9 stylish Rosebank restaurants

24 Oct 2023

A a turquoise ceramic-tiled wall and light wooden floors give the impression of being suspended in a cabin in the sky at Marble restaurant. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Proud Mary has one of the sexiest bar counters in the neighbourhood and an impressive wine and cocktail menu to match. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Radisson RED Rosebank has a rooftop bar with some of the best views of Joburg. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

Rosebank's location – between the historic city centre, Sandton's central business district and the leafy 'Parks' suburb – isn't the only reason that this cool neighbourhood is one of Joburg's most popular. Rosebank is also an art, shopping and dining capital. A popular place to be whether you're local or in town for business or leisure.

Art is a big Rosebank attraction, with many of South Africa's top contemporary galleries based here. There's also an enticing dining scene, bolstered by top chefs the likes of David Higgs and Luke Dale Roberts who have made the neighbourhood their base. Naturally, when these two attractions – art and food – come together you get some very good-looking restaurants.

So, hop on the Gautrain, bring your appetite, ready your Instagram and prep your taste buds, because we've got the rundown on the top stylish restaurants in Rosebank.

400 DEGREES AT CLICO RESTAURANT

Tucked inside Clico Hotel (located one block up Jellicoe Avenue from Keyes Art Mile) is Clico restaurant, a fine-dining destination that boasts some of the most peaceful surroundings in this often busy neighbourhood. The restaurant’s setting is a minimalist double-volume glass structure that looks out onto a lush courtyard garden, making it an intimate dinner venue with low lighting, or a gloriously lit breakfast spot. You’ll find flavoursome dishes using seasonal, locally sourced and organic ingredients, a boutique wine menu and charming service.
Where: Clico Boutique Hotel, 7 Sturdee Ave (cnr Jellicoe Ave), Rosebank, tel. +27 11 252 3300.

Courtyard dining at Clico Restaurant at the Clico Boutique Hotel. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

ETHOS

This chic contemporary restaurant in Rosebank’s ongoing Oxford Parks development offers Greek-influenced Mediterranean cuisine with a menu co-created in partnership with top chef Luke Dale Roberts. The interiors provide a soothing mix of cream and white in every shade with natural blond wood, marble and ceramics, all beautifully lit and spilling out onto a wide pedestrianised walkway. For appetisers, enjoy a plate of oysters and for drinks, when it comes to the extensive wine list, the sky's the limit with an enviable range of exclusive bottles plus more entry-range wines by the glass.
Where: Oxford Parks, Cnr Eastwood Rd and Parks Blvd, Rosebank, tel. +27 10 446 9906.

FUGAZZI

From the creators of Proud Mary and Mamasamba, a New York-Italian inspired eatery Fugazzi tops the list of Rosebank’s trendy restaurants with moreish antipasto, sourdough pizzas, and ice cream sundaes. We love the addition of American diner-style menu items like meatball parm subs, crispy chicken waffles, blueberry hot cakes, and lemon whoopie pie shakes.
Where: Cradock Avenue, The Zone@Rosebank, tel. +27 10 730 0690.

New York–Italian cuisine in the heart of Rosebank. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

MAMASAMBA

Mamasamba is the latest beautifully designed eatery from the Colada Hospitality Group, the pioneers behind Rosebank’s Proud Mary Restaurant and Wine Bar. Opened in December 2022, Mamasamba resembles an indoor jungle, with the space featuring emerald tiling, tall palms, hanging greenery, and a winding green staircase leading to an upper level bar. From day one it's been drawing the crowds. The menu incorporates a Japanese foundation with Peruvian flavours, like their nikkei sushi which might have an unusual touch like chipotle mayo or smoked asparagus. The bar has an extensive cocktail menu, also with a Latin American flair, and offers 26 tequilas to knock back or sip.
Where: The Zone@Rosebank, Cradock Ave, Rosebank, tel. +27 10 110 0313.

The kitchen utilises a Josper and Parilla to achieve a smokey depth of flavour in all their food – including pineapples used for charred pineapple salsa, sticky rib marinade, and more. Image: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.

MARBLE

This buzzing 250-seater restaurant, with a lounge and bar separated by a gorgeous glass wine cellar, offers surprisingly intimate seating and a wraparound balcony with a view. Impressive artworks, a turquoise ceramic-tiled wall and light wooden floors, give the impression of being suspended in a cabin in the sky and the rooftop lounge bar and terrace, with views stretching out towards the Magaliesberg, is the perfect place for sundowners. The heart of chef David Higgs’s Rosebank rooftop restaurant is the live-fire grill in the open kitchen, the spectacular flames cooking up everything from meats and seafood to freshly baked bread.
Where: Keyes Art Mile Trumpet building, 21 Keyes Ave, Rosebank, tel. +27 10 594 5550.

MOMO KURO

Part of the homegrown Momo Asian street food-inspired brand, Momo Kuro is the stand-out winner of the brand for its impressive location on the top floor of the iconic Trumpet building at Keyes Art Mile. The interiors tend towards dark and minimalist, all the better to enjoy the view. Arrive early and you’ll be treated to an immense sunset view over Joburg’s treeline. The enterance is via an unmarked stairwell which gives the place a feel of a secret destination. The menu specialises in bite-sized Asian street food such as filled bao buns, Korean fried chicken, and dim sum. Specialties here include Cheung Fun, a flattened rice noodle topped with fillings, and open Asian-style pancakes. The restaurant is unlicenced but has a “bring your own” policy.
Where: Keyes Art Mile Trumpet building, 21 Keyes Ave, Rosebank, tel. +27 10 594 5395.

PROUD MARY

This expansive bar and bistro (part of the new voco Hotel The Bank) has one of the sexiest bar counters in the neighbourhood and an impressive wine and cocktail menu to match. Describing itself as 'a modern eatery' the menu boasts an extensive breakfast and lunch selection, a 'seafood raw bar' (think oysters, ceviche, and sashimi), picanha steaks, salads, and a variety of small plates and 'cafe plates' – all exquisitely presented. The adjoining coffee bar serves a good brew too. The terrace is prime people-watching territory and the facade opens onto the street, bringing in lots of light.
Where: The Bank, 26 Cradock Ave (cnr Tyrwhitt Ave), Rosebank, tel. +27 10 023 3316.

RADISSON RED ROSEBANK ROOFTOP BAR

Opened in August 2021, the Radisson RED Rosebank hotel is the second Radisson RED property to launch in Africa (with the first being at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront). The brand is known for its cool and creative aesthetic designed to appeal to young and outgoing travellers – a signature feature is always the rooftop bar, the kind of spot that you'll find hard to leave. On Saturday afternoons, it's all good tunes and cocktails as you nestle into comfy seating at the poolside and watch the sun sink over the suburbs. You can see the great tree expanse of Joburg with uninterrupted views stretching all the way to Northcliff ridge. It's quite exceptional.
Where: Radisson Red Rosebank, Oxford Parks, (entrance on Rosebank Rd), Rosebank, tel. +27 10 023 3580.

THE POT LUCK CLUB JOHANNESBURG

One of our long-time Cape Town favourites, we were delighted when restaurant legend Luke Dale Roberts decided to bring his Pot Luck Kitchen to Joburg with its enticing small plates of robust flavours, and an energetic atmosphere. The Pot Luck Club replaced the fine-dining Test Kitchen Carbon, and we think it's much more well-suited to the energy of Joburg. Food in this city is more social than it is a deep connection to cuisine or ingredients. Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch, the open kitchen gives you insights into the high demands of producing these small plates of wondrous flavours. For Sunday brunch you also have choices of bottomless drinks, another favoured Joburg tradition, from a classic mimosa to bubbly, or a DIY Bloody Mary.
Where: 199 Oxford Rd, Dunkeld, Rosebank, tel. +27 10 745 3999.

A thing of wonder – the DIY Bloody Mary station at Pot Luck Club. Available at brunch. Image: Pot Luck Club.

THE SHORTMARKET CLUB

The opening of any Luke Dale Roberts restaurant is an occasion, and the announcement, in the winter of 2021, that Cape Town’s most awarded chef was moving his The Shortmarket Club to Joburg created a stir. His first permanent restaurant in Joburg, The Shortmarket Club is comparatively less formal than the Cape Town original, but no less indulgent. Fine dining small plates and an Asian-influenced menu, with some decadent seafood platters and fantastic cocktails, are a hallmark. When it comes to the decor, the impressive feature garden walls earn The Shortmarket Club plenty of style points.
Where: Oxford Parks, entrance at 199 Oxford Rd, Rosebank, tel. +27 82 409 5757.

QBAR BY QUOIN ROCK

Qbar by Quoin Rock is the latest gilded addition to a series of upmarket restaurants and bars at Oxford Parks. In this highly walkable precinct in Rosebank, you’ll find a plush wine bar bringing the Cape wineland experience to Joburg. The bar, menu, and decor are all designed to showcase the wines, with a selection of small plates to accompany but not overshadow the wine. Three Quoin Rock sommeliers relocated from Stellenbosch to provide a detailed curated experience for Joburg wine enthusiasts. Since Qbar opened on Oct 1, Head Chef Brenden Fouché has changed the menu three times (because we Joburgers love our meat) so he’s added a few steak dishes to the mostly Asian flavoured dishes to accommodate our demand for red meat.
Where: 199 Oxford Rd, Dunkeld, Rosebank, tel. +27 76 256 2850.