Vovo Telo, Lonehill

Head to Vovo Telo in Lonehill for their take on freshly baked bread, rich coffee and truly yummy confectionery and pastries. While snacking on these delights, sit outside with your pooch and enjoy the fresh air. Sip on a Salted Caramel Mocha Brownie Shake while your dog enjoys a bowl of Vovo Telo's finest water of the day. Just be sure to grab a loaf of bread to take home before you leave.

Contact details: 011 024 2233 | Shop LL42, Lonehill Shopping Centre, 22 Lonehill Boulevard, Lonehill | [email protected] | vovotelo.co.za

Salvation Café, Milpark

There are few places as ideal for spending an afternoon with your pup than Salvation Café. Here, you and your furry friend can spend a lazy afternoon in the leafy courtyard. Tuck into the Salvation Gourmet Burger, with beef, bacon, caramalised onion, guacamole and local cheddar. Finish off your indulgence with the famed New York Cheesecake served with berry coulis.

Contact details: 011 482 7795 | 44 Stanley Avenue East, Milpark, Johannesburg | [email protected] | www.salvationcafe.co.za

Walkhaven Dog Park, Zwartkop

Walkhaven Dog Park in Zwartkop is the perfect place to spend some much needed time with your furball. The 22 hectares offers plenty of space for the dogs to run, play and burn off some excess energy. You can pack a picnic full of treats for you and the pooch or even have a braai. If you're too hungry to cook your own food after all the fun, then head to The Walkhaven Kitchen and grab a cheesy pizza instead.

Contact details: 071 212 9955 | Plot 77, Walkhaven Farm, Zwartkop

Royal Coffee Roasters, Edenvale

If you need a caffeine fix before, during or after a long walk with your furbaby, stop by at Royal Coffee Roasters at Stoneridge Centre in Edenvale. Sip on a cup of expertly prepared coffee alongside a decadent red velvet cake while you and your pooch enjoy the sights and scenes of the busy Vale. This is a great spot for you and your pooch to relax before tackling a hike through the avenues.

Contact details: 011 452 2751 | No 1 Stoneridge Drive, Stoneridge Centre, Greenstone Park, Edenvale | [email protected] | www.royalcoffee.co.za

Nice on 4th, Parkhurst 

For an impeccable breakfast with your dog, visit Nice on 4th. The home of good breakfast, this restaurant offers a variety of must-try delicious early morning eats. Options include the famous breakfast baskets, breakfast bunny chow and crumbly croissants. There's no better start to the day than with good food, strong coffee and a lovable fur ball at your feet.

Contact details: 011 788 6286 | 37 4th Ave, Cnr 14th street, Parkhurst | [email protected] | niceon4th.co.za

Voodoo Lily Café, Birdhaven 

Situated in Birdhaven, Voodoo Lily Café is the ultimate place to stop by for a light nibble with your dog. Not only do they offer a divine selection of breakfast, small plates, sandwiches, salads, burger, sushi and desserts, they also have yummy options for your pooch. Dogs can choose between chicken breasts, chicken livers and doggy biscuits, while you dine on a mouthwatering Tuna Melt.

Contact details: 011 442 6965 | 64 St Andrews Street, Corner Wrenrose Avenue, Birdhaven, Johannesburg | [email protected]

Milkbar, Parkmore

As the most popular hangout in Parkmore – from Friday after-work drinks to long lazy weekend lunches – Milk Bar is also a dog-friendly restaurant in Johannesburg. Provided they’re well-mannered and on a leash, they can join you for an afternoon beer and burger in the sun.

Contact details: 083 282 3758 | Holt St, Parkmore, Sandton, Johannesburg, Gauteng, 2196 | [email protected]

Arbour Café, Birdhaven

Are you looking for a dog-friendly restaurant in the north? No sweat! Arbour Café, located right next to Voodoo Lily Café, offers a French take on dining out with your beloved dog. Visit this establishment and taste their Crispy Duck Confit and five-spice cherry sauce, with your best friend at your side. Your buddy can enjoy the fresh air and all the attention from passersby while you get in some much-needed French comforts.

Contact details: 011 788 4111 | Corner St Andrew St and Wrenrose Ave, Birdhaven, Johannesburg | [email protected] | arbourcafe.co.za

The Usual On Grant, Norwood 

If you happen to be in Norwood, pop into The Usual On Grant. There is nothing ordinary about this restaurant, despite the name. Sit outside and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air with your furry friend. Refresh yourself after a long stroll with a well-deserved milkshake. Choose between Vanilla Cookies, Peppermint Crush, Caramel Crunch and Mixed Chocolate and Nut while your dog makes new friends.

Contact details: 011 483 0799 | 66 Grant Avenue, corner Nellie Road, Orange Grove, Norwood

Delta Café, Craighall Park

If you're dining out with your family, dogs included, there is no better spot than Delta Café. At this eatery, dogs can laze about on the green lawn while the kids go wild playing on the jungle gyms. While the furry and non-furry kids burn off their extra energy, you can take a break and enjoy a chilled glass of wine or even sneak in a slice of chocolate cake.

Contact details: 010 900 3850 | 20 Marlborough Road, Craighall Park, Johannesburg

Pizza Del Forno, Benoni

Are you looking for a dog-friendly restaurant in the east? Benoni has become a new go-to suburb for entertainment, dining and spending time with your beloved dog. Dine outdoors under the shade of the umbrellas at Pizza Del Forno in Farrarmere. While Rover tucks into a bowl of refreshing water, you can feast on your choice of traditional pasta or gourmet pizza. But be warned, Farrarmere is a dog-loving neighbourhood and there may be a chorus of "Ooh, he's so cute".

Contact details: 011 849 5870 | Farrarmere Shopping Centre, 20 Sheridan Rd, Cnr Bayley Road, Farrarmere, Benoni | [email protected] | www.delforno.co.za

 

Do you know of any other dog-friendly restaurants in the city? Let us know about them in the comments section below!

Remember that our “Top Picks” are not paid for and are compiled at the discretion of the journalist. We only write about what we love.

When the craving hits, the craving hits! And because of that we took up the challenge to knock out a list of the best pancakes in Joburg. Yup, we ate it all so that you will know where to park your car the next time the craving klaps.

Salvation Cafe

For quite some time Salvation Cafe has been the go-to brunch spot for locals in and around Milpark. As one of 44 Stanley's most popular tenants, Salvation Cafe offers an authentic cafe experience one would find along the French Riviera during springtime. And what better way to soak up the sun at the edge of Africa than with a hearty dose of pancakes? Choose between classic pancakes glittered with cinnamon sugar, fresh lemon juice and syrup, or island it up with a Caribbean-inspired flatty topped with fresh fruit, a berry coulis, syrup and yogurt.

Details: https://www.salvationcafe.co.za/

Arbour Cafe

A pancake by any other name is still a pancake... but if you want to be linguistically correct without stepping on any French toes, head to Arbour Cafe in Birdhaven to get your crepe on. Options range from the simple sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice and syrup entry to the more complex brandy flambéed orange butter sauce crepe. Our favourite would be the Nutella and banana rendition for sure. Wash this down with one of the many teas Arbour Cafe has on offer.

Details: https://arbourcafe.co.za/

The Perfect Cup

You know you're in for a treat when you sit down in a coffee shop that reminds you of your cultured aunt's kitchen. The perfect Cup in Parkview has become a home away from home for many Joburg residents... and with the homeliness comes pancakes, of course. With four sweet and three savoury options to choose from, there's something for every mood imaginable (as if we need an excuse to stuff our faces with the fluffiest and most delicate pancakes in Joburg). The menu sings songs of apples and cream, peppermint chocolate and ice cream, and mince, chicken and tuna fillings.

Details: http://www.perfectcup.co.za/

De Molen

With by far the biggest variety of pancakes on this list of top pancakes in Joburg, De Molen is a Dutch bakery and restaurant hidden inside a windmill in Edenvale. Far from the beautiful and heritage-rich streets of Holland, De Molen offers items such as savoury bacon and cheese, chicken mayo stuffed pancakes or cherries and cream, and Dutch apple and cinnamon pancakes, to name a few. The coffee is also good, the vibe great, and the rest of the menu just as delicious. De Molen truly serves the best pancakes in Joburg even though these are a tad thicker than we're used to.

Details: https://www.debackery.co.za/

Pick-A-Pancake

Pick-a-Pancake is a family restaurant with an endearing cow theme, and they specialises in meal-size pancakes with savoury or sweet fillings. The menu is not limited to pancakes, however, as they also serve a variety of meals such as breakfasts, tramezzini, salads, chips, etc... but we're here to talk about pancakes! Patrons can expect an interesting combination of diner-style fillings such as an English breakfast pancake complete with egg, roasted tomato, caramelised onion and bacon.

Details: 076 153 0617, Old Rustenburg Road, Hartbeespoort, Brits, 0216

Honorable Mention: Checkers

For years - if not decades - we've been nibbling our way through Saturday morning grocery shopping on the most amazing, plain Jane pancakes under the African sun. On most days, especially over weekends, Checkers stores across Gauteng roll out the old gas stove and a big jar of pancake batter and get cracking. The price per pancake is quite low and toppings are strictly limited to the old-school cinnamon sugar and lemon juice – which is sometimes exactly what you're craving.

By Shawn Greyling