A Stellenbosch restaurant has made culinary history by becoming the first African establishment to crack the top 60 of the world’s most prestigious steakhouse rankings while simultaneously earning accelerated recognition at home.
VUUR, the fire-driven dining experience located at Remhoogte Wine Estate, was ranked 52nd in the World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants Awards announced on Monday 23 March – the highest ranking ever achieved by an African restaurant.
On the same evening, the restaurant was awarded two stars at South Africa’s Eat Out Awards, doubling its previous year’s single-star recognition.
Dual recognition
The World’s 101 Best Steak Restaurants Awards, established in 2019, evaluate establishments across multiple continents based on consistency, quality of cuts, cooking technique and overall dining experience.
Previous winners have included renowned steakhouses in Argentina, Japan, USA and Europe, making VUUR’s placement particularly significant.
The Eat Out Awards, South Africa’s premier restaurant accolades since 2004, recognise excellence in service, culinary creativity and overall dining experience.
Two-star rankings are reserved for restaurants demonstrating exceptional quality and consistency, with VUUR’s jump from one to two stars representing an unusually rapid progression.
The dual recognition represents a remarkable achievement for a restaurant that opened in April 2022. No other African restaurant has previously ranked this highly in the global steakhouse competition’s five-year history, while VUUR’s accelerated climb in the local awards reflects its exceptional trajectory in South Africa’s competitive dining scene.
“This has been an extraordinary moment for the team,” said Shaun Scrooby, VUUR’s owner and head chef. “To be recognised on both a national and global platform in one night is deeply meaningful.”
Unique setting
VUUR distinguishes itself through an uncompromising focus on fire as both method and philosophy. Every dish on the tasting menu is shaped by smoke, heat and precise timing, with the restaurant organising its entire culinary approach around open-flame cooking rather than treating fire as mere spectacle.
The restaurant operates from a unique island setting on a dam at Remhoogte Wine Estate, offering two dining experiences: a shared Chef’s Table for 16 guests and an exclusive Chef’s Counter for two. Both formats provide intimate views of the open-fire cooking process.
VUUR began in a converted stable, initially serving just one private table per day. As demand grew, Scrooby relocated the concept to nearby Goose Island, expanding capacity while maintaining the intimate, immersive experience that built the restaurant’s reputation.
The national and global recognition positions VUUR alongside established international steakhouses and confirms South Africa’s growing influence on the global culinary stage.
For Stellenbosch’s evolving dining landscape, the awards represent validation of the region’s emergence as a serious culinary destination.
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