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. Basalt

    $$$$ | Melrose Arch

    This is fine dining at its finest, according to the 2021 Luxe Restaurant Awards which conferred the title of Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year on Basalt. This intimate, dinner-only establishment prides itself on attention to detail with immaculate plating that plays on a fusion of color, texture, and storytelling. It hosts chefs-in-residence who design tasting menus (from three to seven courses; price quoted for seven courses), with options for meat lovers, pescatarians, and vegetarians, that can be complemented with a wine pairing selected by an experienced sommelier. It’s a memorable culinary experience that is accentuated by a sophisticated, yet comfortable, atmosphere in The Peech Hotel’s heritage house, with its parquet flooring, Basalt-gray walls and backlit bar.

    61 North St., Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
    011-537–9797

    Known For

    • A romantic night out where the prix-fixe menu is served at a leisurely pace
    • Quality service and attention to detail
    • Regularly changing menu in line with seasons and fresh produce

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch, Reservations essential, Children aged 16 or over are welcome
  • 2. Bellinis

    $$

    This small, casual restaurant offers memorable food and quick, professional service, whether you choose to sit down or grab a quick bite. The atmosphere can be quite noisy and energy-packed, as friends catch up over lunch and businesspeople chat animatedly about work over a plate of legendary potato rostis: try one with smoked salmon or a pepper fillet. Many people return to this local favorite which was founded in 1992 and hasn't changed its menu since.

    18 Chaplin Rd., 2196, South Africa
    011-880–9168

    Known For

    • House-baked cakes, particularly the carrot cake
    • Good selection of South African wines
    • Bellinis

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 3. Gourmet Grocer

    $ | Melrose Arch

    Stop by for an on-the-go breakfast or picnic take-away, or a sit-down coffee and brunch at the old-style Gourmet Grocer. This is a specialist grocer, deli, bakery, coffee shop, and restaurant, all rolled into one, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, whether it’s a scrumptious bagel, toasted sarmie, healthy snack, or decadent treat from their niche, family-run suppliers. It also sells fresh and frozen homemade meals, and stocks craft beers as well as a decent selection of wines. If you like their coffee, you can buy their Birdhaven blend to take home, which is roasted on site at Cofeffe Coffee Bar & Roastery. It’s within safe walking distance of The Peech Hotel and the James and Ethel Gray Park, and deliveries within a 5 km (3 miles) radius are free.

    St. Andrew St. and Wrenrose Ave., Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
    011-442–6965

    Known For

    • Extensive selection of goods that cater to any taste and dietary preference
    • Friendly, family-run establishment
    • Continuously supporting community causes and charities
  • 4. Parea Taverna

    $$ | Illovo

    At this Greek taverna, music floats above the buzz of conversation, a souvlaki spit turns slowly near the door, and a refrigerated case displays an array of meze (small appetizers)—which you can also select as a takeaway, if you're on the go. Start with a meze platter of souvlaki, feta, olives imported from Greece, tzatziki, and dolmades, followed by the line fish, grilled on an open flame with olive oil and lemon, or kleftiko (lamb slow-cooked in a clay oven) and a carafe of wine. On weekend evenings, belly dancers perform between the tables against a backdrop of murals of Santorini, and Greek dancers do the Zorba, while patrons partake in "controlled" plate breaking—all while sipping on a glass of ouzo. The dress is casual and the atmosphere very relaxed. Choose from the set or à la carte menus. In summer, most people sit outside beneath the faux grape vines at the street-side tables.

    3D Corlett Dr., Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2196, South Africa
    011-788–8777

    Known For

    • Unbeatable selection at meze cafe
    • Produce sourced from Greece
    • Chef Jabu, who has been there since it opened in 1993

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 5. 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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