Top restaurants johannesburg
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DW ELEVEN 13
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Chef Marthinus Ferreira continues to delight patrons with a symphony of morsels celebrating molecular gastronomy with classical undertones. The choice between the a la carte menu and the five-course degustation menu is an easy one: spoil yourself and indulge. The degustation menu is a sumptuous culinary journey. Simply put, it’s a sensory spectacle.
The wine list is well priced and innovative, with lesser-known wine farms celebrated. You can choose to enjoy the degustation menu with wine pairings or non-alcoholic pairings, or you can choose the perfect bottle with the help of the exceptionally well-versed general manager and sommelier, Mario Monteiro. The wine pairings are strikingly on point, and the presentation and explanation of each wine and its accompanying dish brings meaning and appreciation to the experience.
Being located in a small but extremely busy shopping center with a parking lot as the exterior is not ideal, so they have incorporated soft blinds that veil the lot, whilst still allowing for some natural light. The lighting itself is integral to bringing warmth to the space, and the play between masculine leather chairs, soft wooden tables, modern details and chic finishing’s really brings the space to life.
Website LOCATION: Dunkeld West, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 341 0663 TAKE NOTE: This restaurant is quite popular so we do recommend making reservations well in advance.
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marble
FOOD At the heart of the restaurant is a magnificent, custom-made wood-fired grill. It’s the Cadillac of grilling machines: Its signature crank wheels allow you to adjust the height of the cooking surface over the open flames to modulate the temperature, but it’s still down to the chefs to create the magic. It’s a little bit cowboy and wonderfully theatrical, and for chef David Higgs it’s a chance to show South Africans the kinds of marvels you can create with – to put it plainly – a really big braai (BBQ). The menu showcases a wide range of both fish and meat dishes with a good array of enticing vegetarian options that steer clear of the obvious.
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The floor-to-ceiling glass cellar that separates the restaurant from the bar is a spectacle to behold, and its contents of international and local wines is spellbinding. Marble’s in-house sommelier is ready and waiting to guide you through the list and point you in the right direction. There are also some great options by the glass.
Being four floors up, you’ll revel in palatial views across the Johannesburg skyline. The décor is so refined, so beautifully put together, that it’s worth a visit just to experience interior design and décor at their most exceptional. The ambience is formal, but the bar area allows people to kick back and relax in wingback chairs and on soft leather couches. It’s the perfect spot for a romantic indulgence.
Website LOCATION: Rosebank, Johannesburg TEL: +27 10 594 5550 TAKE NOTE: This restaurant is quite popular so we do recommend making reservations well in advance.
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Athol Place
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AtholPlace is a five star, boutique hotel in the heart of Athol; a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Sandton. It’s a little oasis that boasts manicured gardens, exquisite décor, gorgeous art and incredible food and a perfect spot for a meal even if you're not a hotel guest. There is an Asian overtone to the concise, delectable menu and the Chef will take you on a culinary journey by presenting a three course fine dining menu.
They offer a great spectrum of local South African wines by the bottle from the most affordable quality wines, to the big players within the South African wine industry, such as Luddite and Hamilton Russel.
The interior design and décor beautifully combine comfort and style. Thought has been given to the most finite of details and every corner of the restaurant, bar and veranda are decorated with beautiful artefacts and art, and every chair, sofa and bar stool are both chic and cosy. Special attention has been paid to the acoustics in the restaurant, so intimate conversations remain that way. It’s personal and romantic at night and bright and charming throughout the day.
More information Website LOCATION: Atholl, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 783 7553 TAKE NOTE: As a hotel or non-hotel guest, we recommend making a reservation in advance. A deposit payment of ZAR 275,00 per person is required to secure your reservation.
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View restaurant @ 4 seasons
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Chef Dirk Gieselmann and his team offer diners the opportunity to sample cuisine off the seasonal menu. From the very beginning of the meal, each bite is a little journey. The dishes are well thought out, with classical roots and winning flavour pairings. Using seasonal local and international produce, Gieselmann puts little masterpieces together on the plate. His food is picturesque and creative, awakening the senses and leaving you wanting more.
The wine list is good, with a fair selection of wines, Champagnes and both local and international offerings. Some of the wine pairings are utterly sublime, leaving you joyously overwhelmed.
The View most certainly deserves its name. Arrive a little early and enjoy a glass of bubbly or a cocktail on the deck as the sun sets over Johannesburg. The horizon is lit with hues of every shade as evening begins in the city of gold. The utterly outstanding service begins when you arrive at the hotel gate. You are treated like royalty as you’re ushered up to your destination in your golf cart and received at the restaurant.
Website LOCATION: Westcliff, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 481 6180 TAKE NOTE: As a hotel or non-hotel guest, we recommend making a reservation well in advance as this restaurant is very sought after. A deposit payment of ZAR 250,00 per person is required to secure your reservation.
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Giltedge favourites
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EB SOCIAL KITCHEN & BAR
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The delicious menu created by Russell Armstrong, a chef who has experience in Michelin-starred restaurants, is designed for sharing. Inspired by his training in the world’s best kitchens, Russell believes that when beautiful flavours are combined with perfect technique, they deliver the best meals. His inspiration comes from his favourite mealtime-memories – sharing plates and sharing stories across the table with his family.
The extensive wine list, includes local and imported wines and special and rare bottles. The bar offers a wide range of craft beers, ciders and cocktails named after famous works of literature like Vanity Fair and Pride and Prejudice.
The space is relaxed and unpretentious, with incredible views of Joburg. The décor is in a simple Nordic style with the industrial beams. The restaurant attracts trendy foodies, families and business people for lunch, but is perfect for a night out or a romantic dinner for two. The open kitchen pulls you into the theatre of food preparation and plating. Watching the show is really exciting and adds to the culinary experience.
Website LOCATION: Hyde Park, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 263 6039 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended
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Flames restaurant @ four seasons
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Embracing Johannesburg’s energy, Flames has an urban-casual menu featuring a smattering of reinterpreted South African classics, prepared in the outdoor braai kitchen. Open all day, this relaxed spot is perfect for leisurely sunset drinks and small bites on the expansive hillside terrace overlooking the city’s treetops. Flames promises an authentic South African braai (barbecue) experience.
The carefully selected beer menu offers you the best local flavours of South Africa’s finest micro-breweries. Choose from a selection of various local craft beers on tap or experience a beer-pairing with our delicious artisan braai (BBQ) menu. They also have an extensive list of both local and international wines.
Situated on a large terrace overlooking the city and Johannesburg Zoo below, Flames is open all day, offering a fixed menu, changing chalkboard specials and a cocktail list to while away the hours as a DJ occasionally spins some tracks.
Website LOCATION: Westcliff, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 481 6190 TAKE NOTE: As a hotel or non-hotel guest, we recommend making a reservation well in advance as this restaurant is very sought after.
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URBANOLOGI
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The food is inspired by what tastes good with special beers, using Japanese streetfood flavours and processes with inevitable French influences in an urban mélange. The menu has six sections, each including a mix of you might consider to be starters, mains, accompaniments or even desserts. It’s a way of eating that you can construct in many ways, depending on who you are and what you enjoy. Everything, no matter how simple, is the best it can possibly be.
The Mad Giant’s four beers – a pilsner, weiss, pale ale and amber ale – are the drinks that complement this oriental menu, and vice versa. The beer experience is foremost about taste; the staff are well versed in the flavours that complement the food in many surprising ways. Besides the beers, the wine menu is limited to only seven whites and seven reds. Interestingly, there are three kinds of glasses to elevate the beers to new heights.
All under one enormous industrial roof is the high-tech Mad Giant working brewery, fragrant with the aroma of delicate fruit. No glass separates you from Urbanologi’s fully open kitchen, allowing you to see what you get. On the tables are wooden chopsticks on holders (but you can use your hands), wooden boats of salt flakes and slightly pressed peppercorns, and gorgeous Mervyn Gers bowls instead of side plates.
Website LOCATION: Ferreiras Dorp, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 492 1399 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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The living room
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The menu changes with the seasons and occasions. It’s easy to see why this place is booked for a huge number of events. Whatever time you pop in, there will be something interesting on the menu. The main section is all about tapas and platters. Homemade deli style meals and eclectic tapas, all perfectly paired with our signature cocktails and smoothies.
The popular drink here is called Minty Magic. Other beautiful drinks seem to flower out of gorgeous green chalices, many of them including herbs like basil or featuring bases of aloe juice. As for bubbly, there’s always Veuve Clicquot and Pongracz ready and chilled. The interesting wine offering includes smaller boutique wineries. There are also the usual spirits and craft beers.
Situated in the vibrant precinct of Maboneng, the Living room is a unique blend of the natural and the urban. It is one of the loveliest, most beautiful-smelling restaurants in South Africa. The place lives and grows around you – and yet you’re a part of the Johannesburg city skyline. The idea is to incorporate the slogan, ‘for the love of plants’, into the menu and the food.
Website LOCATION: Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg TEL: +27 84 529 9006 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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The butcher shop & grill
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This iconic grill house has been serving great steaks in Johannesburg since 1994. They are famous for the on-site butchery, which can cut any meat to your requirements. The extensive menu features seafood dishes, steaks, lamb cuts, venison, salads and hearty stews. Try the famous fall-off-the-bone oxtail stew, which is served in a small castiron potjie, or the venison pie, if you’re into game meat. The dessert menu is small and features typical South African desserts like malva pudding and brandy pudding.
This establishment is also famous for its wine selection. There are two wine cellars on site, featuring local and international wines and rare vintages. A sommelier is on hand to guide, advise and recommend wine to pair with your food. There’s also a full bar, with both local and imported beers, ciders, cocktails and soft drinks.
Warm and cosy, with very masculine décor elements. The private dining rooms and lounges make The Butcher Shop perfect for private dinners.
Website LOCATION: Nelson Mandela Square, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 784 8676 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended well in advance.
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Che argentine grill
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Now that firefood is such an international trend, Che slots in there perfectly. The meats are specially sourced, grass-fed and cut the way Argentinians like. Of course meat is the thing here but a vegetarian surprise is that Che has one of the more exciting selections of interesting ‘sides’ or salads in Joburg. That three meter long pedilla is used for cooking the coarse-salted Argentinean-favoured cuts by moving them around for levels of heat and flame, so the ensuing smokiness that goes so well with lemony-parsley chimichurri and which comes with everything is key to the experience.
Malbecs and merlots are there as would be expected, all South African, along with the other reds. The whites are chardonnays, sauvignons, including Reynecke Biodynamic, chenins and rose. The bubbles include a South African, a prosecco and a French. The craft beers and spirits are chosen with some panache.
The atmosphere is charged by the raised fireplace or oven. The décor is delightful here - kind of Latino-rustic with stills or movies showing on the uneven back wall. First Tuesdays of each month are tango nights and first Thursdays of each month feature DJs and live music. Because everything is made on the premises, bear in mind that many of the meats need 40 mins to prepare on the fire. That’s why you order them with your starters and drinks.
Website LOCATION: Jeppestown, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 614 0264 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended well in advance.
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Romance is in the air
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IL GIARDINO DEGLI ULIVI
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Starting late afternoon, the huge place fills up, no matter what the season, especially outdoors and under the kitchen canopy, rather than in the large barn-like area adjacent. The food is a mix between Italian and some good South African choices. An attractive copper pizza creation station is visible. Pizzas do form a large part of the menu and are of the thin-based crispy sort. Expect the good old classic toppings with better than average ingredients, but also options like the ‘leg of lamb’ with dates and dried apricots, for a bit of variation.
The wines are in the middle to upper ranges from reliable local wineries. There are sparkling wine options from South Africa as well as abroad and many craft style beers, as well as spirits and grappa’s.
This restaurant has a truly stunning location and has made the most of its lovely spaces. The ‘giardino’ is a huge courtyard with a fountain and olive trees, filled with French café tables and curly metal chairs. There are cushions and blankets in an enormous wicker basket for the late evenings or winter and also lovely braziers of real fire in among the tables for cooler weather.
Website LOCATION: Milpark, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 482 4978 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended well in advance.
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AMUSE-BOUCHE AT FAIRLAWNS
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Dining at Fairlawns is a culinary delight. Amuse-Bouche, the property’s flagship restaurant, features modern cuisine prepared in Africa yet with a French influence, in a spectacular fine dining setting. AmuseBouche boasts a sophisticated à la carte menu for the discerning palate, paired with a Diamond Award Winning wine list.
With an award winning wine list, expect some exceptional wines to choose from.
Dining at the Fairlawns is designed to be elegantly smart casual. The candlelit tables and soft music give an enchantingly intimate and romantic atmosphere to the Italian influenced décor of the terrace restaurant.
Website LOCATION: Wendywood, Sandton TEL: +27 11 808 7300 TAKE NOTE: As a hotel or non-hotel guest, we recommend making a reservation well in advance.
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LA VIE EN ROSE
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This eatery is a breath of fresh air in the midst of the busy city. With almost every meal named after a pink rose, the innovative menu is trendy and very interesting, the kind that would make you want to come back for more. The presentation of the food is beautiful and on trend.
The decent wine list includes some local favourites. There are some interesting cocktails, like a strawberry and balsamic martini; elderflower and basil spritz and, finally, the frozen ‘La vie en rose’, made from rose extract, fresh strawberry, lemon and natural lemon ice tea.
Guests enter into a garden full of tables draped in white tablecloths, matched by green and white chairs, which lends a sense of calm. Pops of pink décor and pink blankets when the weather’s nippy add charm. The atmosphere is very relaxed and romantic, although there is a definite buzz.
Website LOCATION: Killarney Country Club, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 268 6144 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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SAXON QUNU GRILL
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Qunu introduces an innovative menu with bold flavours and an honest approach to cuisine, using only the finest South African cuts of meat, the freshest fish, handpicked seasonal ingredients and carefully selected produce from local artisans. Qunu pays homage to its South African roots, being named in honour of our beloved elder statesman former President Nelson Mandela’s country home in the Eastern Cape, and takes you on the ultimate African grill experience.
An exhaustive “book” of a wine list featuring local and international wines is available. Their sommelier can help guide you with pairing suggestions, also with regards to their selection of whiskeys, Champagnes |and cocktails.
Qunu extends a warm African welcome, enticing you with its rich surroundings, red tones, woven lampshades and an ambient glow, enhanced by the remarkable hanging gardens. Beyond the hanging gardens the doors open onto the Fig Terrace where guests can dine under the striking canopy of fig trees. With its picturesque indooroutdoor atmosphere Qunu exudes a sense of being an intrinsic part of Africa.
Website LOCATION: Sandhurst, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 292 6000 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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PIGALLE SANDTON
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Specialising in international cuisine, their sensational menu includes impeccably prepared meat, fish and poultry dishes. A refined offering of culinary art, with a carefully planned menu that has broad appeal. Generous helpings and attractively presented dishes tempt the palate.
The selection is a high point of the diningout experience, with a comprehensive range boasting some impressive cultivars.
Opulent yet welcoming, with tasteful furnishings and effective mood lighting. Find a cosy corner, look out the window and observe the stretch of Sandton skyline.
Website LOCATION: Maude Street, Sandton TEL: +27 11 884 8899 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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Family friendly dining
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MOYO MELROSE ARCH
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With a carefully thought-out menu showcasing food representative of various African cuisines, Moyo caters for the discerning guest wishing to experience not only what South Africa has to offer, but also food with influences from the rest of the continent. There is also a children’s menu, making the restaurant ideal for a family night out.
Traditional cocktails, as well as more unique cocktails like the African Sunset, which comprises Spiced Gold rum and peach schnapps muddled with fresh strawberries, mixed with berry puree and fresh limes. Some wines are on offer and sold by the glass or by the bottle, as well as a range of other whites, champagnes, MCCs, roses and reds.
The African-themed dĂŠcor, traditional music, and dim lighting create the perfect ambience for the quintessential modern African dining experience. They also do face painting while you dine, making guests feel welcome and of one spirit with the authentically modern African environment.
Website LOCATION: Melrose, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 684 1477 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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THE LOCAL GRILL
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You are guaranteed an award-winning meal at the Local Grill. As the name indicates, their focus is on a great range of grilled and well-prepared meats, from tender beef cheeks, carpaccio and bone marrow on the starter menu, to a variety of steak cuts as mains. Being a neighbourhood restaurant, kids are not forgotten and have a dedicated menu.
The wine list has a well-appointed selection of small farms, including some local favourites.
The warm and inviting interior with parquet floors, soft lighting, and white tablecloths set the mood for a relaxed evening. The restaurant is situated in the heart of Parktown North’s bustling food district, which makes the outdoor balcony perfect for a bit of people-watching.
Website LOCATION: Parktown North, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 880 1946 TAKE NOTE: Reservations recommended.
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BAMBANANI
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The menu has been designed to reflect the Bambanani ideal with an array of delicious healthy meals, from small snacks and starters to hearty meals and delicious desserts. A large fusion menu offers a multitude of meals catering to kids’ nutritional needs as well as parents’ tastes. Bambanani has a large variety of vegetarian and gluten-free options as well as an extensive wine menu for adults.
Our kids’ entertainment facilities are truly unique. They cater for children from 6 months to 12 years old. Bambanani has a state-of-the-art four storey covered jungle gym, dress-up area and sand art, a media room complete with Playstation, Wii, Xbox and a continuous reel of kids’ movies being screened. Our library is fully stocked with loads of wonderful, interactive books for children of all ages.
Bambanani is a place for family and friends, an upmarket eatery combining fun and food. The restaurant is aimed at both young and old, with something for everyone. The boutique space comprises wonderful play areas for kids intermingled with stylish decor and tasty meals, resulting in a truly unique concept, built for families!
Website LOCATION: Melville, Johannesburg TEL: +27 11 482 2900 TAKE NOTE: Reservations not necessary, but we recommend you contact them prior to dining to ensure they are not closed for a private function.
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JAMIE’S ITALIAN
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This extremely popular restaurant offers accessibly good food. Dishes are easy to recognise and have Jamie Oliver’s twists built into their recipes. Ingredients are all carefully, sustainably sourced. The best preparation methods for each main ingredient also factor into the great taste. The kids’ menu is especially inventive and sounds delicious.
Jamie’s Italian has its own soft drinks in cans and the menu cocktails are rather interesting. Some are even for dessert – witness a Passionata in a glass full of Galliano, with passion fruit and cream. There are a few proseccos on the sparkling wine list and can be had just in a glass or with Bellini peach purée, in a strawberry version or as an Aperol spritz.
There are lovely retro wall tiles in the bathrooms and downstairs too, and they give the place a fun vibe. The long kitchen is sortof visible and designed to show action through the shelf gaps and across the service counter. The cured hams and meats hanging down are a wonderful Jamie-ish feature. The ambience is buzzy and busy, especially in the evening; loud but not terrifying.
Website LOCATION: Melrose North, Johannesburg TEL: +27 10 007 4646 TAKE NOTE: Reservations are recommended well in advance.
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