Ocean Cellar’s culinary triumph

STAFF REPORTER
O&L Leisure’s Ocean Cellar Oyster & Wine Bar, located at the iconic Strand Hotel Swakopmund, recently secured the prestigious title of Namibia’s Best Restaurant at the World Travel Awards. This accolade not only celebrates the restaurant’s exceptional culinary experiences but also represents a strategic step in positioning O&L Leisure as a premier destination for aspiring chefs and culinary professionals.

The scarcity of skilled chefs in Namibia remains a significant challenge, but Ocean Cellar's win highlights the potential to attract and nurture top culinary talent in the region. This recognition shines a spotlight on the culinary opportunities available at O&L Leisure, creating a platform for chefs to grow, learn and thrive.

“O&L Leisure is committed to investing in the development of its culinary teams. Through continuous upskilling and providing world-class training opportunities, we're preparing the next generation of Namibian chefs to meet international standards,” said Sven Thieme, managing director of O&L Leisure and executive chairman of the O&L Group.



Inspire

Ocean Cellar’s commitment to culinary excellence doesn’t stop at winning awards. With a focus on using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and delivering exceptional experiences, the restaurant is an inspiring example for chefs looking to refine their skills and reach new heights in their careers. Through cross-exposure, on-the-job training at our various properties and fostering a culture of innovation, O&L Leisure aims to position itself as a leading institution for culinary education and development.

“We are not just offering jobs; we are offering careers and opportunities to shape the future of Namibian cuisine,” added Thieme.

This recognition is an invitation to local chefs to be part of a dynamic and passionate team where authenticity, creativity and skill are valued. Thieme expressed heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated team behind this achievement and the valued guests who continue to support Ocean Cellar, amongst the rest of the hotel’s restaurant portfolio.

“This accolade is not only a testament to the hard work and passion of our talented culinary team but also to the support of our guests, whose loyalty and appreciation inspire us to reach new heights. I want to

sincerely thank every member of the O&L Leisure team for their commitment to excellence and our valued guests for believing in our vision. Together, we are building a future where Namibian cuisine can truly shine on the global stage.”

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Namibian Sun 2025-02-15

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Six Nations: Scotland 18 vs 32 Ireland | England 26 vs 25 France | Italy 22 vs 15 Wales Premier League: Everton 2 vs 2 Liverpool Katima Mulilo: 20° | 24° Rundu: 19° | 31° Eenhana: 20° | 28° Oshakati: 22° | 28° Ruacana: 19° | 29° Tsumeb: 20° | 25° Otjiwarongo: 17° | 26° Omaruru: 19° | 30° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 22° Henties Bay: 18° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 11:07, High tide: 05:11, Low Tide: 23:08, High tide: 17:22 Swakopmund: 17° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 11:05, High tide: 05:09, Low Tide: 23:06, High tide: 17:20 Walvis Bay: 18° | 22° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: NW, Low tide: 11:05, High tide: 05:08, Low Tide: 23:06, High tide: 17:19 Rehoboth: 19° | 31° Mariental: 22° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 37° Aranos: 21° | 32° Lüderitz: 17° | 31° Ariamsvlei: 26° | 39° Oranjemund: 16° | 23° Luanda: 27° | 29° Gaborone: 17° | 26° Lubumbashi: 18° | 23° Mbabane: 16° | 27° Maseru: 16° | 27° Antananarivo: 18° | 25° Lilongwe: 19° | 25° Maputo: 22° | 33° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 19° | 24° Durban: 21° | 27° Johannesburg: 17° | 29° Dar es Salaam: 27° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 20° Harare: 17° | 23° Currency: GBP to NAD 23.04 | EUR to NAD 19.24 | CNY to NAD 2.52 | USD to NAD 18.35 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.28 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.64 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.21 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 134.95 | USD to AOA 912 | USD to BWP 13.83 | USD to EGP 50.59 | USD to KES 129.22 | USD to NGN 1509 | USD to ZAR 18.35 | USD to ZMW 28.15 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 88717.13 Up +1.00% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1797.63 Up +0.36% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 16452.23 Up +0.33% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 29997.11 Up +1.13% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 10063.87 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 882.48/OZ DOWN -0.0166 | Copper US$ 4.62/lb DOWN -0.0281 | Zinc US$ 2 857.30/T DOWN -0.07% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.89/BBP DOWN -0.0102 | Platinum US$ 1 001.35/OZ DOWN -0.0362 Sport results: Six Nations: Scotland 18 vs 32 Ireland | England 26 vs 25 France | Italy 22 vs 15 Wales Premier League: Everton 2 vs 2 Liverpool Weather: Katima Mulilo: 20° | 24° Rundu: 19° | 31° Eenhana: 20° | 28° Oshakati: 22° | 28° Ruacana: 19° | 29° Tsumeb: 20° | 25° Otjiwarongo: 17° | 26° Omaruru: 19° | 30° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 22° Henties Bay: 18° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 11:07, High tide: 05:11, Low Tide: 23:08, High tide: 17:22 Swakopmund: 17° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 11:05, High tide: 05:09, Low Tide: 23:06, High tide: 17:20 Walvis Bay: 18° | 22° Wind speed: 21km/h, Wind direction: NW, Low tide: 11:05, High tide: 05:08, Low Tide: 23:06, High tide: 17:19 Rehoboth: 19° | 31° Mariental: 22° | 34° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 37° Aranos: 21° | 32° Lüderitz: 17° | 31° Ariamsvlei: 26° | 39° Oranjemund: 16° | 23° Luanda: 27° | 29° Gaborone: 17° | 26° Lubumbashi: 18° | 23° Mbabane: 16° | 27° Maseru: 16° | 27° Antananarivo: 18° | 25° Lilongwe: 19° | 25° Maputo: 22° | 33° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 19° | 24° Durban: 21° | 27° Johannesburg: 17° | 29° Dar es Salaam: 27° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 20° Harare: 17° | 23° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.04 | EUR to NAD 19.24 | CNY to NAD 2.52 | USD to NAD 18.35 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.28 | EGP to NAD 0.35 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.64 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.21 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 134.95 | USD to AOA 912 | USD to BWP 13.83 | USD to EGP 50.59 | USD to KES 129.22 | USD to NGN 1509 | USD to ZAR 18.35 | USD to ZMW 28.15 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 88717.13 Up +1.00% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1797.63 Up +0.36% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 16452.23 Up +0.33% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 29997.11 Up +1.13% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 10063.87 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 882.48/OZ DOWN -0.0166 | Copper US$ 4.62/lb DOWN -0.0281 | Zinc US$ 2 857.30/T DOWN -0.07% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 74.89/BBP DOWN -0.0102 | Platinum US$ 1 001.35/OZ DOWN -0.0362