8 Best Restaurants in Johannesburg, South Africa

Kassa and his friendly staff serve up affordable and delectable Ethiopian cuisine at this small restaurant at 44 Stanley—there's a selection of options for meat lovers and vegans (as Ethiopians regularly fast by not eating animal products). While the decor may be simple, comprising of a few photos and paintings of Ethiopia, the food steals the show like Beyaynetu, a vegan combo dish where lentil stew, pumpkin, chickpea gravy, sautéed spinach, curried potatoes, pickled beetroot, and tomato salsa is laid out on injera (a sourdough flat bread). The food is intended to be shared and eaten with your hands, ask Kassa can show you how, after you thoroughly wash your hands at the outdoor sink (you can also ask for cutlery). Top off your meal with a traditional coffee—after all Ethiopia is said to be the birthplace of coffee. 

In a building dating from 1905, Café Riche is one of the better coffee shops in the center of town. It also serves tramezzini (toasted sandwiches) and salads.

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.

Known for its hearty toasted sandwiches like the Popeye with a beef patty, bacon, caramelized onions, tomatoes, gherkins, cheddar, and a squirt of mustard and ketchup, Jo'Anna Melt Bar's name speaks for itself. Wash it down with the Give Me Hope Jo'anna—a mixture of locally-made Klipdrift brandy, passion fruit, and pineapple syrup shaken with a shot of red wine and a dash of bitters—at the seemingly oversized bar, which is the central feature of this small establishment. The eponymous drink is named after Eddy Grant's iconic song, Gimme Hope Jo'anna (a reference to Johannesburg), which he wrote after visiting South Africa. It was scathing of the apartheid government and encouraged freedom, which lead the ruling National Party at the time to ban it. And what better way to pay tribute to the country's liberation struggle than by "squeaking your takkies" (dancing) when the jukebox or karaoke get going in the evenings.

This easygoing, unpretentious café serves only breakfast, brunch, and lunch, but is always busy, mostly because the food is so fresh and good. Breakfast is a specialty—do try one of their six wholesome breakfast egg baskets—but you could also pop by for high tea and a taste of their homemade cakes. The croissants are also good, as are their home-baked pies, and the popular half and half—a mixture of a egg basket and crumpets.

Across the street from the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, Vilakazi Espresso is recognizable for its geometric Ndebele-inspired mural and colorful graffiti artwork. It serves deep-fried and filled South African vetkoek (dough bread) and sandwiches, along with its wide coffee selection and smoothies.

Cullinan has a series of delightful tea gardens to choose from, but for pleasant outdoor dining, this cafe is the spot serving breakfast and lunch.

Although not in the same league as the more famous Nambitha and Wandie's traditional township restaurants in Soweto, the Sophiatown Bar and Lounge in Newtown is popular and much easier to get to. The restaurant is decorated with photos and murals of 1950s musicians like Miriam Makeba, and patrons gather around braziers on chilly winter nights. Jazz music vies for attention with the rather boisterous crowd, and the place has the feel of a shebeen (township bar). The food is a good example of black South African cuisine. A specialty is pap-and-wors—a traditional South African maize-meal porridge (pap) that is white and stiff with boerewors (a South African sausage). The restaurant serves other dishes popular in the townships such as mogodu (tripe) with samp (stewed corn kernels) and beans, as well as ostrich steaks or burgers. Simpler meals like steak and fresh salads are also served.