Some treasures are hidden in plain sight. Situated modestly in a corner of a first-foor corridor at Bryanston’s Hobart Grove is Les Créatifs by Wandile Mabaso. Here – in this positioning that says something about humility and self-assured confidence – is Wandile’s dining oasis and creative institution, where he crafts contemporary French haute cuisine with a South African soul.

It takes a village
The award-winning chef continues to garner recognition for innovations that keep the Johannesburg culinary scene exciting while contributing to South Africa’s growing infuence globally. He does this by embodying the African proverb of going far together, empowering his team and taking his contemporaries along for the ride. His affinity for collaboration has seen him invite fellow chefs Mmabatho Molefe and Johannes Richter to Les Créatifs to play in the kitchen, working with ingredients that celebrate cultural heritage. It is with the same spirit of collaboration that he shapes the heart and soul of his kitchen, and keeps his restaurant filled with diverse patrons. “‘No man is an island’ means we all need one another in order to succeed,” says Wandile. “I preach to my chefs never to get comfortable and always to learn. You can learn from anyone, better or worse. Our main ethos is to face the future, but also to respect the past.”

To read the full story, grab your copy of the 2025 Eat Out Magazine – on shelf at your nearest Woolies or online for R130.