CAPE TOWN’S AMARE WINS AFRICA’S BEST NEW RESTAURANT 2025

Amare, Bantry Bay’s elegant Mediterranean coastal restaurant, has been named Africa’s Best New Restaurant 2025 at the World Culinary Awards, held last week in Italy.

This accolade marks a milestone moment for South Africa - with Amare surpassing top contenders from across the continent and shining a global spotlight on Cape Town’s exceptional culinary talent.

Since opening its doors in October 2024, Amare has become one of Cape Town’s most celebrated dining destinations in less than a year. Well known for its authentic Mediterranean offering of fresh seasonal ingredients sourced locally, Amare takes the classics and reinvents the dishes with a modern interpretation. 

Our guests are our family and they expect the dishes inspired by the sun-drenched flavours along the coast lines of France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain.  The coastal cuisine paired with South African award winning boutique wines along with a selection of few international offerings makes Amare a favourite with tourists and the local communities. 

“ARTECHE investment, the parent company for Aurum and Amare is proud to have won awards in their respective genres and that is a potent indicator that values, quality and humility always triumphs. “ Being recognised on a world stage is incredibly meaningful for my family, especially my father who raised me with the motto “always build quality  first and the rest will follow. This award is a tribute to our team, our guests and our city.”

The World Culinary Awards, regarded as the ‘Oscars of gastronomy’, celebrate excellence across the global restaurant and hospitality industry. Hosted at the Forte Village Resort in Sardinia, the 2025 ceremony honoured world leaders such as Le Calandre (World’s Best Restaurant), Forte Village Resort (World’s Best Culinary Resort), and Italy, crowned World’s Best Culinary Destination. Winners are chosen through a global voting process by industry professionals and the public. Winning this award positions Amare - and Cape Town - at the forefront of Africa’s culinary renaissance.

Adding to its growing acclaim, Amare recently launched its Amare Jazz Evenings, held daily in Bantry Bay. This intimate dinner-and-music experience features a specially curated tasting menu paired with live performances by some of South Africa’s most talented jazz artists.