Chef Dario de Angeli has a long, illustrious history in Joburg’s food scene – and it’s getting longer. He shook up Parktown North by opening the Cube Tasting Kitchen; introduced Workshop 55 to the tapas-hungry part of the area; and then resigned from the partnership while it was in full swing to go back to expand Cube.

Now Dario is creating liquor-loving food at a bar in Maboneng in The Cosmopolitan, a revamped heritage building that was once an Edwardian hotel. Known as Lion Bar in a former life, The Cosmopolitan Bar has been resurrected with the original lion-carved bar and some new tables, and serves bites to match wines, gins, whiskeys and beers.

A photo posted by Heather Mason (@2summers) on Aug 8, 2016 at 8:33am PDT

It’s not your regular pub grub; this chef is incapable of producing unexciting fare. The idea, Dario says, is for people to enjoy good foods and wines and very good whiskeys – “even spend the day, unrushed, in this interesting space”. Soon, visitors will be able to visit the original downstairs cellar to select a bottle of wine. The Cosmopolitan Bar menu features dishes like the whitefish ceviche with lime, coriander and ginger, served with a coconut-milk jelly and rice pudding; a plate of three pieces of pork – hock, kassler and sausage – with leeks, spinach, paprika and Moroccan spices; and some incredible desserts.

 

Natural lighting used to good affect on our latest quail dish! Confit leg, rolled sausage, breast with a licorice jus, morrocan cous-cous, betroot cubes, harissa yoghurt and a lemon fluid gel #cubetastingkitchen #cube #restaurants #johannesburg #chefsofinstagram #gastroart #theartofplating #quail #plating

 

A photo posted by Cube Tasting Kitchen (@cubetastingkitchen) on Sep 25, 2014 at 7:22am PDT

For the moment, The Cosmopolitan building has hosted two open days, and is being carefully curated into a more permanent mix of retail, art and great food. Dario has launched a series of soft openings for The Cosmopolitan Bar while all these elements are being completed.

Project #366daysofmakingspace, Day 220: New Jozi spaces. The beautiful new sculpture garden at the old Cosmopolitan Club in downtown Joburg. I’m so excited that this historic building has finally reopened – blog post coming soon. #2summers366daysofmakingspace #discoverjoburg #joburg #johannesburg #art

A photo posted by Heather Mason (@2summers) on Aug 7, 2016 at 6:49am PDT

As for Cube, Dario will be downsizing it into a cosier and more casual place, with three courses offered. Visitors to The Cosmopolitan can look forward to something else astounding – a stupendous culinary adventure – in addition to The Cosmopolitan Bar, coming soon.