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Joburg’s inner city tells its story through food. From Ethiopian feasts in Bramfontein Werf and long-table dinners in Yeoville to old-school Portuguese spots in Troyeville, street food in Fordsburg and great coffee and bar eats in Braamfontein, the city is packed with flavour, history and constant reinvention.
1. Best coffee shops in Johannesburg’s inner city
Home of the Bean
Founded by husband and wife duo Leroy Kgopa and Itumeleng Manamela, Home of the Bean in Maboneng is all about a quality experience, from the beans to the Houtlander furniture. With a new addition to the ever-growing cultural precinct of Victoria Yards, Home of the Bean has the distinction of being a "coffice" for some of the city's coolest creatives. The carrot cake brownies are noteworthy, as are the delicious smoothies. We also love the vegan additions to the menu.
Arts On Main, 264 Fox St, Maboneng
Skinner Café
A top-to-toe green gem, Skinner Café is a favourite for Braamfontein locals. In the Play Braam district, the café has quickly become a staple for ambience and part of the fun and trendy pulse of Braamfontein. With great coffee and freshly baked goods (like pistachio chocolate chunky cookies), Skinner Café is a must.
70 Juta St, Braamfontein
Troy’s Café
From the team behind the Troyeville Hotel and Casa das Natas, Troy’s is a small hole-in-the-wall coffee shop across the road from the Rand Club in Marshalltown. Enjoy your coffee with a classic Portuguese pastel de nata, and the chicken rissoles are particularly good.
34 Loveday St, Marshalltown
2. Inner city cafés and casual bites
Afters Treats & Eats
Tucked away in 44 Stanley in Braamfontein Werf, After Treats & Eats came into existence from a passion for gourmet baking, with an extensive sit-down menu and delicious pastries ready to go.
44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
Salvation Café
Home of Joburg's best cheesecake – as voted in 2023 – the breakfast options at Salvation Café are always excellent, turning that morning meal into a memorable experience with a choice of "healthy", "sweet" and "savoury", plus breakfast burritos.
44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
Forest Gelato
Also at 44 Stanley in Braamfontein Werf, Forest Gelato is a small-batch gelateria that boasts incredibly fresh, high-quality gelatos made from scratch. They also have a top-notch selection of dairy-free sorbets made the traditional way.
44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
The Bioscope
Among the many offerings at The Bioscope at 44 Stanley in Braamfontein Werf, their pizzas – named after movie stars – are especially standout. With options like The (vegan) Woody Harrelson (rocket, avo, garlic and peppadews on a cheese-less base) and The Seth Rogan (bacon and pineapple), you can enjoy them in-theatre, or outside on the pavilion.
44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
Saint Germain
44 Stanley’s Saint Germain is a quirky French-inspired café with a certain, dare we say it, "je ne sais quoi" atmosphere which is warm, inviting and laidback. Run by French-Congolese designer Marien Mel, it’s the perfect place to people-watch.
44 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
The Test Bakery
A real weekend-special, The Test Bakery in Braamfontein Werf is a sumptuous treat, from croissants and wild sourdoughs to burnt-butter cakes and savoury sourdough pizzas. Typically only open on Saturday and Sunday, The Test Bakery is testing out more hours as well.
5 Quince St, Braamfontein Werf
The Fish and Chip Shop
Simply named The Fish and Chip Shop, Joburg's most authentic fish and chip takeaway is hidden away in Victoria Yards in Lorentzville. It's described by husband-and-wife shop owners Nic and Daniela as "a restaurant battered with love, sprinkled with passion and wrapped up in fate".
Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville
Fama Delicatessen
Founded in South Africa in 1987 by Spanish immigrant Roberto Sa Gimenez, Fama Delicatessen in Victoria Yards in Lorentzville sells cured meats like salami, chorizo, chistorra and Serrano ham, made the Spanish way. They also have delicious deli deals, complete with fancy cheeses and fish pâtés, and a brilliant and reasonable sandwich menu.
Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville
3. Global cuisines to try in Joburg's inner city
Little Addis Cafe
On Stanley Avenue in Braamfontein Werf, Little Addis Cafe serves up arguably the best Ethiopian food in Joburg. An unassuming little restaurant across from 44 Stanley, the flavours they offer do all the talking: combos with chicken, beef, lamb, pumpkin, cabbage, spinach, potato and beetroot, served on white or brown injera (a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread made from teff flour). They also have traditional Ethiopian coffee, served in espresso cups and made over a charcoal fire.
41 Stanley Ave, Braamfontein Werf
Yeoville Dinner Club
For a truly intimate culinary experience, the Yeoville Dinner Club on Rockey Street in Yeoville has only 24 seats a night at their bookings-only, long table-style dinner club. Described by host Sanza Sandile as a “Pan Afrikan Plate”, Yeoville Dinner Club is about strangers sitting side by side, where conversation matters as much as the innovative fusion menu.
24 Rockey St, Yeoville
Little Kitchener's
For authentic pizza in the heart of Braamfontein, try Little Kitchener’s. They offer a mix of classic Italian and unique house-special pizzas, and serve as the perfect place to hang out before going out for the night.
71 Juta St, Braamfontein
Sadies Bistro
Located in the Main Street Mining District, a lovely pedestrian street in Marshalltown, Sadies Bistro is an homage to owner Julian Ribeiro ’s grandmother, Sadie. Whether you're in the mood for breakfast baskets, Benedicts, housemade pastries, or craving an omelette or tramezzini, there’s something for everyone. Signature dishes include the Lebanese mezze plate and the ever-popular pasta aglio, olio e peperoncino.
69 Main St, Marshalltown
The Troyeville
The historic The Troyeville (dating back to 1939) in Troyeville has roots in unfussy Portuguese food. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, and with a rolling array of live music, talks and the likes, The Troyeville is a go-to for consistently good times. Bonus: utterly delicious pasteis de nata, made in-house by Casa Das Natas.
1403 Albertina Sisulu Rd, Troyeville
4. Bars and pub food in inner city Joburg
Kitchener's
Kitchener’s in Braamfontein has history. The venue, originally built in 1902, has undergone a myriad changes before settling on this version of Kitchener’s: a cultural hub with a mixed bag of people, from CEOs to students.
71 Juta St, Braamfontein
Rand Club
This historic members-only club was founded in 1887, with spectacular interiors harking back to a bygone era of British colonial style and fabulously wealthy mining magnates. Nowadays, the club in Marshalltown is open to all (as long as you obey the smart dress code) and hosts regular non-members events like opera performances, book fairs and author talks. Rand Club also has the famous Main Bar, said to be the longest in Africa, serving drinks to the public Tuesday through Saturday.
33 Loveday St, Marshalltown
The Troyeville sports bar
The Troyeville in Troyeville is a go-to venue to catch the big game – with a cold one in hand and truly fantastic views, and 20 TV screens dotted around to make sure you don’t miss a crucial second.
1403 Albertina Sisulu Rd, Troyeville
Hugh’s
Named for South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela, Hugh’s is an elegant, glitzy homage to old-school Joburg, with plush velvet banquettes, a drinks menu and a light food menu (think beef burgers and battered hake and chips).
13th floor, 10 De Beer St, Braamfontein
Artivist/Untitled Basement
Situated in Braamfontein, Artivist/Untitled Basement is an effortlessly cool bar, eatery and gallery with a menu as creative as the events they host, from beef tongue to ceviche.
7 Reserve St, Braamfontein
Jozi Gold Brewing Company
Jozi Gold Brewing Company in Braamfontein is located in a space that’s rich with Joburg history, where the iconic The Orbit used to stand. It’s a micro-brewery, performance space and restaurant wrapped in one, where the spirit of the inner city is exemplified. While their beer menu is extensive – ranging from Sorghum Golden Ale to Golden Taj, a basmati rice lager – their food menu is just as impressive, with a showstopping smoked beef brisket pizza and recommended beer pairings on the menu.
81 De Korte St, Braamfontein
5. Street food and markets in the inner city
Fordsburg Market
Open daily, Fordsburg Square in Fordsburg is a huge attraction for street-food lovers. There’s also the Fordsburg night market for those who enjoy authentic samoosas, biryanis and sizzling tikka kebabs.
202 Albertina Sisulu Rd, Fordsburg
Kwa Mai Mai
Just a few blocks from the Maboneng precinct, Kwa Mai Mai is a street market famous for its traditional healers, and a cornerstone of Johannesburg’s street food culture. From the many stalls, visitors of the market can expect grilled beef cuts, sausages and ox liver (isibindi senkomo), with a side of phuthu pap (also known as krummel pap), sliced tomato and fresh chilli.
14 Berea Rd, City and Suburban
World of Samoosas
In the shopping mecca of the Oriental Plaza in Fordsburg, World of Samoosas specialises in all things samoosa related: from classics like cheese and corn and mutton to more adventurous bites like chocolate and coconut.
Oriental Plaza, 38-60 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Fordsburg
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