When Luke Dale Roberts reflects on his career, few milestones shine as brightly as the restaurant he will unveil at South Africa’s Tswalu Kalahari Reserve in late 2026. Known for transforming Cape Town’s dining scene with establishments such as The Test Kitchen and SALON, Roberts is taking his culinary vision to one of the country’s most remote and extraordinary locations.
“This is the most exciting project I’ve embarked on since the early days of The Test Kitchen,” Roberts shares. “Tswalu is one of the most extraordinary places in the world, and the opportunity to create a restaurant that reflects its landscape, its ingredients and its sense of place is incredibly inspiring.”
Roberts’ approach is deeply collaborative. Longtime protégé Carla Schulze, Executive Chef of SALON, will guide creative direction and menu development, spending part of each month at Tswalu, while Head Chef Dillan Kannemeyer will relocate to lead the kitchen. Schulze, recently named Chef of the Year at the 2026 Luxe Restaurant Awards, brings an extraordinary heritage, having risen through the ranks of The Test Kitchen and now leading the critically acclaimed SALON.
With the opening of Tswalu, Roberts also signals a new chapter for SALON. While the Cape Town restaurant closes at the end of March 2026, its space will be reimagined as an intimate venue for private dining and exclusive events. “SALON ignited a real flame of creativity and collaboration within the team,” Roberts reflects. “I’m enormously proud of what we achieved there.”
The Tswalu restaurant will celebrate sustainability, creativity, and South African artistry, incorporating local artists and design elements that mirror the vast Kalahari landscape. For Roberts, it is a rare chance to merge culinary artistry with a profound sense of place. “There is a shared understanding about attention to detail, consistency and the importance of looking after guests properly. We’re all approaching this with the same mindset, to create a restaurant that feels authentic to its surroundings,” he explains.
Combined with its world-class team and its alluring backdrop, this landmark project promises a dining experience that is as exceptional as the landscape it inhabits – a new pinnacle in modern South African culinary experiences.
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