The pop-up restaurant at The Table Bay hotel becomes a permanent home for celebrity chef Siba.

The Sun International Hotel and celebrity chef Siba Mtongana have taken their joint restaurant venture to the next level and created “Siba”, a permanent restaurant fixture at the Table Bay hotel. What started off as a pop-up in March 2021, to test demand, has bucked trends and proved to be a phenomenal success. 

Earlier this year, Sun International agreed to provide funding to expand and redevelop the existing restaurant, doubling the floor space and providing 60 seats for fine dining and 100 seats for events. Diners can now enjoy a fine-dining experience while taking in a view of ships moving in and out of the harbour at the V&A Waterfront. 

The style of the Afr-lux restaurant balances elegance and sophistication and takes inspiration from Siba’s childhood heritage. “I want people to feel comfortable and unrushed when they sit down. The setting is elegant yet minimalistic and brings the outdoors in,” she says. 

Siba, who hails from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, describes her food as a fusion of her African roots and world travels. “I wanted to elevate African cuisine to a world-class standard…I have travelled the world and found there is not enough representation of African food, so I am to ensure that my food makes locals, as well as international guests, go ‘wow’,” she says. 

Anthony Leeming, CEO of Sun International says that Siba has a unique way of working with her staff. “Unlike many well-known chefs who merely lend their name to a restaurant, Siba has made time to personally train each and every staff member in her restaurant. She is regularly seen there, chatting with guests and even serving them. It is this attention to detail that we believe will make Siba – The Restaurant a success for many years to come,” he says. 

In addition to being a world-class chef, some of Chef Siba’s many accolades include: 

• At the November 2022 Luxe Restaurant Awards Siba – The Restaurant was listed as a top 10 South African restaurant and Siba was named as a top 10 chef. In 2021 Siba was named a Culinary Icon by the Awards.
• Inducted into the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs as a professional member in November 2022 (the world’s oldest international gastronomic society – first founded in Paris in 1248).
• Winner of five US Film and Television Awards – her televised food programmes reach a global audience across 135 different countries.
• Her first cookbook, entitled ‘Welcome to my Table’, has won two awards at the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Awards in China.