La Colombe in Cape Town Review, Deserving of #55 in the World's Top Restaurant List?
- Ava Lyn
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
La Colombe
Silvermist Wine Estate, Main road
Constantia Nek
Cape Town 7806
South Africa
La Colombe sat at the top of the list of places we wanted to visit in Cape Town. Number #55 on the World's Best Restaurant List and 3 stars awarded by Eat Out Awards. It has enough hype for us to make a trip out to Constantia, just to have this meal and we were grateful to have had a reservation, together with a travelling group of 10.
La Colombe is tucked in the lush slopes of Silvermist in Constantia and carries its name that translates to "the dove", a detail that quietly anchors the restaurant's identity. From the moment you step inside, the motif unfolds in subtle but deliberate ways, nest like lighting fixtures, birds nest plating and recurring avian references that reinforces a sense of elegance, lightness and peace, which is the dove.
The kitchen is led by James Gaag, who trained under Luke Dale Roberts, the chef who originally put La Colombe on the global map. Roberts' influence still lingers in the restaurant's DNA, a blend of French technique with Asian fusion accents, presented through a highly theatrical tasting format. Chef Gaag, however, has pushed the menu further towards contemporary global inspiration, particularly drawing from East Asia. This evolution reflects broader dining trends and the La Colombe Group has certainly jumped on this band wagon quickly.
Our menu for tonight is large:
Silvermist Vegetable Garden
Herb Garden Extraction
Smoked Tomato Buenelo
Garden Tartlet
Wild Boar Snacks
Smoked Boar Broth
Wild Boar Kimchi Crackling
Bacon Chawanmushi
Sourdough, Jersey Butter, Artichoke, Truffle
Tuna 'La Colombe'
Entree Option #1: False Bay Market Fish, Caviar, Nahm Jim
Entree Option 2: Namibian Red Crab, Tamarind Curry
Salted Agave
Main Option #1: Coal Fired Lamb, Broccoli, Smoked Neck
Main Option #2: Karoo Wagyu, Banchan, Rice Pot, Truffle (Supplement: ZAR 650)
Strawberries, Matcha, Lemon Verbena
Rose
The experience beings strong. The "Silvermist Vegetable Garden" and herb extraction set the tone with clean, strong, composed flavours paired with a kombucha that stands out for its clarity and balance. This early sequence feels aligned with La Colombe's ethos: refined, thoughtful and technical precise. The signature tuna in a can remains a highlight, both for its flavours and its presentation, served in a tin with chutney you mix yourself, encouraging interaction to figure out the 20 ingredients that make the dish without compromising elegance.
That said, the menu leans heavily into complexity. Nearly every dish carries multiple elements, sometimes a little overboard. The integration of Korean influences, reportedly inspired by a recent trip from the kitchen, felt unresolved. The kimchi and banchan accompanying the wagyu lacked depth and proper fermentation, coming across muted rather than vibrant. It is an ambitious direction, but one that reveals the challenge of translating deeply rooted culinary traditions without full access to authentic ingredients or sufficient refinement. Is it the lack of korean fish sauce? Is it that fermented shrimp is not easily accessible? Or was it just the quality of the Gochugaru? Was there no sot for the bap?
The theatrics, however, are undeniable. A butter course churned tableside with Jerusalem artichoke, black truffle and onion is both indulgent and memorable. As is the Agave dish served table side along with some liquid nitrogen theatrics.
The setting itself is polished yet intimate, though not without its flaws. Seated at a large round table in the center as a group of ten, the space felt constrained. Service flow suffered as staff navigated tight gaps, culminating in an unfortunate incident where a kombucha soup was spilled on our guest. While apologies were offered, the recovery felt procedural rather than genuinely attentive, which is really an unexpected miss for a restaurant of this caliber.
Booking
The earliest availability at La Colombe on a weekend night is 4 weeks out at the time of writing. I highly recommend that you make your reservation as soon as your itinerary is confirmed.
Accessibility
La Colombe is about a 30 min Uber ride from the V&A Waterfront. It is located quite deep in the estate with high security. We had our own transport to and from the venue but it might be worthwhile checking if Uber services can be easily flagged from La Colombe back to your hotel.
The Damage
At 2395 ZAR or ~ 185 SGD, it is definitely one of the cheaper options on the Worlds 50 Best.
Would We Recommend?
Yes, with qualifications. It is definitely a gorgeous venue with a polished and immersive dining experience to match. The signature dishes and theatrical elements are genuinely compelling and the setting adds to the sense of occasion. However, the push towards broader Asian influences feel uneven, and when the balance tips too far into complexity, the clarity of flavour, something that La Colombe clearly values, gets lost. It is clear there are some dishes that remain strong, and that is when La Colombe does not excessively play with global flavours. It remains one of South Africa's most important dining destination, but one that seems to be still navigating how to evolve without diluting its strengths. I truly hope that La Colombe finds its feet amongst the ever evolving dining trends and focuses on its core ethos.
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