Expresso has won for the third time at the South Africa Restaurant Awards 2026, a feat that underscores both consistency and the difficult art of staying relevant.
Expresso has won for the third time at the South Africa Restaurant Awards 2026, a feat that underscores both consistency and the difficult art of staying relevant in a city of restless diners.
Three wins is not luck; it is the product of a kitchen and a room that refuse to stand still.
In a sector where the new is endlessly celebrated, the harder achievement is the sustained.
To win once is a moment. To win three times is a method.
Zanele Mthembu writes on fashion, food, travel and culture from across the continent.
The winners have officially been announced for the third edition of the South Africa Restaurant Awards 2026, celebrating the restaurants and chefs shaping the country's culinary identity.
There are restaurants that impress with exceptional cuisine, and then there are destinations that create an experience so complete that every moment feels carefully curated. AURUM Restaurant, on the seventh floor of The Leonardo in Sandton, belongs firmly in the latter category.
The South Africa Restaurant Awards 2026 returned in spectacular fashion for its 3rd annual edition, bringing together South Africa's most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality pioneers, and culinary innovators for an unforgettable evening at Hotel Sky Sandton.