South Africa anchors much of Africa's fine dining scene, with a wine-region restaurant culture built alongside some of the world's most renowned vineyards. North African cities draw on centuries of culinary tradition for an entirely different version of African excellence.
The destinations on this list range from wine-region restaurants, where chefs work alongside renowned vineyards, to North African cities, where fine dining draws heavily on centuries of regional culinary tradition. Both represent very different versions of the continent's food culture.
Pairing a meal with a wine estate visit remains one of the most distinctive things about dining well in southern Africa specifically, combining the food with the landscape that produces it. Asking staff directly about seasonal specialities also tends to reveal dishes that don't always make it onto the printed menu.
