Johannesburg’s fine-dining landscape is evolving, and Cyra is helping shape its next chapter. In just under two years, executive chef Candice Philip’s restaurant has established itself as one of the city’s defining culinary destinations, earning the title of ‘Best New Restaurant in South Africa’ for 2025, and maintaining one Eat Out star and two Gourmet Guide plates since opening. For many guests, it offers an introduction to the rhythm and ritual of chef-led dining, where each course builds on the last and every wine pairing has purpose.
This August, this experience takes on even greater meaning. Cyra will donate 10% of its Women’s Month turnover to the NPO Women For Change, inviting every guest to become part of an initiative that supports women beyond the dining room.
Chef Philip comments: “Hospitality, at its heart, is about caring for people. For me, care extends far beyond the walls of a restaurant. Partnering with Women For Change gives us a special opportunity to highlight and celebrate Women’s Month in a way that truly matters – by honouring South African women while supporting an organisation that is doing the vital work of protecting, empowering and uplifting women every single day.”
Partnerships like this demonstrate how hospitality can become a catalyst for meaningful action.
At the centre of the initiative is Cyra’s new winter tasting menu, available throughout the month. Reflecting chef Philip’s instinct for finding elegance in familiarity, the menu reimagines recognisable ingredients through unexpected combinations. Dishes such as kudu with beetroot, walnut and duck liver; squid with leek, cannellini beans and chorizo; and beef fillet lifted by cauliflower, romesco and the savoury depth of marmite showcase the restaurant’s elevated approach to modern dining. Offered as a six-course tasting menu, with optional wine pairing, the experience unfolds as a seamless dialogue between kitchen, cellar and dining room.
Chef Philip describes: “This menu is my interpretation of what winter tastes like. If the season had a flavour, I think it would be earthy, comforting and surprising in the most unexpected way. Every dish is designed to feel familiar, but with something new and unique waiting to be discovered.”
Named after the Persian word for sun, Cyra draws inspiration from Johannesburg’s extraordinary light. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows frame the rolling greens beyond, while the city’s celebrated winter sunsets become part of the dining experience, shifting the mood of the room as afternoon gives way to evening.
“Every detail at Cyra has been considered with intention,” chef Philip explains. “I’ve always believed that the smallest details are what make a space feel memorable, and I’ve never been interested in style without substance. I want guests to arrive and immediately feel at ease – to relax into the experience without feeling intimidated by fine dining. For me, true hospitality is about creating a sense of warmth where every detail has purpose, and where you can feel, see and taste the story behind every choice we make.”
For Women For Change, partnerships like this demonstrate how hospitality can become a catalyst for meaningful action. Throughout August, every guest who chooses Cyra contributes directly to an organisation working to support survivors of gender-based violence, advocate for women’s rights and create lasting systemic change across South Africa.
Founder of Women For Change, Sabrina Walter, shares: “Women’s Month is a time to celebrate the strength, resilience and achievements of women, but it must also be a time for action. We are incredibly grateful to chef Candice Philip and the Cyra team for transforming a fine-dining experience into an opportunity to create real impact. This partnership is a reminder that meaningful change happens when businesses choose compassion and decide to be part of building a safer South Africa.”
As one of Johannesburg’s few destination tasting menu restaurants, this August Cyra champions a style of dining that not only celebrates seasonal flavours, thoughtful craftmanship and genuine hospitality, but also contributes to a cause that will leave meaningful impact long after the final plate has been cleared.
To make your booking, visit cyra.co.za, send an email or call +27 11 032 5535.
To donate to Women For Change, support the cause and click here.
