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Hours
Tue
18:30 - 0:00
Wed
18:30 - 0:00
Thu
18:30 - 0:00
Fri
18:30 - 0:00
Sat
18:30 - 0:00
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
Travellers' Choice Best of the Best 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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CUISINES
European
Special Diets
Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
features
Details
About
Contemporary fine dining within Rust en Vrede Wine Estate’s historic former cellar (also a national monument), where the front-and-centre kitchen, fine stemware and bespoke crockery enhance creative four- and six-course menus. A comprehensive winelist carries wide local and international selections, leaving little to be desired.
CUISINES
European
Special Diets
Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner, After-hours, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
1,430 reviews
Excellent
1,121
Very good
204
Average
75
Poor
13
Terrible
17
Josefine W
Berlin819 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
This is a very good spot if you want to experience fine dining in a beautiful scenery and enjoy the service of people that know exactly how to make your experience a blast. And even though I am sometimes a bit afraid that service would just be too uptight/ stiffed up because it’s fine dining, we felt such a warm welcome and little jokes during the evening made it even more comfortable.
We enjoyed the 6 course menu with wine paring and liked every single course though we must admit that the langustine and the main course black Angus remain our favourites. Also very nice to watch the chef and his team create such beautiful dishes in the open kitchen. Definitely a place I can recommend!
Written 12 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christophe V
Ghent44 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
We started with a wine tasting, and then moved on to lunch. Only steak and salmon, that's it. The meat was cooked to perfection, the veggies were fresh and tasty, and the french fries better than they are served in Belgium.
Right before lunch we were treated to a visit of the premises, and saw the white grapes being dried on straw for the "hooiwijn" (vin de paille in France), a sweet desert wine.
I do recommend with finishing the meal with a hooiwijn.
There was of course ample time to fill out a wine order. Can't wait to go home and receive a box full of goodies.
Finally hats off to our very friendly waitress.
Written 31 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RuMark
Canada966 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
When we returned to the Cape after several years one of our few desires was to have a repeat dinner at Rust and Vrede. Our last experience was sensational and I'm glad to see that years later they have maintained their standards. The restaurant is breathtaking and surely one of the best in the world.
Like last time we started outside with a glass of champagne before moving to our spacious inner table. The service is pristine and authentic. They asked me if I had any allergies and I forgot about my yellowtail allergy considering I so rarely encounter the fish. They then brought the first course and it was none other than yellowtail. I merely left the dish and apologized for forgetting my allergy. They were extremely apologetic and actually returned a few minutes later with a substitute venison dish! The rest of the meal was just out of this world and we loved every part of it, including the pairing. The chef came to speak to us and he was charming and friendly. Rust and Vrede remains our favourite dining experience in the world.
Written 26 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annelizey
40 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
What a disappointment! Have had many good meals previously. 6 course wine pairing. Now they only wet your glass with wine and the portions became way to small even with fine dining and no attention to detail. Poor presentation. 12.5% service fee on this standard is not acceptable. Good service equals good tip. Way over priced on this standard. 3 x desserts on a 6 course meal very unusual.
Written 4 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DvA
Zurich70 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
We visited for the winemaker's lunch on a hot and busy day in the Cape Winelands. We started off with a tasting of the Estate's wines, which was expertly conducted by our server. Different to other wine farms in the region, Rust en Vrede invites you to taste their best wines - even from different vintages -, some of which are truly world class. The lunch is simple, but of high quality, and exactly what you need on an intensive day of wine tasting. Value for money was very good, as lunch and wine tasting were both deducted from our order of wine bottles.
2 pro tips to end this review: First, come early, as there are no reservations and in high season most tables on the lovely terrace will be taken around noon. Second, if it is 37 degrees centigrade during your outdoors lunch and wine tasting, refrain from tasting several additional red wines the service might recommend you. Or you might end up taking a siesta on the wine farm's lawn, unable to move on to the next winery ;-)
Written 12 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paula H
Johannesburg24 contributions
Mar 2021 • none
We had dinner here last week Saturday. It is an experience from the minute you drive through the gate. The food was AMAZING and rates as one of the best fine dining experiences we have had. One small criticism. It took a while for our bread plates to be cleared as well as our wine glasses accumulated on the table. Even the empty ones. I would still have the experience a hundred times over! The chef comes to each table and that was such a wonderful touch. I very highly recommend this restaurant.
Written 17 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luke
Somerset West3 contributions
Jun 2022 • none
What a delight - the experience was out of this world. The delivery of all courses are timed well by Fabio and his team. It is great to see his background reflect in the foods presented. This establishment delivers top quality food at a fair price, and with hands-on professional service. I can highly recommend this to persons with either refined or simple palates.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
juergd
Munich2033 contributions
Dec 2022 • friends
We enjoyed an excellent dinner with a very attentive service. Each single dish was prepared excellently in terms of flavour and presentation. We very much enjoyed the Brazilian influences by chef Fabio Daniel, who talked to each table personally to find out of each of his guests enjoyed the prepared dishes.
Overall an excellent evening in a restaurant that can be recommended to anyone looking for a high quality cuisine at a very fair price/quality ratio.
Written 10 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John P
Edenvale155 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
A one of a kind view and personalised attention. This was our first visit and we had the 6 course menu. Quality great and worth the experience although it does come at a price. Were offered a welcome drink on arrival which turned out to be a R220 glass of champagne so don’t be afraid to ask pricing first. Recommended for fine dining lovers. Staff friendly and very attentive.
Written 20 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ruhetg
South Africa126 contributions
Jul 2022 • business
When I am in Western Cape I make sure that I pay a visit to Rust en Vrede .Every time it is a great unique experience .
During my last visit in July I had a six course menu to start with a orchestrated bread feast with some mouth watering butter and al.
Cured Yellowtail was a bit tick to fully absorb the magnificent sauce served with it,but delicious.
Crispy Egg, didn’t fit in the frame but let’s continue
Crème Fraiche Risotto can make some Italians jalous .
Seabass served with Cauliflower & Farofa made a good combination.
Dulcey, Miso and as a finishing note Raspberry Coconut made a fabulous closing created by Fabio and his team .
Of course the restaurant location and settings satisfies our esthetic needs while gourmand satisfaction overcomes.
Wine pairing is not as successful as the food itself for that reason I urge you to make your own selection from the encyclopedia of wine!
Written 11 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kempr52
Eastleigh526 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Rust en Vrede must be one of the top restaurants in South Africa. Close to the level of the fabulous La Colombe in Cape Town. We chose to have the six course tasting menu with our own wine selections. The courses were delicious. Our particular favourites being the asparagus and crispy egg, the pan-seared langoustine, the wagyu fillet with crispy onions and the white chocolate marquise with coconut and frozen honey yoghurt. All impeccably well constructed plates. Service was exemplary and the open kitchen enhance the dining experience.
Written 21 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter I
Amsterdam2 contributions
Mar 2022 • couples
Have visited many times. Food is great. Wine also great. Waitrons are very good, although some (mostly male) have an attitude problem, as in: this is Rust en Vrede, so be happy you got in if you don't drive a mega-bakkie or porsche or something equally ostentatious. Anyway, all excellent. Only criticism is the overly strict adherence to rules set on the waiters. Hospitality, in the true SA sense is lacking due to too tight management, I think.
I would like to suggest, let it go a little. Give a decent glass of tasting wine to a customer who is interested and has paid 1500 rand on a 1300 rand bill: he'll probably come back - which, to my regret, I don't think I will.
Nevertheless a lovely tourist venue.
Written 22 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Payton_Sil
17 contributions
Mar 2024 • friends
When visiting Stellenbosch and seeking restaurant recommendations, Rust en Vrede is often the first place mentioned. Intrigued, we decided to give it a try. Positioned as a high-end fine dining establishment, we had lofty expectations. However, the food turned out to be average at best. While one course stood out as very good, the others were mediocre, and one was so bland that I couldn't finish it. The head chef, unfortunately, is being encouraged to attend to tables for conversation, which seems to be a discomfort for him. It might be best to let him focus on the kitchen and create a more flavorful menu.
On the bright side, the wine selection is truly impressive. The wine list is extensive, with sommeliers who do a good job explaining and pairing wines with the food. However, the overall service was not what you would expect from a restaurant in the €€€€ price range. Most of the waitstaff are college students earning extra income, and their lack of experience and training in hospitality is evident. While friendly, they often fall short in service basics. For example, not receiving glasses when ordering a bottle of water is quite off-putting. Considering the price point, I expected more and, unfortunately, won't be returning.
Written 22 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greenways124
Northampton21 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
Delicious food with wine pairing for each course. Without giving too much away, the Asparagus and crispy eggs were outstanding along with the 5 other courses. The surroundings were delightful and the staff both very efficient and charming. The whole evening was exceptional and has to be one of the finest dining experiences anywhere in the world
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark S
Bad Soden108 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
A fantastic tasting menu, in a beautifully appointed room. Service very attentive but not in your face. This was our second time visiting and it was even better than last time. The chef has continued to outdo himself, preparing everything in an open kitchen in full view of all the guests. The food was superb and the wine. We skipped the pairing and partook of my favourite SA wine their flagship wine Rust en Vrede Estate blend. What I write here is exactly what I told the chef, he visits each table towards the end of the meal, the biggest complement is that 'we will be back'. There are so many good restaurants in SA, each with its own particular style but this one definitely stands out.
Written 15 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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