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Our editorial team has searched the country to bring you South Africa’s most exciting dining experiences. From fine-dining icons and chic city eateries to hidden gems, wine estates, and artisanal cafés, this is your guide to the best places to eat. And because no meal is complete without the perfect pairing, we’ve also highlighted our favourite MCCs, rosés, craft beers, and cocktails to raise a glass to.
There are few names in the world of beverages that carry the same quiet authority as Schweppes. Since 1783, the brand has defined what it means to drink well – not loudly, but with intention. Now, in a moment where taste, ritual, and restraint are shaping how we socialise, Schweppes returns with a reimagined identity that places flavour and connection at the centre of the experience.
The 2026 LUXE Restaurant Awards unfolded in spectacular fashion at MIRA Sandton, presented in partnership with Audi South Africa, bringing together South Africa’s leading chefs, restaurateurs, and culinary trailblazers for an evening of prestige, recognition, and celebration.
In a wellness landscape increasingly driven by transparency and taste, ButtaNutt has carved out a space that feels both wholesome and indulgent. Known for its clean ingredients and proudly local roots, the brand has become a pantry staple for health-conscious South Africans looking for products that don’t compromise on flavour.
If you’ve ever curated a weekend brunch board or planned a Friday wind-down, you know that coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a mood. In South Africa’s buzzing coffee scene, where sipping on something good is as iconic as the tune you pair it with, the flavour companion you choose can elevate every moment.
Whether you’re hosting friends on a sunlit patio, powering through emails at your desk, there’s a Jacobs coffee and a perfect pairing to match.
If you’ve ever wandered down Sea Point’s buzzing main road just as the sun begins to dip into the Atlantic, you’ll know the energy is unmatched. Nestled right in the heart of Sea Point’s town – just a stone’s throw away from the sea – you’ll find Una Mas, a vibrant Mexican eatery bringing bold flavour and even bolder vibes to this iconic street.
This summer, it’s all about what’s in the cup. Nespresso’s latest Summer Iced Coffee Collection is a celebration of cold coffee rituals – bringing together new flavour-led blends, returning iced favourites, and limited-edition machines designed to elevate every chilled sip.
Discover the best ready-to-drink (RTD) for your summer adventures. From Patch cocktails to sparkling Mimosa and whisky High Ball in a can, here are the drinks perfect for picnics, beach days and game drives.
Not many people realise this, but Nando’s started with humble beginnings as a single restaurant in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, in 1987. Believe it or not, this author visited that branch not long after it opened and vividly remembers the family member who took me along to try what he called “next-level chicken”, predicting it would become something massive one day. He was certainly on point with that prophecy!
Tucked discreetly between the fourth and fifth floors of Hyde Johannesburg, Nine Lives is the kind of venue that comes alive after the city goes to sleep. A new hidden speakeasy and supper club, Nine Lives invites guests into a moody, intimate world where 1970s-inspired drink culture meets modern culinary craft. Designed for lingering late into the night, it’s an after-dark destination that feels like you’re stepping into your ninth life.
S!GNS Restaurant Sandton delivers an experience that goes beyond food, blending Afro-Global flavours with a stylish setting that feels right at home in Rivonia’s dining scene. From the thoughtfully plated dishes to the attentive service and vibrant atmosphere, the evening feels curated rather than rushed. It’s the kind of restaurant you choose when you’re marking an occasion or simply craving something a little more sensory than your usual night out.
As South Africa’s summers become hotter, longer and more intense, staying hydrated has shifted from an athletic concern to an everyday health essential. With earlier heat waves and higher average temperatures reported in recent years, more South Africans are spending time in conditions that increase the risk of fluid and mineral loss through sweating.
Ask the founders of Ribs and Burgers Grillhouse about their ethos, and they will tell you it comes down to one thing: quality you can taste. For this chain, it’s all about authenticity, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to great food.
Cherry season has officially returned — short, sweet, and eagerly anticipated. Each summer, for just a brief moment, South Africans get to experience the pure joy of cherries picked at their prime. And now, Cherry Time™, the beloved family-run brand from the orchards of Ceres, has announced the arrival of the 2025 harvest.
There’s something undeniably magical about the ritual of holiday coffee. The quiet hush of Christmas morning before the festivities begin. The clink of glasses on Christmas Eve as friends linger a little longer, revelling in the final stretch of the year. This season, Nespresso is elevating those moments with a vibrant, African-inspired festive range that turns every sip — morning or midnight — into something special.
There’s a certain kind of afternoon that cities like New York, Cape Town — and now Johannesburg — do so well: it begins with a lunch date, continues with a bottle of bubbly (or two), and somehow drifts into golden hour without anyone noticing. The Greenhouse Restaurant & Bar in Sandton, long celebrated as Joburg’s most atmospheric supper club after dark, is now capturing that same magic by day. And to celebrate the launch of its new daytime offering, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to experience it firsthand with a Friendsmas Lunch for Four valued at R2,000.
South Africa’s favourite premium beverage brand, Sir Fruit, is marking 40 years of squeezing the most out of fruit – and life – this year. The recent winner of a Top 100 Luxury Lifestyle Award in the Gourmet Food & Drinks category remains a proudly local company, with strong roots in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
Linder Auditorium, Wits University
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