Stellenbosch has just about wrested Franschhoek’s self-proclaimed “culinary capital” crown with an explosion of excellent restaurant openings, and Dusk – opened in 2022 – is somewhat of a vanguard, at least for fine dining pundits. A discreet 30-seater almost hidden in Stellenbosch’s historic heart, dimly lit other than the pool of light on each linen table focusing the eye on what you’re here for: delectable, edible art. The 13-course tasting menu changes but expect playful touches and well-balanced inventive pairings (tempura squash flower, Kalahari truffle agnolotti and West Coast lobster withParmesan and salted lemon and lemon-compressed tetra squash).

With downlighting over the tables and the open kitchen only, this dark and mysterious eatery in Stellenbosch is the edgy “disruptor” project of chefs Callan Austin and Darren Badenhorst. Taking a deep-dive into sustainability and “whole-process” cooking, Callan leads the kitchen with a bold, story-driven approach – weaving nostalgia, creativity and expressive flavours into every dish, and pushing fine-dining boundaries to the max. Choose between two seasonal tasting menus: the full Epicurean Menu or the more accessible Odyssey Menu, both thought-provoking experiences imbued with theatre and focused on seasonality, local and indigenous ingredients, foraging and fermentation.

Chefs Callan Austin and Darren Badenhorst and sommelier Bafana Zondo provide an 11-course menu paired with interesting wines sourced from across the Western Cape. Combinations include Wildeberg The Tea Leaf – a blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Gris and Marsanne from old vineyards planted in 1977 – matched with a trio of amuse-bouches; the delicate floral parmesan rye tuiles showcasing technical skill. Mosi Wine Tinashe Chenin Blanc is made from 38-year-old bush vines by Joseph Dhafana, a Zimbabwean refugee who only tasted his first wine on his 29th birthday.

Dusk is the new, exciting venture of chefs Darren Badenhorst, of the award-winning Le Coin Francois restaurant, and Callan Austin, winner of the 2017 San Pellegrino Social Responsibility Award. This Stellenbosch restaurant offers experiential dining that promises to push the boundaries with its distinctive dishes and drink selection. “Their ethos centres on sustainability, zero-waste, sourcing local produce and innovative in-house preparation like fermentation and ‘whole process’ cooking.” – Zethu

Dusk Restaurant is an experiential restaurant concept from chef Darren Badenhorstand and his protégé, Callan Austin, who have been exploring sustainability and pushing the limits of fine dining to the fullest. There is only light above the tables and the open kitchen. A 13-course tasting menu with an optional beverage pairing will be available for dinner only at the restaurant.

The Dusk Restaurant offers a dining experience that seamlessly blends natural beauty with culinary artistry. As the sun sets over the Stellenbosch hills, the restaurant comes alive with a warm and inviting ambience. Dusk takes pride in its commitment to using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients to craft the Dusk menu that showcases the best of South African produce.

Dusk is an experiential restaurant concept from chef Darren Badenhorstand and his protégé, Callan Austin, who have been exploring sustainability and pushing the limits of fine dining to the fullest. There is only light above the tables and the open kitchen. A 13-course tasting menu with an optional beverage pairing will be available for dinner only at the restaurant.

Dusk Restaurant is an experiential dining destination that pushes the boundaries of traditional fine dining. Chef Darren Badenhorst and his team focus on sustainability and seasonality, creating a 13-course tasting menu that’s both innovative and delicious. The restaurant’s dark, intimate setting enhances the theatrical presentation of each dish.

Situated in the heart of Stellenbosch Central, Dusk is a thought provoking restaurant concept conceived by chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin. The restaurant was awarded 3 stars at this year’s Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards. Bafana Zondo, Dusk wine sommelier, won the Eat Out Woolworths Wine Service Award.

As night falls, venture into the restaurant of the moment, Dusk. As its name suggests, it's a dark, atmospheric space with the only lighting from strategic downlighters. They're open only for dinner and operate on a large tasting menu format conceptualised by chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin.

Dusk will open on Plein Street on 1 September, a joint venture of Franschhoek Chefs Darren Badenhorst and Callan Austin. It is described on its website as a ‘revolutionary, immersive, captivating and unique dining experience’. A 13 course Tasting Menu will be offered at R1395.

The dining experience is deceptive simplicity, mystery and all-out theatre at Dusk. The decor and ambience is dark and dramatic with elegant downlighting. Only the open kitchen, with it’s intense team, is lit.

Unveiled in September of 2022, DUSK is a culinary odyssey, meticulously crafted by the young visionary minds of South African restaurateurs Darren Badenhorst and Executive Chef Callan Austin.