An extraordinary culinary journey at Urchin Restaurant earns double honours at the 2026 World Culinary Awards.
Some dining experiences are memorable. Others tell a story. At Journey, the signature tasting menu at Urchin Restaurant, Hyatt Regency Cape Town, every course is an invitation to discover the flavours, landscapes and cherished food memories of the Western Cape.
Less than two years after its debut, Journey has claimed two prestigious titles at the 2026 World Culinary Awards: Africa’s Best Fine Dining Experience and South Africa’s Best Culinary Experience. The accolades celebrate the vision of Executive Chef Marcus Gericke, South African Chef of the Year 2024, and his team’s distinctive approach to contemporary fine dining.
At the heart of Journey is an 11-course tasting menu conceived as a road trip on a plate. From the rolling vineyards of the Cape Winelands to the Garden Route, the fishing village of Paternoster and the colourful, spice-filled streets of Bo-Kaap, each course captures the character of a place and the memories it evokes.
The menu showcases exceptional South African ingredients, including kingklip, springbok, Karoo lamb, peppadews and indigenous produce, reimagined through thoughtful technique and contemporary presentation. Familiar flavours are elevated into something unexpected, while each dish reveals another chapter in the region’s rich culinary heritage.
For Gericke, the experience is deeply personal, drawing on the Sunday lunches, coastal fish braais and aromatic Cape Malay cooking that have shaped his connection to the region. It is also a tribute to the farmers, fishers and local producers whose ingredients bring the story to life.
The double win is a remarkable milestone for a restaurant concept that celebrates not only culinary excellence, but also the people, places and traditions that make the Cape so distinctive.
For those seeking a dining experience with a true sense of place, Journey offers an opportunity to savour the Western Cape in an entirely new way — one exceptional course at a time.
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Urchin Restaurant | Hyatt Regency Cape Town