Johannesburg Restaurants

Jo'burgers love eating out, and there are hundreds of restaurants throughout the city to satisfy them. Some notable destinations for food include Melrose Arch, Parkhurst, Sandton, and Greenside. Smart-casual dress is a good bet. Many establishments are closed on Sunday night and Monday.

There's no way to do justice to the sheer scope and variety of Johannesburg's restaurants in a few examples. What follows is a (necessarily subjective) list of some of the best. Try asking locals what they recommend; eating out is the most popular form of entertainment in Johannesburg, and everyone has a list of favorite spots, which changes often.

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  • 1. Tortellino d'Oro

    $$ | Oaklands

    This small and unpretentious restaurant and deli has legendary food, especially the pasta. Try the Parma ham and melon as an antipasto, and then get a pasta for your main course, such as the tortellini, which is filled with a mixture of ham, mortadella sausage, chicken, and Parmesan cheese, then served with mushroom cream, or butter and sage sauce. The service is as outstanding, as is the food, and there’s an excellent wine list. Be sure to book ahead. Run by an Italian family, Tortellino’s is popular for both lunch and dinner.

    Pretoria St. at Victoria St., Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2192, South Africa
    011-483–1249

    Known For

    • <PRO>outstanding service</PRO>
    • <PRO>excellent wine list</PRO>
    • <PRO>authentic pasta</PRO>

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
  • 2. Modena Italian Eatery

    $$$ | Parkhurst

    It's hard to find a table inside without a dinner booking (even during the week) at this father-and-son-owned restaurant simply because the food always delivers on taste, portion size, and how it's plated. The jovial ambience and pastel colors reminiscent of a Modena sunset add to the flavor of their modern Italian fare. With handmade pasta by chef son Vassilios Holiasmeno and Neapolitan-style pizzas (the kind where the dough is left to rise for at least two days before being wood-fired) on the menu, you can't go wrong for a quick breakfast bite, hearty lunch, or a romantic dinner date at this corner-side eatery, where locals return again and again.

    4th Ave., Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2120, South Africa
    010-900–0912

    Known For

    • Handmade and imported Italian products
    • Relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere
    • Being busy, which talks to the quality of the food
  • 3. Saint

    $$$$ | Sandton

    Thanks to the Bermar preserving system, you can sip on bubbles by the glass at this high-end establishment while you feast on Neapolitan-style pizza prepared in an imported pizza oven, topped with handmade local Buffalo Mozzarella and served on terracotta pizza plates. But don't assume this is just an Italian restaurant or a fancy pizzeria, as renowned chef and business partner David Higgs (the very same of Marble Restaurant) adds signature dishes like wood-fired pawns, smokey Bistecca alla Fiorentina, and frutti di mare onto the ever-changing menu, to be degusted with the restaurant’s extensive wine collection. The window seating gazes upon the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the heart of the financial district, where after dusk the street is lined with flashy sportscars—indicative of its patrons. You’ll need to book a table to partake in its energetic vibe, particularly from Thursday through to Sunday when the bar with its live DJ set becomes the place to be seen before or after dinner.

    corner Maude St. and Rivonia Rd., Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
    010-594--5888

    Known For

    • Serves limited edition and rare vintage Champagne and Méthode Cap Classique (South Africa’s alternative)
    • The bar, separated by the front of house, is a lively nightlife venue
    • Design is prioritized, like the giant cupped hands in the bathrooms by Damien Grivas

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 4. Trabella Pizzeria

    $$ | Illovo

    Trabella's strength is its pizza, whether it's with the Brie and cranberry topping; or smoked salmon, sour cream, and caviar, sprinkled with spring onion. If you can't decide which one to choose go with Tracy's Special, which includes every topping, with a vegetarian or meat-lovers option; the pasta and gnocchi are also good choices. This restaurant faces the street on a busy street corner, with two other chain pizzerias within walking distance, in an accessible but not attractive position.

    Oxford Rd. 3, at Corlett Dr., Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2196, South Africa
    011-442–0413

    Known For

    • Peanut butter chocolate cheesecake
    • Wheat-free and gluten-free pizza bases (at additional charge)
    • Fresh porcini mushrooms

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch Sun.
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