Cape Town Ranked 11th Best Food City Globally as Johannesburg Shines for Street Eats
South Africa's culinary reputation continues to gather momentum on the world stage, and the latest global rankings have delivered fresh reasons for the African travel trade to promote the country as a food-lover's destination. Cape Town has been named the world's 11th best city for food, while Johannesburg has claimed 8th place globally for street food, according to the newly released Time Out rankings. Together, the two cities showcase the remarkable diversity of South Africa's gastronomy, stretching from award-winning fine dining tables overlooking the Atlantic Ocean to sizzling roadside grills and vibrant neighbourhood markets.
For agents and tour operators packaging South Africa itineraries, this recognition offers a powerful new marketing angle. Culinary tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments in global travel, and travellers are increasingly building entire trips around the food experiences a destination can offer.
Although Cape Town slipped just outside the global top ten after ranking higher in previous editions, the Mother City remains Africa's highest-ranked city on Time Out's overall food list. The ranking drew on responses from more than 24,000 locals worldwide, combined with assessments from Time Out's editors and food specialists. What sets Cape Town apart, according to the publication, is its creativity, its commitment to sustainability and its intimate connection to the ocean. Restaurants across the city are embracing locally foraged ingredients, seasonal produce and responsibly sourced seafood, while cafés, wine bars and casual eateries continue to evolve at pace.
Several venues stand out as symbols of this modern culinary identity. Amura at Mount Nelson brings the seafood-focused artistry of celebrated Spanish chef Ángel León to African shores, while The Test Kitchen Fledgelings blends playful street-food inspiration with refined techniques. FYN continues to earn international acclaim for its sustainability ethos and Japanese-South African fusion, and Zuney Wagyu proves that even a gourmet burger can be locally sourced and environmentally conscious. Notably, 93 per cent of Cape Town residents surveyed rated their city's food scene highly, one of the strongest approval ratings recorded in the study. The one area where enthusiasm dipped slightly was affordability, with fewer than half of respondents describing dining out as inexpensive.
Johannesburg's global 8th place ranking for street food may prove even more exciting for a wide range of travellers. The city's informal food culture reflects the cultural diversity of the country and the continent, with influences drawn from across South Africa, the wider African continent, India, Portugal, the Middle East and Asia. Visitors exploring the city can sample local favourites such as kota sandwiches, hearty plates of pap with braaied meat, vetkoek, shisa nyama, ogodu, diana, morogo and chakalaka. Neighbourhoods including Maboneng, Braamfontein, Yeoville, Fordsburg and Soweto offer particularly rich hunting grounds for authentic tastes.
Beyond the flavours themselves, street food offers something increasingly valuable in modern tourism: authentic cultural immersion at an accessible price point. For travellers who want to interact with residents, discover neighbourhoods off the traditional tourist trail and experience how South Africans actually eat every day, this is one of the most rewarding entry points. For African trade professionals, it also provides a strong counterbalance to the premium-priced fine dining narrative, opening the door to more inclusive and budget-friendly product offerings.
Agents building itineraries for food-focused clients would do well to book popular Cape Town restaurants several weeks in advance, particularly for the summer season, and to blend fine dining reservations with neighbourhood cafés and market visits for a fuller picture. Guided township or street food tours in Johannesburg are also strongly recommended for first-time visitors, offering safety, context and stories that make each bite more memorable. Local specialities such as bobotie, Cape Malay curry, braai, biltong, koeksisters and milk tart should feature on every food-lover's list.
As culinary tourism continues to shape traveller decisions worldwide, South Africa's dual recognition places it firmly among the most exciting food destinations on the planet. For the African travel trade, the opportunity is clear. Guests should be encouraged to arrive hungry, curious and ready to eat their way through one of the continent's most flavour-rich journeys.
