Restaurants in the Joburg CBD act as the gateway to cross-continental cuisine. Down every street you will find restaurants and cafés that take a trip on the wild side and safari through true Africana. Hold on to your horses as you set out to discover dishes from Southern Africa, Ghana, and Nigeria to name a few. From award-winning curries to corner store Jolof rice and pepper fish, Joburg is a food tourist's true destination. Thanks to the number of hotels and hostels hosting the inner city, the food game in town are on point. But without further ado, let's introduce you to the top restaurants in the Joburg CBD.
Food photo created by jcomp - www.freepik.com[/caption]
What Are You Looking For?
African American Asian Indian EuropeanAfrican
Pata Pata
Located in Maboneng, Pata Pata is a local café that serves traditional African-inspired cuisine. Their menu offers simple meals like burgers, wraps, and salads. Signature dishes include stuffed chicken breast, lamb shank, oxtail stew and crocodile wors (yup, your read that right - croc sausage!). The restaurant is known for its live entertainment too with regular live jazz tunes, making it a great spot for a chilled night out with friends.Little Addis
A Market on Main favorite, Little Addis can be found in Maboneng at Fox Street Studios. Serving their local favourite platters, as well as traditional Ethiopian specialties, Little Addis is a must-try food experience. Straight out of West Africa, Little Addis also offers you delicious berbere sauce and coffees to inhouse made butters, habesha jewellery, fresh and colorful seasonal vegetables, and more.Habesha
Named after the people of Ethiopia, Habesha offers a doorway into the wonderful world of West African food. From fermented flatbreads (injera) to authentic Ethiopian coffee, Habesha is one of our favourite restaurants in Maboneng. We highly recommend you try the Kbe fir-fir which consists of shredded flatbread and spices mixed into clarified butter.
American
City Perk Cafe
Bringing al fresco dining to the inner city, City Perk Cafe is one of those restaurants in the Joburg CBD that offers good coffee, great eats and a relaxed atmosphere. The menu is filled to the brim with exciting choices: a range of different benedicts for breakfast, big burgers for lunch, and even rump steaks galore for dinner. Vegans are in for a treat too with items that surpass the usual salad and chips choices. One such option would be the vego pasta, made up of grilled mushrooms, olives and napolitana sauce.Mama Mexicana
Traditional Mexican food is hard to come by in Joburg. Sure, there's a 'Mexican' restaurant on every second corner these days, but none of them are... authentic. Meet Mama Mexicana. The restaurant known for their spicy, chilli dishes in the form of nachos, chilli poppers, stuffed jalapeno, enchilada chicken, stuffed peppers, chimichangas, quesadillas, chilli bowls and a variety of vegetarian meals too. Mama Mexicana also serves traditional Mexican beer to wash down every meal. If you’re in for a Mexican Fiesta, then try out Mama Mexicana.The Marshall
Located on Ferreira Street in Marshaltown, The Marshall offers delicious breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings to the masses. If you do head to this eatery be sure to give the coffee a go, it is by far some of the best in the city. Vegetarians are in for a treat as they have a handful of exciting items to choose from, including a scrumptious quinoa salad.
Asian
Swallows Inn
Situated in Marshaltown, Swallows Inn offers Chinese takeaway with an option to dine in. Dishes on offer include the usual suspects: sweet and sour pork, crispy beef, and chicken chow mein. [caption id="attachment_115650" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Food photo created by jcomp - www.freepik.com[/caption]
European
Gentleman's Arthouse
Who would have thought that one of the swankiest restaurants in Johannesburg would be located inside an old Edwardian building in Newtown. The Gentleman's Arthouse is so fancy that the only way you can visit them is by appointment only. Book yourself an evening to remember at this awesome venue. They serve craft cocktails and four-course meals in a beautiful environment.Marabi Club
The cuisine at The Marabi Club is not what you expect it to be. The food here is not your traditional bar basket grub, oh no! It's far more than that. The Marabi Club's Head Chef, Vusi Ndlovu, is the master behind the amazing menu! His take on the tapas menu has pushed guests to experience something new and explore the boundaries of dishes they thought they would never try. Oysters and beef fat, calamari and grapes are a few of the dishes he serves to his diners.Urbanologi
Set in the Mad Giant brewery on 1 Fox Street, Ferreirasdorp, with funky industrial styling, Urbanologi has a great atmosphere. Making full use of their user-friendly online reservation system, the Urbanologi team make every effort to source fresh ingredients from the local markets daily – something which a discerning guest can quickly taste when those beautifully crafted and well-presented crispy dishes reach your table. With something for everyone, Urbanologi attracts different crowds, from hipsters to trendy city dwellers, but is probably not ideal for young children who would want to play in a kiddies area though.
