Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
When Cape Town culinary heavyweight Chef Luke Dale Roberts announced in 2021 that his acclaimed restaurant, The Shortmarket Club, was heading to Joburg, it caused quite a stir.
First landing in Oxford Parks in Rosebank, the upmarket brasserie-bistro has found a new home in The Greenhouse, Sandton’s leafy jungle lounge meets dining destination.
This collaboration was born from a shared vision to elevate Joburg’s dining scene. The Greenhouse's co-founder Luke Dakers lets us know that "it's a thoughtful reimagining" to take The Shortmarket Club’s classic culinary DNA and present it in a refreshed context at The Greenhouse. “The Greenhouse is flavoured by The Shortmarket Club, is the new strap line capturing this partnership,” says Dakers.
We popped in on a late Friday afternoon – the perfect sweet spot if you’re after a relaxed meal and real conversation with your plus-one. Note the restaurant only opens at 16:00. By 18:30, the volume (and energy) starts to climb, and by 20:00, dinner definitely takes a backseat to the party. You can still order food, but don’t expect a quiet catch-up – it’s more beats than bites as the crowd swells and the DJ’s set list draws in a lively, eclectic mix.
Global flavours with a playful twist at The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
The menu at The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse is a globe-trotting feast, with nods to French, Mediterranean, Western, and Asian cuisines. While honouring what have come to be known as The Shortmarket Club’s signature dishes, this new iteration leans into a "more playful, sensory-driven approach highlighting bold flavour pairings, textural contrast, and artistic plating that speaks to [The Greenhouse's] visual identity," says Dakers. It’s all curated by the talented Chef Siyabonga Mlaba, who brings more than a decade of culinary finesse to the table – and is also behind the buzzed-about Ocaso, an upcoming Mexican-inspired concept in Rosebank in partnership with Corona.
What we ate at The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
We started our meal with warm and slightly sweet complementary bread served by friendly staff before Chef Mlaba graciously guided us through the main menu, which is available, Thu – Sun from 16:00 – late. We were more than happy to follow his recommendations and had a tasting selected by him, highlighting the variety of this new collaboration. The spread included sushi and a standout seared tuna – sesame-crusted and served with a zingy Mexican chilli and citrusy ponzu sauce, a must for those who enjoy Asian flavours with a twist. We also enjoyed the hot honey halloumi, a crispy, sweet and flavourful vegetarian delight on a bed of greens, with a fresh lemon vinaigrette. Find the full menu here.
When the music turns up and the drinks kick in, there's the Bar & Late Night Menu curated by The Shortmarket Club as Chef Mlaba shared (available Thu – Sun from 22:00 till close) that delivers comforting, filling, no-fuss food to line the stomach and keep the party rolling. We also sampled some of the signature eats of this menu, including the steak sandwich – piled with marinated steak, caramelised onions, mozzarella, tomato, and rocket, and served with fries, it's an easy post-dancefloor meal. The pulled beef tacos were a winner: tender beef, juicy, and topped with guac and pickled onions on handmade tortillas. Find the Bar & Late Night Menu here.
Say cheers: Drinks at The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
To wash down the feast, we dived into the signature cocktails from the bar & late-night menu. The Henny Pot – a smooth mix of Hennessy, elderflower, lemon, and Appletiser – was a refreshing start. We also enjoyed the Daytime Dreaming, a tropical punch of Bacardi, passion fruit, mango, lime, and lemonade that perfectly matches The Greenhouse’s jungle aesthetic. Between these, we were hard-pressed to pick a favourite. We couldn’t resist classics, too: a well-mixed Long Island Iced Tea (one of the better ones we’ve had) and a Paloma with a surprising vanilla syrup twist that kept things interesting. On the whole, we think the cocktails here are mixed to perfection and the variety on offer is excellent.
In review
Although a promising new venture with good food, The Shortmarket Club’s presence at The Greenhouse is subtle – it doesn't shout, it suggests, with a logo at the entrance and inside the restaurant (but blink and you’ll miss these) and another on the menu cover and smaller details like coasters. Inside, it still looks and feels entirely like The Greenhouse we are familiar with, which may prove confusing for those specifically seeking The Shortmarket Club experience. Chef Mlaba’s warm hospitality and insight on our visit were the strongest link to The Shortmarket Club. For now, the collaboration feels more like a whisper than the bold statement one might expect from two establishments with such distinct identities. But perhaps that’s intentional – to let the food do the talking.The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse menu: 8/10.
An intentional variety of options to suit different tastes.
Drinks: 9/10.
Refreshing, well-crafted cocktails. The signature cocktails are better most, with a very good Long Island Iced Tea.
Ambience: 7/10.
With the original Shortmarket Club in mind, we visited on a late Friday afternoon, thinking it was an optimal time to enjoy a relaxed meal and good conversation. But as the evening rolled in, the atmosphere shifted from sit-down restaurant to lively lounge and party spot, which The Greenhouse is known for. Our rating is more about our expectations. If you were thinking of impressing the in-laws, this is not the spot, but if dinner and the club are your preference, then this is your place. Arrive early if you’re keen just to eat and truly savour your meal.
The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse opening hours and location
Open Thu – Sun from 16:00 – late.24 Central, 6 Gwen Lane & Fredman Dr, Sandton
Contact the restaurant on +27 79 179 7362 or book online here.
We were invited to The Shortmarket Club x The Greenhouse. The views expressed here are our own.
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