Diners Club Winelist Awards Celebrate South Africa’s Finest Restaurant Wine Lists

For more than three decades, the Diners Club Winelist Awards have set the benchmark for wine excellence in South Africa’s hospitality industry. Recognised and respected by both the restaurant and wine sectors, these prestigious annual awards celebrate establishments that demonstrate an unwavering commitment to elevating the standard of their wine offerings and enhancing the dining experience for their patrons.

The awards are presented across five tiers—Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and the ultimate Icon Award. The Icon distinction represents a wine list of true international stature and stands as the pinnacle of wine presentation in South Africa. The competition criteria and category structure are carefully aligned with global trends, reflecting Diners Club’s enduring commitment to service excellence within the hospitality and tourism industries.

In 2025, the distinguished judging panel—a dynamic collective of respected voices and leading talents from the wine, food, and hospitality arenas—awarded the coveted Icon status to four exceptional restaurants: three in Gauteng and one in the Western Cape.

• Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate, Pretoria
• Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar, Fourways
• Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, Sandton
• Rooi, One & Only, Cape Town

Introduced in 2018, the Icon Award is reserved for restaurants that not only fulfil all the stringent Diamond criteria, but also present an extensive international wine selection, outstanding representation across multiple wine categories, a noteworthy reserve and vintage offering, a demonstrable commitment to thoughtful wine curation, and the presence of a dedicated full-time sommelier.

In addition, seventeen restaurants achieved Diamond status, eight were recognised with Platinum Awards, twenty-two earned Gold, and three establishments received Silver Awards.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2025 DINERS CLUB WINELIST AWARDS!

GAUTENG

ICON

• Kievits Kroon Gauteng Wine Estate, Pretoria
• Verdicchio Restaurant & Wine Cellar, Fourways
• Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa, Sandton

DIAMOND

• Signature Restaurant, Sandton
• Keystone Bistro, Melrose
• Brasserie de Paris, Pretoria
• Geet Indian Restaurant, Pretoria

PLATINUM

• The Blue Train
• The Forum Company
• Tony’s Spaghetti Grill, Randburg
• Balata, Fairway Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort, Randburg
• The Connexions, Misty Hills Country Hotel, Muldersdrift

GOLD

• Lupa Osteria Midstream, Centurion
• Sass Café, Bedfordview
• Thava Indian Restaurant, Montecasino, Fourways
• Casa Toscana, Pretoria
• Thava Indian Restaurant, Norwood
• Turn ‘n Tender, Bassonia
• Turn ‘n Tender, Boksburg
• Turn ‘n Tender, Cresta
• Turn ‘n Tender, Dainfern
• Turn ‘n Tender, Illovo
• Turn ‘n Tender, Loftus Park, Pretoria
• Turn ‘n Tender, Midstream, Centurion
• Turn ‘n Tender, Bryanston
• Turn ‘n Tender, Parktown North
• Turn ‘n Tender, Ruimsig, Roodepoort

SILVER

• La Rosa Mexican Grille and Tequileria, Randburg
• Airport Craft Brewers, O. R. Tambo International Airport
• Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant, Rivonia

KWAZULU- NATAL

DIAMOND

• Signature Restaurant, Umhlanga

GOLD

• Lupa Osteria, Westville
• Lupa Osteria, Umhlanga
• Thava Indian Restaurant, Suncoast Casino, Durban

EASTERN CAPE

DIAMOND

• Hacklewood Hill Country House, Gqeberha
• The Beach Hotel, Gqeberha
• Ginger The Restaurant, Gqeberha
• Pumba Private Game Reserve – Water Lodge, Makhanda
• The Sands @ St Francis
• Pumba Private Game Reserve – Bush Lodge, Makhanda
• The Thistle Restaurant, Royal St Andrews Hotel, Port Alfred

WESTERN CAPE

ICON

• Rooi, One & Only, Cape Town

DIAMOND

• Bientang’s Cave, Hermanus

PLATINUM

• Swartberg Country Manor, Oudtshoorn

GOLD

• Morii Restaurant, The Vineyard Hotel, Newlands
• Thava Indian Restaurant, GrandWest
• Turn ‘n Tender, Majik Forest, Bellville

NORTH WEST

PLATINUM

• Silver Orange Bistro, Hartbeespoort
• Vista’s Restaurant, The Feather Hill Boutique Hotel, Potchefstroom

NORTHERN CAPE

DIAMOND

• Kimberly Anne Small Luxury Hotel. Kimberley

LIMPOPO

SILVER

• Coach House Hotel & Spa, Tzaneen

MPUMALANGA

DIAMOND

• Kuka Café, Hazyview
• Magnolia Restaurant, White River
• Hippo Hollow Restaurant, Hazyview

GOLD

• Turn ‘n Tender, Nelspruit