Fyn Restaurant — Restaurant in City Centre

Where do I even begin? A friend of ours would not stop talking about this restaurant. Everytime we saw them, they brought it up, so we knew we had to see what the fuss was all about. Thankfully, we were able to snag two lunch reservations and decided to go for it.

From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in for something special. The service was impeccable. Our server was kind, knowledgeable, and attentive without being overbearing. Every staff member we interacted with made us feel like we were being welcomed into something carefully curated. The way we were greeted, checked in on, and guided through each course made it feel more like a performance than just a lunch. I almost felt like I was inside an episode of The Bear with how smoothly and passionately everything flowed.

The setting itself is beautiful in its simplicity. Clean lines, thoughtful design, and a calm, minimalist aesthetic that lets the food speak for itself. We chose to sit at the chef's counter, which gave us a great view of the kitchen team at work. That added to the feeling of being part of something intimate and well crafted.

We went with the lunch tasting menu. It started with an amuse bouche that caught me off guard in the best way. Unique and flavorful. Then came the Japanese inspired plates, which were absolute standouts. Delicate, balanced, and full of bold flavors that worked so well together. The land course that followed was just as thoughtful and memorable.

The fish dish, served with squid ink, was easily one of the stars of the meal for me. Perfectly cooked, deep in flavor, and beautifully plated. And then came the desserts. The coconut ice cream was probably the best I have ever tasted. It was rich, smooth, and not overly sweet. The rice pudding, topped with a crackling layer of crispy rice, had both texture and warmth. It brought a sense of nostalgia while also feeling fresh.

We opted for the sake pairing, and that decision added even more dimension to the experience. The selections were intentional, and we loved that there was an unfiltered sake included. It added something earthy and authentic that matched the tone of the dishes.

Not every course worked for me. The South African wagyu was high quality, but it was a bit too fatty for my preference. My friend, however, thought it was delicious. We also felt the final dessert course was not as strong as the rest. The tower presentation was lovely, but the black sesame mousse inside the macaron was too intense. The filling reminded us of chamoy, but it didn’t quite land. The pineapple taffy was fun but had a heavy dose of chili that overpowered the fruit. And the Dubai inspired chocolates were more of a visual treat than a flavorful one. Honestly, I would have preferred a final savory bite or a simpler dessert to close out the meal on a stronger note.

All in all, it was still an incredible afternoon. Plan for about two to three hours to fully enjoy everything without feeling rushed. We left full, content, and inspired. It was a beautiful meal that gave us a taste of something special, and even with a few misses, the overall experience was...

This is a very honest review from someone who was here for their honeymoon and trying to have an amazing experience in their first time in Cape Town.

Our reservation was at 7PM and if you look at our bill, the entire meal took a staggering 4 hours for a mere 8 courses. Our first 3 courses came in the first hour and the last 5 took 3 hours to complete. There were over 30 min between courses with no acknowledgment that they were running behind. Have plans after? You better cancel them!

When we arrived our server welcomed us and congratulated us for our honeymoon and swiftly offered us a glass of champagne, no menu or price shown. So nice we thought and accepted what we thought was a complimentary glass, just to find out on our bill that it was not free and they just charged us for it. (See image of the bill) Now we can obviously afford $20 for champagne but don’t offer or make it seem like you were welcoming us.

The concept of the food is great, chef was inspired on his visit to Japan and wanted to bring back the Japanese influence using native South African ingredients. This is why we decided to come eat and experience his interpretation. However, when eating the food, it is very clear that either the chef only visited Japan without learning to how make the food properly or it is now executed by a team that never been to Japan or understand the nuances of Japanese cuisine. The food is ok, nothing will blow your mind and familiar items are executed poorly. If you have been to Japan or eaten amazing Japanese food, you will feel the food is flat. I do very much appreciate all of the local ingredients being used. There is a clear point of view for this concept but the execution is what’s lacking.

Service in the main room was handled by only 2 waiters for around 15-20 tables. You can imagine the lack of attention and I already mentioned the pace of the food and how slow it was. There didn’t seem to be any sense of urgency from the kitchen or wait staff even when it was clear that many tables have been waiting between courses for more than 30 minutes.

@50best I do not know how this restaurant can even crack the top 200 list. You either have to have inventive food, impeccable service, or usually a combination of both. I know it fell from rank 36 to now rank 60 but the experience that was just had when the restaurant knew we were here for a special occasion is unreasonable. I would not care that service is a bit slower today, or that the food was not amazing, but when you have been waiting for hours eating a lackluster meal and then the bill comes and they charge you for the champagne they made sound like was comped, it leaves you with a terrible taste in your mouth as you pay and leave. Not to mention they add a mandatory 12.5% gratuity that they do not deserve.

If you’re looking for fine dining in Cape Town, go somewhere else. You will be happy you did. Save your time...

Fyn is one of the most exceptional restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. My wife and I were blown away by the intricate set menu, as well as the impeccable service.

Visiting South Africa for our honeymoon, and seeing Fyn being highly recommended, we thought we'd enjoy a treat to celebrate - I don't think we quite expected the level of quality we were met with. I had the full set menu with wine flight, my wife had the vegetarian set menu, and we were both given an outstanding array of dishes that showcased Japanese cuisine using the best African ingredients; this fusion of styles was incredible, to say the least.

The starter course with a range of sushi was the perfect introduction to the menu, balancing crab, caviar, and beautifully presented rolls of rice and Namibian shellfish. A particular favourite for us both was the Hokkaido bun with burned mushroom custard - we were told it was the only item on the menu that had consistently remained since the restaurant had opened and I can definitely see why. The wine paired exquisitely with each course, including the bold choice of a pair of sakes halfway through. I'm not a huge fan of desserts, so when I say the dessert at Fyn was the best I've ever eaten I can't give it any higher praise, I was genuinely blown away. From start to finish, the menu was outstanding.

With regards to service, I have to give our server Marcus enormous praise. He was welcoming, knowledgeable, charming and engaging, with excellent knowledge about each course and a fantastic presentation of the wine flight. He really made our meal so special, we never felt rushed and he was always on hand to make sure everything went smoothly. At times, other servers came and presented dishes, topped up drinks or checked on our wellbeing, and every single one of them was similarly exceptional - Fyn really do have an awesome front of house team. At the end of the night, Marcus even went and got a menu signed for us by the chefs and himself as a congratulations for our honeymoon, something we will really cherish.

I've been lucky enough to experience some incredible food around the world, but the overall package Fyn provides is right up there with the best. Michelin don't give stars in Africa yet, but if it did Fyn would sit happily alongside the best of European and Japanese cuisine. It is an experience that needs to be seen, tasted, and savoured to be believed, and even then, I can't quite understand how food can taste that good or be...