Brought to you by VISI

Joining the Marble Group stable, Zioux offers a luxury fine-dining experience with a jaw-dropping interior theme. Designed to stimulate the senses, the idea was to play on the idea of Johannesburg as an urban jungle – a place where locals work hard, play hard and celebrate both nature and the built environment in a complex juxtaposition of food, design and South African life. Early 1900s Art Nouveau meets ’70s retro in a space that immediately invokes opulence, abundance and novelty.  

From dramatic stained-glass doors and a backlit onyx-marble bar to an elevated VIP section and Krisjan Rossouw’s art series of human forms with animal heads, the space references an African take on Art Nouveau – flipping the traditional onto its head in a unique and contemporary way. Think lion-clawed stools, green tartan, leopard print countertops and creative climbing ant sculptures. The potential for this to be executed in an over-the-top and garish way seems unlimited, but the team delivers a perfect balance of pared-back chic with creative flair and freedom. 

Marble worked closely and conceptually with design agency GRID, Reddeco and the Blackline Group to bring their visions to life. “We all tend to be creatures of habit, controlled by insecurities, work and relationships; held captive like animals – so we created an environment where you can break free,” says interior designer and Marble Group’s project manager Irene Kyriacou. “Zioux will bring warm authenticity but also decadent detail to life,” she continues. “Everything in the space will be custom-made and intricate, to create an air of comfort and timelessness in the inside-outside space.” 

VISI’s Editor-in-Chief Steve Smith found selecting Zioux as the 2022 Eat Out VISI Style Award winner – announced at the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards ceremony this November – an easy choice. The judging criteria involved choosing an establishment with exceptional design that completely aligns with the overall restaurant concept and food being served. Synonymous with being tastemakers and purveyors of style, VISI has been calling the shots on what’s hot both locally and globally for well over a decade.  

When asked about what made Zioux the stand-out restaurant, Steve explains: “A sensory, tongue-in-cheek interpretation of Joburg’s ‘urban jungle’ moniker, our winner’s design can best be described as a riotous mix of early 1900s Art Nouveau and 1970s retro. It’s a vibrant décor wonderland backed up by a menu packed with punchy flavours. It’s also a restaurant that represents a new style of dining here in South Africa, one that harnesses the city’s powerful cosmopolitan energy and turns into a night-time venue pulsing with great music that celebrates the heartbeat and soul of Johannesburg.” 

Read about the other winners at of 2022 Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards

Images: Elsa Young