Patrón Mixology Award will honour cocktail mastery, while the Eat Out Callebaut Dessert Award celebrates pastry chefs breaking creative boundaries.
Recognising Industry Icons and Rising Stars
The Eat Out House of Suntory Lannice Snyman Lifetime Achievement Award will honour a figure whose long-standing contribution has shaped the industry, while the Eat Out Woolworths Trailblazer Award recognises innovators who’ve left a lasting mark.
Emerging talent shines in the Eat Out Rising Star Award, spotlighting young trailblazers. The Eat Out Yoco Best New Restaurant Award will highlight a newcomer that excels in both food and design. The Eat Out VISI Style Award honours restaurants where design and dining align, and the Eat Out Lexus Best Destination Restaurant will go to a venue worth traveling for.
Western Cape Leads the Nominee Pack
This celebration of excellence follows the announcement of top nominees, with the Western Cape dominating the list. Among the frontrunners are La Colombe, FYN, Belly of the Beast, Chefs Warehouse at Beau Constantia, Rust en Vrede, Dusk, Eike, Ouzeri, and Foxcroft — spanning Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Franschhoek.
With over 690 restaurant visits conducted by an expanded panel of eight judges, the Eat Out Woolworths Awards 2025 promise to be a true celebration of South Africa’s culinary brilliance — from iconic names to emerging talents.
