Housed within the imposing Forum Homini Hotel at the sprawling Letamo Game Estate, Roots is a wonderful choice for a memorable dining experience in the heart of Johannesburg. Wooden-finish flooring, crystal-like booths and tables draped in black tablecloths complete a jovial ambiance at Roots. While it specializes in carefully crafted table d'hôte meals offered for dinner, lunch and breakfast, weekend lunches and brunches are also equally popular here. Wine tastings held on Fridays attract wine buffs, while gourmands hop in to relish a mix of cuisines like African, Asian and European. Chef Adriaan Maree has chalked out an intelligently priced bill of fare that does justice to diners' whims and budgets.
The Radium Beer Hall in Orange Grove is a happening jazz bar and restaurant. The restaurant has live jazz bands playing on most days. The Radium is practically a tourist attraction and has a Joburg feel to it owing to its long history—it was started as a tearoom in 1929 and turned into a bar in 1944. The bar also serves snacks and spicy Portuguese food which you can enjoy on the long bar just like in the old days of mining!
Koi Restaurant entices your palate with devouring Asian delicacies as you dine here. The restaurant is known for offering a range of Pan Asian variety along with an impressive list of beverages. Enjoy some steaming dimsums or opt for sushi rolls or choose from the variety of delicious noodles and curries. You can pair your meal with the unique African cocktail offerings or enjoy fine wines and other beverages from their menu. Its elegant interiors and cozy furnishings complemented with warm hospitality make this a great spot to catch up with your friends as you unwind after work.
The Brazen Head offers a unique dining experience in Johannesburg. The casual restaurant/pub blends the lively atmosphere and impeccable draft selection of a typical Irish pub with a South African spirit. The spacious restaurant opens up into a charming veranda with picnic seating and a private library where guests can browse that also hosts intimate musical performances by local artists. Sip on original concoctions like the Brazen Head Tropical Tonic or a classic with a twist like the bitter apricot whisky sour. Savor house specialties like the beef and Guinness pie or the balsamic marinated lamb chops and soak in the laid-back atmosphere. Come here on game night for heaped snack platters, pints of beer and to cheer on your favorite team. Kids are welcome during the day, and the restaurant offers a special kids menu as well.
Katzy's is a friendly piano bar modeled after the piano bars in US. It specializes in whiskeys, cognacs and cigars which you can enjoy comfortably in the oversize leather sofas. The art-deco ambiance and live music make for a very soothing environment. The dance floor gets going once the live music starts around 9p. Katzy's at the Grillhouse is open daily and like all bars in Jo'burg stays open till late.
Inspired by cuisine from "God's Own Country", Kerala, the menu here is authentic regional Indian cuisine served with a modern twist. Savor a variety of Indian tapas as you sample an array of delicacies from crisp onion bhajias, and chicken malai tikka to the aromatic chicken Chettinadu and signature Thava prawn fish curry. The aromas, flavors and textures of Indian spices come alive under guidance of the talented chefs, and the restaurant's open plan keeps you entertained with views of the lively tandoor where breads are roasted in a traditional oven at a rapid speed and served piping hot at the table. Dining is a social experience; come share a dinner where who you dine with is as important as what you dine on.
With a significant presence throughout the city, this home-grown chain of cafes is one of the city's favorite for its daily caffeine fix. Wiesenhof sources from some of the best coffee-producing regions in the world, and operates its own roastery to ensure a high quality product. Besides the choice of coffee, they also offer teas, milkshakes and soft drinks. The food menu goes beyond the usual cafe fare, with hearty breakfast choices, baked goodies, sandwiches, salads and much more. Check website for more.
Treat your taste buds to a devouring meal at Senhor Calistos. This restaurant is popular for serving scrumptious fast food dishes along with a list of cool beverages to accompany your meal. Their spicy chicken wings are the popular favorites from their menu and hence a must-try. This is a family-friendly restaurant and has special menu for your little ones to relish. Its outdoor seating and prompt service make it an ideal spot to grab a quick bite on a busy day.
Experience the goodness of farm-to-table dining at the Leafy Greens Cafe. This local gem is a true delight for the city's vegans and vegetarians, with plenty to delight the carnivores amongst us as well. The Leafy Greens Cafe serves up a seasonal menu that draws its ingredients from itts own vegetable garden and local farms. The food is always fresh and flavorful, packed with the goodness of natural ingredients. Apart from scrumptious veggie burgers, baked pizzas and crisp salads, the menu also offers a selection of desserts, ice creams, smoothies and fruit juices to delight your sweet tooth. While the a la carte menu is intriguing enough, the weekend buffet spread is a treat that you simply must indulge in. Heaped with curries, rice, mezze, falafals, lasagna and other scrumptious eats, the buffet is a veritable feast that is sure to appeal even to the most avid meat lovers. Stop by the Leafy Greens deli before heading out and stock up up delicious healthy, natural and fresh goodies like cakes, breads and dips.
Housed within Naturally Yours Centre, Chez Girard is an intimate spot to devour authentic French cuisine. This Bryanston Continental bistro radiates a laid-back setting, allowing its guests to enjoy the impeccable hospitality native to French cafes and look forward to a memorable dining experience. The space is divided into three airy sections. While the main dining rooms radiates a warm milieu, the cigar bar proffers a cozy ambiance to light up a cigarette or sip on some chilled concoctions. The Bar promises to be a trendy venue for private galas and corporate events. Menu specials like Chicken supreme and Lamb noisette diable é are worth sampling at Chez Girard.
White upholstered dining areas beautifully blend with textured walls and white ceiling at Cafe Del Sol, a trendy Italian joint in the heart of Johannesburg. This Cafe Del Sol outlet is found at the bustling Olivedale Corner Shopping Centre and welcomes a mix of locals and tourists alike. A thoughtfully crafted menu introduces gourmands to the aromatic spices and herbs of Italy's Amalfi coast, Sicily and other regions. Apart from the regular pastas and pizzas, one also gets to devour delectable gnocchi, ravioli, lasagne and succulent seafood preparations. Go for the Porcini risotto, a heavenly dish made with pork fillet, truffle oil, peas, mushrooms and other peppery ingredients. Stuffed calamari also happens to be a favorite here, as food snobs simply love gorging on the calamaris bursting with capers, green olives, red pepper, chili and ricotta cheese.
A bustling neighboring pizza joint in Johannesburg's Sandton neighborhood, Polpetta offers an exciting menu of the Italian delicacy and other toothsome preparations. Wood-fired ovens churn out piquant pizzas topped with some zesty sauces, vegetables and meat chunks. Equally delicious is its pasta served in an array of dressings. Lush lamb cutlets, carpaccio, home-style meatballs presented with fiery Napoletana sauce and veal limone are some other popular dishes at Polpetta. A wisely chosen wine list well complements the inviting fare. Polpetta also proffers decadent traditional desserts that are sure to appease one's sweet tooth.