Not just a handy halfway point on the journey from Cape Town to Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region, Johannesburg rewards you with a constantly evolving food scene. Largely undiscovered by many, its unique gastronomy is attracting an influx of young chefs and culinary creatives, bringing exciting energy to the City of Gold. But with so many tempting options, where should you go if you want your stopover to revolve entirely around eating and drinking? That’s the question we’re answering here. It’s a holiday within a holiday – what’s not to like?
Drop your bags at Reserved Suites Illovo for a home-away-from-home stay
Any hotel will do for a one-night stand, but for longer-term stopover commitments, certain criteria must be met. A bed you can bond with, a kitchen, laundry and, ideally, room service for those lazy nights in. Don’t be fooled by Reserved Suites Illovo’s businesslike location near Illovo Boulevard and Chaplin Road; this is no corporate cookie-cutter. Rising 16 stories above Sandton, its panoramic views take in the Sandton skyline, Rosebank and the distant Johannesburg CBD, giving visitors a unique vantage point from which to gain a sense of the city. The surrounding neighbourhoods are ripe for exploration too, from Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank to Parkhurst’s 4th Avenue. Food, wine, shopping, culture – pick your indulgence and go to town. But there are plenty of other reasons to check into this sought-after property, which serves up luxury and comfort in equal measure. Each of the 33 serviced apartments feel fresh and polished, blending neutral palettes with suave aesthetics. Live like a trendy local in an elegant one-bedroom apartment. The generously sized living space has a sofa, smart TV, dining table, private balcony and views of the treetops. The fully equipped kitchen contains an oven, hob, fridge, washing machine, tea- and coffee-making facilities and microwave for reheating those doggy-bag restaurant meals. The Wi-Fi is free and super-fast. In the bathrooms, a powerful shower and Charlotte Rhys toiletries come standard. And when it comes to bedtime, restful sleep is the priority with a white-linen queen-sized bed, heating and air conditioning. The hotel-cum-apartment building’s other offerings include an all-day café, boutique gym and rooftop infinity pool. Late checkout? No problem. Late sleeper? That’s okay – you can have breakfast delivered to your room until 11h00. Calls to room service are answered quickly, housekeeping is prompt and staff are constantly visible – but at a distance. You should definitely try a cheese omelette chased with a smooth and strong cappuccino. All coffees are made using high-quality Kimbo beans.
Illovo Central, 70 Melville Road, Illovo
010 822 7844
centralreservations@reservedsuites.com
Seduce your sweetheart with a splurge-worthy meal at MIRA
The most romantic restaurants in Sandton fall into two categories: The old-school classics that have been setting the mood for generations, and the new hotspots where even securing a reservation is part of the seduction. MIRA – a 200-seater restaurant and bar inside the Sandton Sun & Towers with aspirations of being a legitimate player on the city’s dining scene – is one of the latter. Maybe it’s the glamorous black interiors, maybe it’s the Mozambican-Portuguese dishes or maybe it’s the combination of the two, but MIRA really gets it right. The expansive space is adorned with ornate wall panels, gleaming mirrored ceilings, green-veined marble, stucco work and mixed materials. From the greeting by well-groomed staff to the money splashed on art and the 1912 Blüthner piano, coming here feels like an event. The lighting is suitably dim, the music a step back from intrusive and the multitude of seating options – velvet banquettes, chesterfield sofas, small round tables, bar stools in darkened corners – give the place an attractively clandestine air. It’s imperative, given that this is an upscale dining experience, that you head for pre-dinner drinks at the bar. The cocktails are well constructed and the list runs to retro classics such as the Clover Club, alongside a page of signature drinks that include a matcha martini made with Ketel One Vodka, vanilla and oat milk. From the outset, MIRA’s opulent intentions are made clear by the menu, which opens with freshly shucked oysters. These sea-salty bivalves make good friends with house-made hot sauce. Then comes spicy chorizo and fried squid with ideal levels of chew and crunch. The refined mains are just as demanding as their surroundings. Take the stunning seafood platter for example, with butterflied prawns, grilled calamari, creamy mussels and perfectly flaky line fish. Or the signature picanha – a 600g rump cap, served sliced with bone-marrow butter. The decadence stakes are raised yet again by the chocolate fondant, featuring a molten centre. It’s a polished night out that justifies the high price tag.
Sandton Sun & Towers, corner of Alice Lane & 5th Street, Sandton
071 981 2125
Take your tastebuds on a culinary journey at The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg
Launching a restaurant with hype around it is all well and good. But creating something that makes people want to return time after time? That’s the real challenge. The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, from chef-owner Luke Dale Roberts, is certainly shooting its shot. Now in a permanent space at The Peech Hotel in leafy Melrose, it embraces a relaxed share-plates format in an intimate, flatteringly lit setting. The décor – all beige sand and grey furnishings, touchy-feely textiles, rich woods and mirrored walls – and openness of the waitstaff make it easy to hole up in here for hours, meaning you’ll undoubtedly find yourself ordering more than you intended. Top tip: The prix fixe seven-course menu (R845 per person sharing, available for lunch and dinner) is brilliant value. No matter which path you take, head chef Ebie du Toit’s cooking remains a masterclass of deft skill, impeccable flavour and seasonal nous. A two-bite flavour bomb, the Taco 2.0 combines line fish ceviche, black bean purée, charred corn salsa and chipotle dressing. It checks all the tastebud boxes. The octopus is a turbo blast of textures and tastes – small pieces of crisp octopus tentacles, soft butter beans and pickled mussels, smoky chorizo, garlicky aïoli and crunchy sourdough croûte. The same meticulous standard continues with the spicy, smoked and juicy peri peri chicken accompanied by ajo blanco, kale salad and braai vinaigrette, topped with feta and fresh herbs. Then there’s smoked beef fillet with café au lait sauce and the deservedly cult-like chickpea, goat’s cheese and parmesan fries. All hits, no misses. May we suggest, with gentle urgency, that you don’t leave without ordering the Peanut Butter Bomb dessert. It’s a joyous jumble of peanut butter, chocolate, banana mousse, honeycomb, Frangelico sabayon and banana tuile – and it’ll burrow into your memory bank and make itself comfortable, long after you’ve left. Add a rousing drinks list that includes a pineapple and elderflower margarita and a pomegranate mojito, and The Pot Luck Club delivers truly memorable dining. Believe the buzz.
The Peech Hotel, 61 North Street, Melrose North
010 157 5757
Let your hair down at The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse
When The Shortmarket Club Johannesburg announced it was moving to The Greenhouse in Sandton, their legions of loyal diners both mourned and feared the change. What might be lost in the new digs? Could the specific magic of the Oxford Parks original in Rosebank be repeated? Turns out, The Shortmarket Club Johannesburg 2.0 is about magic reconfigured, not lost. Set inside The Greenhouse – think abundant tables lining a greenery-filled terrace – The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse channels the original Shortmarket Club with its vintage-style booth seating and wall of paper art butterflies. It attracts locals and visitors who want to indulge and have some fun. Lunch guests often linger late into the afternoon, and post-work cocktails may turn into a raucous dinner party. The drinks list is familiar too, with wines highlighting small producers from Stellenbosch and the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. But the food is where some real differences emerge. Under new head chef Leigh-Anne Knipe, the à la carte menu – divvied up into starters, salads, mains and desserts – is the spirit of cosmopolitan Johannesburg dialled up to the max. Expect popcorn shrimp, beef sliders, hot honey halloumi, pan-fried salmon, coal-fired lamb rack and mushroom risotto. It’s Jozi personified. Platters of sushi are a huge hit with the early-evening crowd. Your odyssey could start with strands of pulled beef filling soft tacos that are amped up with pickled red onions and zingy guacamole. Also signposting good times ahead is the seared sesame-crusted tuna in a big bowl o’ red Mexican chilli sauce. The grass-fed T-bone is a favourite among the mains, but it’s never a cop-out. It sees meaty slices served with roasted parmesan potatoes, a salad of big leaves and peppercorn sauce. It’s unusual, but it works. The lobster mac and cheese with a nutty Gruyère, pangritata and chives is no ordinary pasta bake – it’s a super-luxe version generously flecked with sweet chunks of lobster meat. The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse is an oasis of good eating in the heart of Sandton.
The Greenhouse, 24 Central, 6 Gwen Lane, Sandton
079 179 7362
