Chilli Festival spices up Plett's winter season

PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - The recent annual Engel & Völkers Chilli Festival once again proved to be a popular drawcard as residents and visitors came together to celebrate good food, local hospitality and community spirit.

The month-long festival, which culminated in a lively grand finale at Barrington's Estate saw 16 local restaurants create special chilli-inspired dishes for diners to enjoy throughout May.

The event was created to support local businesses during the quieter winter months and encouraged residents to explore new flavours while supporting the town's hospitality industry.

The family-friendly finale featured a chilli-eating competition, cooking demonstrations, live music, local vendors, children's entertainment and the announcement of this year's winners.

Café Civara walked away with the title of 2026 Engel & Völkers Chilli Festival Champion Restaurant, while Blue Rocks Café & Grill claimed second place overall.

The Club Haus Plett received the award for selling the most Chilli Festival dishes.

Engel & Völkers Plettenberg Bay's Derval Hoban said the festival has grown in scope. "With every year, the festival becomes more than a food event. It is a celebration of local entrepreneurship, hospitality and community spirit," she said.

The organisers thanked participating restaurants, sponsors, volunteers, musicians, vendors and the wider community for helping make this year's festival another success.

This young chilli-eating competitor is certainly feeling the burn during the Chilli Festival’s grand finale.

Derval Hoban and Tamsin Pedder of Engel & Völkers Plettenberg Bay.

Guy Clarke of Café Civara, whose restaurant was crowned the 2026 Engel & Völkers Chilli Festival Champion Restaurant, and acclaimed chef Pete Goffe-Wood.