As the autumn chill rolls in, it’s time to get cosy. Sip a steaming cup at Cup Classique, track down gourmet hotdogs in Rosebank, or treat yourself to fried milk (you'll have to read to the end to find out). Easter brings three can’t-miss sweets, Nick Hamman is turning his foodie adventures into a book, and The Linden Market lets you eat, sip and snack your way through the season. Hearty minestrone, dumplings, or something in between – our reviews will make your taste buds do a happy dance.
1. Sip and savour: Tea tasting with Cup Classique
We get to do plenty of fun things around the city, but a tea tasting in an art gallery? This was a first. Cup Classique launched its flagship at 223 Creative Hub in Rosebank, where we quickly learnt that a “simple” cup of tea is anything but. Guided by founder Georgia Kellow, we sipped our way through blends like Savannah Glow (a warming and fruity blend with pineapple, rooibos and ginger) and a fresh mango and mint that, with just a touch of sugar, completely won this writer over. Pop in for a cup or buy a box to take home. (We’ll spill more tea on this soon.)
2. Joburg eats: New openings and tasty updates around town
– With its pop-up at Mall of Africa drawing the crowds, Pantry by Marble is making itself at home in Midrand with a flagship 1,300sqm store set to open by the end of 2026.
– Our favourite for killer prawns and long loved in Hyde Park, 1920 Portuguese Restaurant is now open along Rosebank's Baker Street. We're excited to pay them a visit.
– De Baba Eatery has a new location and even more space to roll out the treats. Find them at 76 4th Avenue in Melville.
– A new arrival at Nine Yards in Parktown North, Doppio Bistrot is the elevated sister restaurant to Doppio Zero, with light, airy interiors and beautifully considered décor. We tried the steak and chips and a calamari small plate – both delivered.
– Following a recent revamp, retaining its signature café warmth with a lighter, more European feel, Tashas Nelson Mandela Square in Rosebank introduces a new menu. Stay tuned for our review.
– Not new but on our radar: In Soweto, The Alternative serves up open-kitchen dining with meals cooked before your eyes, paired with its signature “Cupàjive” coffee – a nod to old-school slang for a hot cuppa.
– Previously known as Turkish Kebab House, the halal Pera Turkish Grill and Shisha Lounge takes up the mantle on Bath Avenue, Rosebank. The interior is much the same as the restaurant we knew and loved, now under new management.
3. Hot dogs to write home about at The Filthy Moustache
We’ve long been fans of The Filthy Moustache, a staple at Prison Break Market, so when a branch opened in Rosebank we had to make sure it lives up to the standard we've come to expect. Tucked away on Walters Street just outside Rosebank Quarter, it's easy to miss at a glance – but well worth tracking down. And don't be fooled by the humble food-truck set-up: "the new guy" gourmet hot dog (freshly baked roll, 160g frank, crispy bacon, jalapeños, caramelised onions, feta and your choice of sauce) might just ruin all other hot dogs for you. They’ve also added chicken wings and ribs to the mix, both deserving of attention. Seating is currently limited, with more under way, but it's still a solid date spot for something a little different... even if you end up dining in your car.
4. Season's eatings: Three Easter treats to try
– Saucy, crumbly and right on theme? Paul's Homemade Ice Cream always gets it right. Order a mixed box of their white chocolate-coated marshmallow “eggs” with soft centres layered with sauce and crumb. Flavours include caramel and toasted marshmallow (caramel sauce, Speculoos crumb), rose and raspberry (raspberry sauce, Speculoos crumb), and coffee and Nutella (Nutella sauce, Oreo crumb). Order online.
– Make this Easter extra sweet with the return of Sandton City’s Chocolate Café: Sweet Edition. From Thu, Mar 26 – Mon, Apr 6, 2026, enter a world of chocolatey fun at the mall's Centre Court. Fill giant candy tubes, spin the wheel, personalise your own Lindt bunny ribbon, or build your very own chocolate bar. Entry is free, so bring the whole family for a truly sweet celebration.
– Hop over to Jack Rabbit Chocolate Studio at 223 Creative Hub in Rosebank for a selection of individually hand-crafted chocolate bonbons in flavours like burnt butter and honey, matcha and milk tart. Literal art you can eat.
Looking for some Easter holiday inspiration? See where to take the kids.
5. A dispatch from Joburg foodie, Nick Hamman
We're excited to see that radio-foodie Nick Hamman aka Hammy Eats is writing a book about his food and culture-inspired travels across South Africa. We’re hoping he goes beyond the quick bites and really digs into what it means to experience food across different cultures, like being a white man on the hunt for the best mogodu in Joburg.Save the date: Hamman and Dlala Nje are hosting a Taste of Africa food tour in Yeoville – Joburg’s unofficial African food capital – where you’ll sample Ethiopian injera, West African jollof, Congolese fish dishes and more on Sat, May 2, 2026. Book your spot.
6. All things tasty at The Linden Market this autumn
From burgers and paella to dumplings and sweet treats, The Linden Market (TLM) offers a well-rounded mix of local food vendors to excite and entice. There are burgers from Brown Bag, paella bowls from PrawnYella and dumpling bowls from We Make Dumplings. On the desert front, try the salted caramel brownie basque cheesecake from Two Little Loafs and look out for beautiful cake slices from Afters Treats & Eats. Drinks range from matcha made with organic, ceremonial-grade matcha from Matcha Pod to cappuccinos from Joyn Coffee and Louisvale MCC from LV Wines. For all the non food-related highlights, see our guide to what to look forward to at The Linden Market's autumn edition.
Don't miss this: TLM hosts its first extravaganza of the year on Sat, Mar 28 and Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. Buy your tickets here.
7. Recent visits and reviews: Lost ingredients, pizza and long tables
LOST INGREDIENTS AT THE PALACE
The Palace of the Lost City was never designed to be subtle. It is a place where elephants trumpet from fountains and excess is part of the architecture. Working with The Crystal Court’s Executive Chef Gino Fortune and his team, Chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen is rewriting the story through South Africa’s forgotten ingredients. When we visited, corn was the star: lemon tart topped with popcorn, amadombolo bread studded with maize, and a series of clever plates that turned a humble staple into something spectacular. The latest chapter centres on spekboom, a succulent plant with remarkable powers. Read our review.
NAPZ PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA
“Pizza was never just food for me – it was emotional, cultural, and deeply personal. Napz is my way of bringing the closest thing to real Neapolitan pizza to Johannesburg, without the theatrics or short cuts,” says owner Enrico Adinolfi, who manages Napz Pizzeria Napoletana with his wife, Viviana. When you visit them at Rosebank Quarter, notice how the space is layered with Neapolitan symbolism – from Pulcinella-inspired branding to plates adorned with lucky charms, superstitions, and southern Italian iconography. Read about our visit.
YEOVILLE DINNER CLUB
Few people make a better guide to Yeoville’s layered food culture than Sanza Sandile. A former radio journalist, Sandile is known as much for his warmth, wit and storytelling as for his cooking. Johannesburg In Your Pocket contributor Ryan Enslin recently visited Yeoville Dinner Club, a long-table gathering built around what Sandile calls the "Pan Afrikan Plate". Strangers are seated side by side and conversation is as deliciously central as the food. Enslin shares his experience.
8. Our team's food picks of the month
– Pronto at The Colony Shopping Centre, Craighall Park, nails the art of comforting Italian fare. Part deli, part cosy eatery with a relaxed terrace, but if you only order one thing, let it be their minestrone soup.
– At cute hole-in-the-wall restaurant Beijing Opera, freshly relocated to 98 Conrad Drive, Blairgowrie, we discovered a new fav: fried milk. It's basically sweet mozzarella sticks – crunchy outside, gooey inside and absolutely irresistible.
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