South Africa's Steakhouses Are Earning Global Recognition
Two South African restaurants have secured spots on the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants list, placing the country firmly on the map for world-class meat culture.
VUUR at Remhoogte Wine Estate in Stellenbosch ranked 52nd — the highest placement ever recorded by an African restaurant on the list. Open since 2023, the restaurant is led by head chef Shaun Scrooby and built around locally sourced meat and open-flame preparation. The achievement is remarkable for an establishment still in its early years.
Johannesburg’s The Blockman came in at 98th, making its second appearance on the list. Operating across Parkhurst and Bryanston, it combines an in-house butchery, wine cellars, and a menu rooted in local ingredients — dishes like grilled kudu with biltong crumble speak to a distinctly South African approach to fine dining.
The World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants, running since 2019, evaluates venues on meat origin and quality, preparation technique, and grilling mastery. To place twice, or to place highest among all African entries, carries real weight.
More broadly, these rankings reflect an ecosystem — farmers, butchers, chefs, and support staff — working in concert to produce something the continent can stand behind. It is also a prompt: to invest in culinary training, champion the institutions producing the next generation of South African chefs, and recognise the full chain of people turning local produce into internationally recognised meals.