High tea for two, brunch for three or dinner for four? Anything goes at Liberté and Pronto. In fact, there’s something inherently magical about finding the perfect meal that transports you far beyond your city’s borders. In a single day within a single neighbourhood, we journeyed from the elegance of Parisian brunch culture to the heartwarming charm of an Italian dinner — no passport required.
Our first stop was Liberté, a French bistro that celebrates the art of a long, leisurely Mimosa Brunch. By nightfall, we found ourselves just across the way at Pronto, an Italian gem that proves pasta and wine can be as soul-soothing as they are sophisticated.
If you’re searching for a Parisian street café experience in Johannesburg, look no further than Liberté. Driving into The Woods Shopping Centre in Craighall Park on a Saturday morning, we were met with a bustle of activity and life spilling out of the French bistro. With eclectic décor that gives the space an artsy, bohemian charm, Liberté feels like a place where countless stories have unfolded over croissants and coffee.
We were given the choice of High Tea, a Mimosa Brunch, or à la carte — and the orange juice and sparkling wine concoctions quickly called our names. Glasses in hand, we clinked in celebration of a family birthday, ready to indulge in the joy of the morning. The dedicated brunch menu did not disappoint: warm scones, buttery croissants, crispy calamari, and a decadent brioche French toast, all elevated with subtle French flair. By the time we rolled out of the bistro a few hours later, we felt lighter, happier, and very much transported to the streets of Paris.
Later that same day, we crossed the street to Pronto. By early evening, the atmosphere had shifted from bright and bustling to intimate and elegant. Taking our seats at a high table, we were swept into a lively dolce vita energy. With a toast to the week gone by and a clink to the one ahead, we sipped the house white wine and felt as though we’d been transported to a tucked-away side street in Italy.
We started with tomatoes on bruschetta, a delicate cold meat carpaccio, and mozzarella with zucchini ribbons on a bed of peppery rocket. For mains, the classic spaghetti and meatballs hit every comforting note, while a menu special — beef fillet strips in a silky cream and white wine sauce, served on creamy mash in place of polenta — added a touch of indulgence. The chef was accommodating, our waitress attentive, and the host effortlessly warm. It’s no wonder Pronto has become both our family go-to and our date-night spot: cosy, classy, and consistently delightful.
PS: Pronto also doubles as an Italian Foodstore & Deli, bringing the best of Italy to your homes. Shop restaurant quality ready-to-eat frozen meals, Italian pantry products, deli items, freshly baked goods and unique décor items.
If Liberté is all about the lightness of a late-morning rendezvous — bubbles in hand, sunshine on your shoulders — then Pronto is its evening counterpart. Where Liberté whispers of Paris in spring, Pronto embraces the romance of Italy at dusk: warm lighting, clinking glasses, and dishes that feel like a hug in culinary form.
What ties these two gems together is their ability to make you feel both far away and right at home. Worldly yet welcoming, elegant yet cosy, they’re the kind of restaurants that remind you dining out is about more than food — it’s about creating shared memories around the table.
With charming décor that transports you out of the concrete jungle and into a European romantic comedy, each brick and every stone in these bistros hold the secret to culinary excellence. Both spots prove that dining out can be as much about the atmosphere as the cuisine.
If you’re dreaming of sipping mimosas like the French and dining on pasta like the Italians, you can do it all in one day without leaving Johannesburg. Liberté and Pronto offer a culinary journey that spans continents, wrapped up in one destination at The Woods. Whether it’s brunch with friends, dinner with family, or a romantic evening for two, these restaurants prove the best journeys are shared.
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