In our monthly #FreshlyPlated round-up, we share the cafés, bars, restaurants, chefs and culinary news Joburg should know about.
This month: new openings from Rosebank to the sky, a burger face-off on Jan Smuts and 15 standout meals from one of the city’s most trusted food follows. Mother’s Day? Taken care of – deliciously. And for the 06:00 crowd, we’ve lined up Joburg’s best early breakfast spots. There’s also craft beer rising from the ashes of a jazz-era favourite, hot pot that turns dinner into a social sport and a three-course lunch at Joburg’s newest luxury hotel that’s dangerously easy to stretch into the afternoon. Keep reading – your next reservation is in here.
1. New openings in Rosebank and beyond
– 1920 Portuguese Restaurant has reopened on Baker St, Rosebank, following a relocation, and it's as good as ever. The picanha steak with hand-cut round chips is our move, and the prawns are excellent too. Just book ahead – this one fills up fast.
– The Thai Table 789 lands at Oxford Parks, Rosebank, with an elevated take on Thai dining, built around sharing. Expect the full spectrum from punchy tom yum to coconut curries and charred, tamarind-glazed meats.
– If you haven’t come across Chef Wandile Mabaso – self-described food artist, and not inaccurately so – he’s taking over the bar at The Atrium at Keyes Art Mile, Rosebank. Expect the signature Les Créatifs flair, this time in liquid form.
– Done rooftop dining in Joburg yet? SaltxCeremony is a roving dinner series bringing curated menus to the city’s rooftops – "a love letter to the Johannesburg skyline", with food by LadyDay Food.
2. What's Joburg been eating lately?
15 MEALS, 15 MONTHS
We loved Banyana Mosekili’s round-up of 15 memorable meals across 15 months in Joburg. A few of her picks get our stamp of approval – the dakgangjeong (fried chicken) at Surasung in Parkhurst, the tiramisu at SINN in Sandhurst and the seafood pasta at Cilantros in Sandton all absolutely deliver. Follow @withbanyana on Instagram for your next hit of inspiration.
DINNER AT HOME, SORTED
If you'd rather cook than book, UCOOK is still one of the easiest wins in the city. Each week, you pick from a rotating menu of chef-designed recipes and get a box of pre-measured seasonal ingredients delivered to your door, complete with step-by-step recipe cards. Plans can be customised around diet, portions and how often you actually want to cook.
THE NEW CONFIDENTIAL LUNCH IN TOWN
We joined Joburg food personality Kate Liquorish to be among the first to try the newly launched Confidential Lunch at Park Hyatt Johannesburg. The three-course menu at Room 32 is R650 p.p., including a glass of Journey’s End wine – a polished, unhurried affair at Joburg’s newest luxury hotel (and only the second Park Hyatt in Africa). Expect quality ingredients, beautiful plating and no unnecessary fuss. Full review coming soon.
A SWEET SUPRISE IN SANDTON
We recently visited the Maximillien High Tea at Maximillien in Sandton, held on the first Saturday of every month. Friendly, attentive service and a live piano player set a warm, relaxed tone, while a lively mix of friends, families and little ones gave the room a welcoming buzz. The self-service buffet featured an Easter-themed spread of sweet and savoury bites, from wraps, tarts and mini bunny chows to almond cake, baked cheesecake and crème brûlée. The sweets stole the show, beautifully made and, surprisingly but most welcome, restrained on the sugar front. A charming lunch experience, though more elegant buffet than traditional high tea.
MARBELLA FLAIR AND CROWD-PLEASING PLATES
Fresh from a stylish revamp, Tashas Nelson Mandela Square has reopened with interiors and menu touches inspired by the laid-back glamour of Marbella. When we visited, it was clear to see why it remains one of Sandton’s go-to spots for breakfast and lunch and (hopefully soon to be) dinner with an updated wine list and new menu items. The refreshed space blends polished energy with crowd-pleasing plates like spinach and feta hummus with pillowy pita, peri-peri chicken and a dangerously good Paloma. The creamy cheesecake topped with candied figs was a treat – smooth meets crunch, sweet meets tang.
3. The burger triangle
Joburg’s burger scene has a certain ambition to it – even a petrol station stop arrives with a point of view. A recent Currency piece saw writer Lebo Madiba put three burgers along that Jan Smuts stretch to the test: Pantry by Marble at the Sasol forecourt, Relish at Astron Energy and the newly opened Zuney at Nine Yards.
Relish came out on top for consistency and repeat appeal, Pantry scored for polish and presentation, and Zuney positioned itself as the premium, style-led option. Read the full article here.
P.S. At Ethos in Oxford Parks, you can order BGR burgers to the bar while you settle in for a drink.
4. Foodie plans for Mother's Day (Sun, May 10, 2026)
– The Magical Marble Family Fest brings music, food and all-ages fun to James & Ethel Gray Park in Melrose. Book tickets here.
– A relaxed, family-style Mother’s Day garden lunch at Beechwood Gardens in Hyde Park, set under the trees with a generous buffet.
– An elegant three-course lunch at Zevenster Boutique Hotel in Bedfordview – indulgent and made for slow celebrating.
– There's live music, glorious sculpture park strolls, Cape wines and gourmet bites at MOM at NIROX Sculpture Park.
– Inner-city spoils with a harvest table lunch and musical performances in the suitably grand setting of the Rand Club, Marshalltown.
Looking for more ideas? Our guide to celebrating Mother's Day in Joburg.
5. In case you missed it: recent reviews
JOBURG'S BEST EARLY BREAKFAST SPOTS
For the real early risers – the ones who think 06:00 at Croft & Co after a Parkview jog is just standard operating procedure, not some form of punishment – this one's for you. From Sandton to the inner city, we've rounded up the best early-morning breakfast spots.
LUXURY LOCAL TEA AT 223 CREATIVE HUB
“Luxury in a cup.” Simple in theory, deliberate in execution. Founded in Joburg in 2022, Cup Classique is a women-owned tea brand built on slow growth and a closed-loop approach — changing the world, one cup at a time. We visited their gallery flagship at 223 Creative Hub. Read the origin story.
JOZI GOLD BREWING COMPANY
The former Orbit jazz club space on De Korte Street has been reborn as Jozi Gold Brewing Company. On the brewing side, Master Brewer Thokozani Sithole runs a 25,000-litre operation spanning signature lagers to the Golden Taj Basmati Rice Lager. On the food side, Chef Joshua Stadt delivers standout dishes like sorghum ale-battered fish and smoked brisket pizza. Read our review here.
WHERE TO TRY HOT POT
Hot pot is DIY dining at its most fun: a steaming pot of broth sits in the centre of your table and then it's up to you – drop in sliced meats, seafood, noodles and veg, and let it all simmer into a long, lazy meal. If you've been meaning to try it, Joburg has some amazing spots. See three top picks.
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