If you’ve decided to stay at home this holiday season or just take a weekend trip nearby, we’ve curated a list of restaurants which you can visit for an unforgettable meal at gorgeous locations in Gauteng.

Carnivore Restaurant (Muldersdrift)

If the iconic Carnivore Restaurant in Nairobi, Kenya has long been on your wish list, you can treat yourself to a meaty feast at its Gauteng branch this holiday season. Aptly nicknamed a “Beast of a Feast”, the award-winning 27-year-old branch offers the same all-you-can-eat buffet concept featuring exotic game meats that can be paired with an extensive South African wine list. While the highlight of this restaurant is, of course, the charcoal-grilled game and domestic meats skewered on Masaai swords, the menu also features a selection of vegetarian and seafood dishes. Since the restaurant is extremely popular, a prior reservation is required to ensure you get a table. The buffet is priced at R285 per adult and R150 for children under 12 years, except on “Throwback Thursdays”, when the buffet is priced at R265 per adult and R140 for children under 12 years.

 

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Mozambik (Benoni)

Overlooking a picturesque lake, Mozambik Benoni offers a tranquil getaway a short drive away from the hustle and bustle of Joburg, where you can enjoy a meal in a beautiful setting surrounded by an abundance of birdlife. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating and has a fun play area for kids. Mozambik is the newest addition to the chain of restaurants across South Africa known for traditional Portuguese food.

De Kloof Restaurant (Waterkloof)

The award-winning De Kloof Restaurant is known as much for its beautiful setting within the Waterkloof Golf Course, as for its unique and delectable dining options, which feature various types of game meat, including springbok, venison and eland, apart from the regular menu. A tasting menu is also available featuring a five-course meal at a cost of R495 per person (plus R225 for wine pairing), while the regular three-course set menu is priced at R345 per person.

 

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The Blue Crane (Nieuw Muckleneuk)

As the name suggests, The Blue Crane, situated next to the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary, provides a unique dining experience close to Pretoria where one can watch beautiful blue cranes while enjoying a meal. The Blue Crane offers a breakfast and lunch buffet every Sunday and a kiddies’ menu for younger patrons. Apart from the main restaurant, there is also a deli on the outside deck of the extended restaurant and an upstairs bar with its own deck overlooking the dam and the bird sanctuary. The venue also offers a space for private or corporate functions, including a formal dining area next to the fireplace and a Boma function area with a bonfire for chilly evenings. In addition, there is a custom jungle gym for children.

Yeoville Dinner Club (Yeoville)

Fancy a taste of Pan-African cuisine just a few hours away from home? Look no further than Yeoville Dinner Club, managed by artist Sanza Sandile, which offers a five-course menu featuring the best of Pan-African cuisine, including meat, seafood, vegetarian and vegan dishes, on two tables with a seating capacity of either nine or 18 people. This exclusive experience can be enjoyed from Wednesday to Sunday from 5pm to 9pm. The set meal is priced at R525 per person and can be paired with in-house cocktails and mocktails. Since there is limited seating available, prior reservation is a must to ensure your seat at the table, quite literally! And if you want to know more about the unique flavours on your plate, Sandile also offers cooking classes and culinary walks to spread awareness about Yeoville cuisine.

 

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Higher Ground Restaurant (Bryanston)

If you’re looking for an unforgettable dining adventure in the heart of Johannesburg, sky dining at the Higher Ground Restaurant in Bryanston is a must. Sit at a Sky Table suspended 50 metres in the air with spectacular views of the Sandton skyline and Joburg cityscape, while you enjoy the experience of a lifetime. The Sky Table accommodates 22 people at a single sitting with two catering staff and has eight lifts in total. Since the table is only available on Saturdays, prior booking is mandatory. The price of this experience plus dining is R495 per person for a 45-minute breakfast (R595 for champagne breakfast), R695 for a one-hour two-course lunch and R975 for a 90-minute three-course dinner. You can also make your birthdays and anniversaries extra special with complimentary cupcakes thrown in from the Sky Table kitchen, while the staff serenade you in the sky.

French Toast Koffie Kafee (Hartbeespoort)

Just a short drive away from Johannesburg and Pretoria, Little Paris in Hartbeespoort is definitely worth a visit. The original film set for the movie French Toast directed by Paul Kruger, the space features the very popular charming café by the same name, which is known for serving up unusual sweet and savoury versions of French toast, including the Eiffel Tower French toast burger. While no reservations are required, the café, which offers both indoor and outdoor seating, gets very crowded on weekends, so be prepared to join a long queue for a table. Apart from the café, the space also features a 12.5-metre-high Eiffel Tower, the “I love you wall” and a lock bridge where you can attach “love locks” engraved with your lover’s name that can be purchased on the spot. Other attractions include a gift shop, deli, boutique, photography corner and even a bird sanctuary and aquarium, while the café area is usually teeming with Korean peacocks strutting their stuff.

De Vette Mossel (Parys)

With a name like “The Fat Mussel”, seafood has to be the star of the menu and what better way to indulge than a seven-course unlimited hot buffet with 13 seafood dishes prepared in front of you, to be enjoyed barefoot on the sand. De Vette Mossel offers this West Coast experience every Saturday and Sunday for lunch (12–5pm) at R260 per adult and for dinner by reservation only (7–10pm) in a beach setting, far away from the crowds. Featuring a substantial kids’ play area and a swimming pool, it is a treat for the entire family, and you can bring your own cooler box, drinks, glasses and ice with no corkage fee, or order drinks from the bar on-site. Extremely popular, the restaurant recommends booking at least a week in advance. It also does private bookings for 25 guests or more on weekdays.

SecretEATS (various)

If you dig speakeasies or mystery clubs, SecretEATS is something to seriously consider. Rapidly gaining popularity for its underground dining concept promising diners exceptional cuisine at notable restaurants, SecretEATS endeavours to bring together rising culinary stars and discerning diners under the same roof for unforgettable experiences centred around food. So how does it work? You have to fill out a form with a few details to be added to the SecretEATS list. Thereafter, an invitation will be sent about two weeks prior to an event in your area, with a 72-hours booking window for a ticket to the event accommodating up to four guests per invite. However, the exact location and other details will only be sent on the morning of the event, with just a few secret hints dropped along the way till then. Sound interesting? Visit https://www.thesecreteats.com/ to request an invite.

 

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