With warmer days calling for dining out in the outdoors, these are the Johannesburg restaurants we’re loving this summer.

Black Horse. Photo supplied.

Black Horse Brewery and Restaurant (Magaliesburg)

After a picturesque country drive, you’ll arrive at your perfectly relaxing and idyllic destination. Black Horse Estate in Magaliesburg is where this family-friendly restaurant serves craft beers from the estate’s artisanal distillery and killer burgers and wood-fired pizzas. Outdoor seating under the trees gives guests gorgeous views of the Zeekoeihoek Valley. Highly recommended is the Black Horse Goliath burger, which has grass-fed whole beef patty, bacon, matured gouda, onions caramelised in Black Horse Red Ale, signature barbecue sauce and chips.

Gia’s on Montrose (Morningside)

Gia’s on Montrose is the perfect outdoor restaurant for those who want to feel like they’ve escaped the city while remaining in it. A lovely nursery offers a perfect excuse to do some plant shopping, but also provides the perfect setting for a chilled outdoor meal. Gia’s burgers, made with freshly baked buns and home-made 250g pure beef patties, are well renowned. Try the Lazy Afternoon (cheddar, avo and bacon), the Ayoba (double patty, cheddar, tomato and onion), or the Pluck Pluck chicken burger. All burgers come with fries or salad, or half/half.

Leafy Greens Café (Muldersdrift)

A little like a place from The Magic Faraway Tree but with a slick African twist, Leafy Greens is one of those charming cafés that keeps drawing you back with its tasty and nutritious food and stylish, comfortable outdoor setting. Set in an organic farm in Muldersdrift, the café, which has lush greenery surrounding tables in the outdoor seating area, serves vegetarian and vegan meals that are original and imaginative. Try the bunless beetroot burger comprising a home-made beetroot-and-bean patty, vegan barbecue sauce, greens, sprouts, avocado, salsa and mustard.

Leafy Greens Cafe. Photo supplied.

Munch Café (Bryanston)

Another plant-lover’s heaven, Munch Café, set at Bryanston’s The Garden Shop, is a wonderful spot for weekend breakfast or lunch in a charming location that is both green and relaxed. Great coffee and free WiFi make it a perfect spot to have working lunch meetings too. The menu comprises mainly light, healthy meals, but they also have pizzas, which are pretty awesome and generously proportioned – almost impossible to finish alone in one sitting.)

Secret Garden (Fourways)

A stately and scenic tea garden sets the scene for an elegant outdoor meal at the Secret Garden at Norscot Manor. This idyllic venue for tea parties, breakfast and lunch retains key elements of its sumptuous 1930s design. The Secret Garden salad is an ideal summer choice with grilled chicken breast, halloumi, baby spinach, tomato and sweet chilli mayo, served on rye or health bread. It is bound to leave you perfectly fuelled to take a leisurely stroll around the gardens afterwards.

Secret Garden. Photo supplied.

Tres Jolie (Roodepoort)

This family favourite boasts sand pits, jungle gyms, swings and other amenities to keep the little ones entertained. Plenty of wooden tables and benches make Tres Jolie a laid-back, warm and cosy weekend dining spot with delicious wood-fired pizzas. While there, inquire about the popular Nantucky pizza: a home-made thin-crust pizza base with rich Napoletana sauce, chicken, bacon, feta and avo and mozzarella cheese.

Tres Jolie. Photo supplied.