Highly acclaimed chef and restaurateur Luke Dale Roberts has announced plans to open a new restaurant at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in the Northern Cape in late 2026.
Roberts will collaborate with the reserve as well as artisans and designers in creating a dining environment that reflects the Kalahari landscapes and celebrates South African creativity.
He highlighted the shared vision of the collaboration: “Sustainability is something that sits at the heart of what Tswalu does and that’s incredibly important to us. From the ingredients we use to the materials and craftspeople we work with, there is a real opportunity to build a restaurant that respects its environment and supports the people connected to it. We’re all approaching this with the same mindset: to take the time to do things properly and to create a restaurant that feels authentic in its surroundings.”
The announcement comes with the news that Roberts will close his Cape Town-based SALON, a tasting-menu styled restaurant, which will be replaced by a private dining and events venue. The restaurant’s top chefs will be moving to Tswalu, including Head Chef Dillan Kannemayer and Executive Chef Carla Schulze who will collaborate with Roberts in menu development.
