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January flirts with reinvention – suddenly you’re waking up at 5:00, loving kale, and pretending not to stare at croissants the same way.
It asks for discipline straight after a month of indulgence, leftovers, and "we’ll deal with it next year" logic. Somewhere on your phone, there’s probably a note full of ambitious plans and far too many rules. Sticking to them? Impressive. This is for everyone else – the ones who tried, then quietly bowed out before mid-month. In Joburg, with this many good things to eat, your diet was always going to be lovingly derailed.
Welcome back. Consider this a gentle re-entry into eating out. No resolutions, no cleanses – just what’s delicious, wholesome, and worth leaving the house for.
1. So… what are we eating in 2026?
As predicted in the food trends we shared at the start of 2025, pistachio truly took over in every form imaginable. The 2026 culinary landscape is looking decidedly more humble and down to earth, with BBC Food tipping jacket potatoes, functional foods, cabbage, and "fricy" flavours (that sweet-spicy sweet spot) as the trends to watch.
A MOMENT FOR JACKET POTATOES
Loved for their comfort, simplicity, and budget-friendly appeal, jacket potatoes are endlessly versatile and perfect for plant-based, protein-packed, or globally inspired toppings. If you caught the TikTok sweet potato trend – baked and stuffed with melted cheese – the same trick works beautifully with a baked potato.
FUNCTIONAL FOODS HERO: MUSHROOMS
While wellness stays on the menu – from fibre-rich snacks to protein bites and kombucha – mushrooms continue to make waves. Prized for functional benefits ranging from focus and calm to energy and immunity, varieties such as lion’s mane, reishi, and chaga have moved into the mainstream via supplements, drinks, and even mushroom coffee. Prefer them on your plate? Truffles On The Park serves a classic, creamy mushrooms-on-toast.
GLORIOUS CABBAGE
You know it's deep when Vogue dedicates a whole post to it. Often unfairly sidelined, this humble leafy green is nutritious, easy to cook, and far tastier than it gets credit for. And if you didn’t know: cabbage is rich in glutamine, an amino acid that helps repair and protect the gut lining – making it a quiet hero for digestion and gut health. Not convinced? PRON in Linden serves excellent kimchi (made with Chinese cabbage) that’s well worth a try – a "fricy" side or meal topper you may soon become addicted to.
LET THEM EAT CAKE
As great as cabbage, mushrooms, and potatoes are, none are smothered in icing. Cake Canteen, located in Hertex Fabrics Kramerville Showroom and in HAUS Fourways, understands that no matter how many forms of those fruit-shaped pâtisserie come our way, everyone likes a slice of humble cake. And if you want to secure your slices, get a Slice Society membership for R150 where you can get four slices of cake each month. Be sure to follow them on Instagram at @cake.canteen for more updates on their cake picnics. We went through last year and loved it.
Pro tip: If wellness is on your mind for 2026, Delta Cafe serves gluten-free pizzas and pastas at no additional charge. See the menu here.
2. While you were unwinding, Joburg opened new restaurants
– S!gns is a new upmarket Afro-global fusion spot in Rivonia Crossing, Sandton. The maple-mustard salmon with celeriac mash and apple-radish-celery slaw sounds heavenly, and the milk tart brûlée promises a perfect finish to the night.
– In Blairgowrie, New Annexe Bistro (the sister venue to the beloved Mr Pants Wine Bar by Shayne Holt) welcomes guests with a simple philosophy: good food, done well, without the fuss. The menu offers six starters, seven to eight mains, and a selection of desserts. Chef Freddie Dias, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in France and led acclaimed local spots like The Pot Luck Club and Basalt, ensures every dish hits the mark.
– Roti and Chai is an Indian street-food concept at The Zone @ Rosebank, serving tandoor‑grilled wraps, naan, curries, and aromatic masala chai in a relaxed, approachable setting.
– Bagels, ribs, sushi? At The Neighborhood Square in Linksfield, you don’t have to choose. Cult favourite Kleinsky’s serves fresh bagels and all-day bites, Ribs and Burgers satisfies meaty cravings, and The Sushi Club offers exquisite rolls and delicate sashimi.
– Scooters Pizza returned in 2025 after nearly a decade off the market. The first new branch opened on 4 Main Road, Melville, with another branch on Jan Smuts Avenue (next to Benchwarmers Sports Bar) set to open by February 2026.
3. Rosebank after dark: nightlife spots to try
NAKED WOOLF
In late 2025, Naked Woolf opened its doors, combining a bar, restaurant, and social lounge drenched in moody, atmospheric lighting. Hospitality veterans Yanky Woolf and Sean Haarhoff, also behind The Frog Boot Bar and The Wild Side, have quickly turned this spot into an Instagram-worthy hotspot. We’re already planning our visit to sample the PB & J beef burger, matcha cocktail, and banana split dessert.
NINE LIVES SUPPER CLUB
Tucked into the Hyde Hotel Rosebank’s former rooftop engine room, Nine Lives Supper Club is a hidden, speakeasy-style retreat. Plush 1920s-inspired interiors set the scene for an intimate after-dark dining and cocktail experience. A curated cocktail menu, impressive whisky selection, and small-plates menu featuring highlights like popcorn squid and wagyu tataki make Nine Lives the sultry, exclusive counterpart to the hotel’s Proud Mary restaurant downstairs.
Share the love: Our friends at Broke And About know that some of the best conversations happen over a cocktail – check out their list of the best cocktail spots in Joburg.
4. Something to sip on
– Alostro Coffee Club at The MARC in Sandton is perfect for a quick coffee, a leisurely breakfast, a slow brunch, or a sweet treat on the go. The falafel smash burger sounds amazing – add Alostro’s affogato (pistachio paste, pistachio crumble, vanilla gelato, and a double espresso) for a seriously indulgent finish.
– Bootlegger Coffee has been popping up with new cafés at Mall of Africa, Mushroom Farm Centre in Midrand, and Total Energies Simmonds Street Motors in Marshalltown. In 2025, they partnered with FlySafair to serve signature coffees and hot drinks on all domestic flights. Try the ruby guava cooler in store, or grab a canned iced coffee if you’re on the go.
– Jozi Gold Brewery is a craft brewery and pub on De Korte St in Braamfontein. It serves its own brews on site in a relaxed, pub-style setting. Feeling adventurous? Just two minutes away, the Play Braam district is ready for exploring.
– The Whippet is shaking things up with three fresh summer cocktails: the Hugo (a gin-based twist on the Italian spritz with elderflower, mint, lime, and soda), a classic Spritz, and a frozen Paloma.
5. On the horizon...
INSIDE THE URBAN JUNGLE OF NINE YARDS
Walking into Nine Yards feels like slipping into a small bubble of calm, even as Rosebank's busy Jan Smuts Avenue hums outside. We became fans when GardenFresh arrived in 2025 and the precinct keeps evolving. Platō Coffee now calls it home, joined by Cape Town favourite Zuney Wagyu Burgers, with Gelato Mania, Salvation Cafe, and Ti Amo Deli soon to follow. (A friend of Johannesburg In Your Pocket raves that Zuney’s classic burger is one of the best they’ve had – so a visit is officially due.)
NEXT FOR MARBLE
Marble Hospitality is growing fast. Pantry by Marble has expanded from its flagship Rosebank store into standalone spots, including Hazelwood in Pretoria and Bassonia at Omni Square. The group is also moving into luxury hospitality with The Marble Collection Hotel – a 32-room, five-star property at Olympus Sandton, slated to open in mid-2028. The hotel will feature a Marble Restaurant and a Pantry by Marble on the ground floor, and construction is already under way.
HUGH'S COMES TO BRAAM
Hugh’s Jazz Club is set to open in Braamfontein, taking over the space once home to The Orbit – Home of Jazz. With Untitled Basement and Hugh’s on the scene, jazz lovers can look forward to vibrant nights of live music.
6. Must-tries and must-dos
– Ramen is a weekly commitment. Tea and Antique serves beef or chicken ramen for R100 every Tuesday in Sandton and Bedfordview. The stewed beef flank with 18 Chinese spices is a must-try. Over at Glory, 44 Stanley, Wednesdays are ramen days: try shio ramen with pork belly chashu, duck, clam, or smoked shiitake for R220.
– Valentine's Day, but different? Skip crowded restaurants and head to Field Berry Farm for raspberry picking. Stroll the rows, collect ripe berries, and enjoy a picnic basket with sweet and savoury treats. The Raspberry Picking Festival runs until April 2026, visit thefieldberryfarm.com for details.
– Rosebank’s Italian spot, Nonna’s Riviera, serves fresh, hand-made pasta daily. Don’t miss Happy Hour, Tuesday – Thursday from 16:00 – 18:00, with 2-for-1 Aperol Spritz and complimentary bruschetta at the bar.
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