Move over Napa Valley. Stellenbosch has officially achieved its position on the global food map. With 10 restaurants recognized at this year's Eat Out Out Out Restaurant Awards (including 3-star ratings including one of only seven nationwide), this Winelands gem is no longer about wine. Culinary ambitions are intertwined with the charm of heritage, with South African chefs changing the meals they want to visit.
What makes it even more appealing? Flight tickets to Europe and Michelin Guide bookings are not required six months in advance. It's a long weekend…and an exceptional food experience, a scenic splurge, and perhaps an appetite for Shiraz, in standby.
“We're more and more South Africans planning trips around the taste rather than crafting traditional tourist lists,” says Antoinette Turner, general manager of South Africa's flight centres. “Cooking trips provide you with something deeply personal that connects you not only with location but with people and culture.”
So, whether you're chasing bold flavours or slowly lavish luxury (or both), this is why your next gourmet holiday begins at Stellenbosch.
Praise: Why is everyone talking about Stellenbosch now?
If there was any doubt that Stellenbosch is the culinary capital of South Africa, they were placed to rest on March 31 at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. That's where South Africa's finest local restaurants have won over any other town or city outside Cape Town itself at the 2025 Eat Out Out Out Restaurant Awards.
What stands out this year is the quality, not just the quantity, but the quality of every layer, from bold newcomers to high-end heritage institutions. As mentioned before, one restaurant has earned the unusually coveted 3-star rating (booked only for those who have scored over 90 out of 100).
This presents 10 award-winning restaurants that have Stellenbosch on the travel menu for all serious food lovers.
3 stars:
Dusk – 43 Plein Street
A high-class dining experience rooted in techniques and sensory storytelling during fermentation. Expect homemade Misos and Garum along with local cheese, as well as dishes that look more like art than dinner.
2 stars:
Rust En Vrede – Annandale Road
It offers a six-course tasting menu that combines modern French techniques with global talent. All of these are served in a historic Cape Dutch wine cellar surrounded by grapes. Do not skip wine pairings curated by sommelier James Mukosi.
Meltia – Bird Street
Leading by chef Matt Van Den Berg (formerly La Columbe), Meltier uses hyperlocal ingredients like Meuse Farm produce to provide modern South African nostalgia through a meticulous multi-course menu.
Clara's Barn – Fore Village Road (Vergenoegd Löw Wine Estate)
Set in one of SA's oldest barns, Clara is where you can find Lips Smack's nostalgic farm-style dishes, from fish-scale, fortified bread courses to mains perfect for creative vegetables celebrating Indigenous plants.
Jordan Restaurant with Marthinus Ferreira – Stellenbosch Kloof Road
Expect a refined farm-style meal from chef Martinus Ferreira (yes, he trained in both Ramsay and Blumental). Expect a seasonal menu with bold flavours and a truly unforgettable wine pairing from the Jordan Wine Estate itself.
One Star:
Eike by Bertus Basson – Dorp Street
Eike is a love letter to the South African culinary heritage, with playful plating and nostalgic storytelling woven into each dish (think Springbok Bobotie Tartare or edible candles).
Hōseki – Delaire Graff Estate
Japan's Omakaze is a place where you can discover the luxury of Wineland in this intimate luxury spot led by chef Virgil Khan. Expect to grill it over crazy kinds of wood and bluefin tuna and slice it with extraordinary precision.
Post & Pepper – Old Post Office Building, Corner Bird, Plain Street
Chef Jess Van Dyke serves small Asian South African plates inside the historic post office. Foods like pork lollipops are glazed on Dognyaan, and Xo kingklip has earned rave reviews for its flavor and enjoyable factors.
Longridge Wine Estate – Leikert, Helderberg Road
A relaxed, family-style three-course feast was served on a biodynamic farm under a wide view of the fake bay.
Spek & Bone – Dorp Street
Hidden behind the grape canopy at the old fruit market is the gem of this relaxing shared plate by Berthos Basson, with potato churros covered in mushroom ketchup and peppermint crisp corn.
Town turns food into meaningful journeys
The food was no longer a cherry blossom on a good holiday, but a main course. Recent research shows that over 70% of travelers around the world prioritize their culinary experience when booking a trip. And as the culinary tourism market is projected to grow nearly 20% per year until 2030, food is becoming a full-scale movement.
The number of Eat Out Stars may have put Stellenbosch in Foodie Spotlight, but locals will tell you. For years, the town has quietly created world-class experiences.
“These awards are recognized not only by chefs, but also by the entire ecosystem of passion and location,” said Annemie Liebenberg, CEO of Visit Stellenbosch. “Our farmers, winemakers, producers and artisans all contribute to creating something special here. It's both a heritage and a progression. And it's deeply personal.”
It is this convergence of the charm of the old world and the creativity of a new school that draws both local tourists and global food into the region. Also, while other foodie-focused destinations often rest on one season or signature events, Stellenbosch is refreshingly evergreen, offering a variety of flavors (literally, figuratively) all year round.
“What makes Stellenbosch so special is how much flavor you pack into such a compact space,” Turner says. “From the cutting edge Omakase, you can go within five minutes of each other, based on family recipes.”
In many ways, the fact that Napa Valley was in California culinary 20 years ago is very similar to what Stellenbosch is now.
“We often think we need to look far for a world-class experience,” Turner says. “But Stellenbosch reminds us that some of the best culinary adventures just await the road.
If you're planning a solo escape or a group getaway with a fellow foodie the next weekend, Stellenbosch deserves a place at your table.
I'm going hungry.
Leave it full of all the meanings of the words.
