One of Ekurhuleni’s most successful and enduring competitions, The Best of Ekurhuleni Readers’ Choice Awards, is just that … awards given out to those who Caxton Newspaper readers feel are the best of the best in the place we call home.
No wonder they’re so celebrated … after all, when the customers vote a business tops, you know they’re doing something – hell, everything – right.
Thousands voted in the 2022 awards …and you can find all the winners here.
All the places to eat, shop, party and live in our city.
Best Bakery & Best Patisserie
Croydon Bakery’s freshly baked bread and yummy pastries would tempt even the strongest resolve. From the doughiest of loaves to the daintiest of cakes, sweet and savoury pies, and gourmet sandwiches, it’s hard to know what to choose from. And if you can’t choose, you can order a platter including a little bit (or a lot!) of everything! Can you smell those delicious oven aromas from there?
croydonbakery.co.za, 011 974 4549
Biltong & Butcher
If you don’t know your sirloin from your short rib, your fillet from your flank, or your loin from your leg, then get to Meat Word where their master butchers will give you the best advice and prepare whatever cut you need. And with the cost of our grocery baskets soaring every day, you can be sure of the very best prices, as well. In a world of convenience food, Meat World is your friendly family butcher.
Best Caterer
There’s only one thing worse than being talked about and that’s not being talked about! It is because of word of mouth that has kept By Word of Mouth (Best Caterer) at the top of the caterer extraordinaire list for many years. And it’s not just their mouth-watering tailor-made menus that keep people using their services over and over, it’s their impeccable and complete event management service. Next time you’re planning a special party, give them a call – and we’re looking for an invitation!
bywordofmouth.co.za, 011 553 7600
Best Chips
No one wants the hassle of deep frying (and have you seen the cost of cooking oil?) so when a plate of piping hot, salty, vinegary chips is in order then get to Steers for their fries. Nothing tastes quite as good as their hand-cut chips, complete with their special seasoning sprinkled on top. But don’t miss out on their juicy burgers, flame grilled, just how we like them. Burgers and chips – a perfect pair just like bread and jam.
Best Coffee Shop & Best Breakfast
It’s not only the coffee we go to Mugg & Bean for, but their servings are the most generous you’ll get anywhere. Their gi-normous muffins are infamous and whenever you order one of their giant muffins you are also supporting Cupcakes of Hope, which helps children suffering from cancer and their families. Order a bottomless cup of coffee and stay as long as you like.
Best Continental Deli
Holstein Meat’s time-honoured German recipes for their delicious processed meats are fiercely protected and have been in the family for years. You will never be able to replicate their mouth-watering Eisbein or pork belly. So that leaves only one option – a trip to their shop and restaurant to try them for yourself! And it’s not only the charcuterie they’re famous for, there’s a vast range of other deli items to choose from.
Best Doughnut
One bite into a light, fluffy Krispy Kreme doughnut, and you’re transported into a world of pure joy. And they look so appetising, too. With so many glazes and fillings to choose from, the only solution is to take home a box of every single kind. And if you still can’t make up your mind, what about combining two for the flavours to melt in your mouth? But perhaps what you didn’t know is that they will customise doughnuts for kids’ parties, gender reveal parties, company events and more.
Best Fish Deli
Not only does the Mediterranean Fish Centre have the best and freshest fish, but they also have the friendliest and most helpful staff who will advise, fillet and prepare your fish for you. If you don’t know your line fish from your deep sea catch, they will advise on the best piece for you. And you can pick up all the deli items you need for that paella or fish stew whilst you’re there.
mediterraneanseafood.co.za / (011) 615-5760
Best Food Market & Best Place to Buy Fresh Produce
Shopping should be as much about the experience as it is about having healthy, wholesome, and fresh food at affordable prices and that’s just what Evergreens provides. A fresh produce market that nevertheless offers the convenience of a whole range of groceries all under one roof. From the farm to the table, they offer bulk foods, fresh produce and non-food items for both retail and wholesale consumers.
Best Local Chocolatier & Best Locally Made Chocolate
Is there anyone in the world who doesn’t love chocolate? Beyers aren’t just any chocolates, they’re Belgian style, luxurious, smooth, and beautiful and did we mention that they have a 100% sustainable cocoa supply chain? They have also partnered with the Amarula Trust to support job creation and conservation, in particular of the African elephant. They also support confectionery schools by providing expertise and chocolate ingredients. That’s what we call decadence with a conscience!
Best Place to Buy Gourmet to Go
No picnic or outdoor concert would be complete without a visit to Woolies, where we just don’t know what to choose from. And just when we think we’ve over-catered with those dips, samosas, cocktail sausages, bite-size meatballs and so much more, there’s not a morsel left. They also have tempting healthy snacks for school bags, packed lunches and ‘padkos’ along with tried and tested favourites from their ready meals.
Best Ice Cream Parlour
Don’t you wish your folks had the forethought to gift you with an ice cream making machine at 21 so you could turn it into a successful business? That’s exactly what happened to Paul. Now, after much churning and experimenting with flavours, who today doesn’t recognise those iconic turquoise boxes filled with Paul’s Homemade Ice Cream yumminess? Too many flavours to mention, but not too many for you to try over the coming summer.
Best Milkshakes
What is it about roadhouses and milkshakes? We remember the thickest and best shakes always came delivered through the rolled-down window of the car, but hey, it’s 2022 and things are a little more sophisticated these days! Kota Joe though has stuck with some secret recipes only they know about to create more than 20 different shake flavours that leave you with that distinctive milky moustache. Don’t we just love to lick off long after the milkshake is finished?
Best Supermarket for all your Essentials
There are essentials and then there are essentials. Apart from cleaning products, cosmetics, small electrical appliances, fresh fruit and veggies, a bakery and butchery, a wine section and all your other grocery basket basics, Checkers now boasts a Forage & Feast range of French and Italian cheeses, condiments and sauces selected together with Michelin star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen. But if you can’t get to one of their stores in person, their Sixty60 online shopping service guarantees the quickest delivery right to your door. Start making that shopping list!
Best Take Away Burger
Home of the original Whopper, need we say more about Burger King? Think succulent, juicy patties, crispy, tender chicken, vegetarian options and delicious French fries. Next year they’re celebrating their 10th anniversary in South Africa and we’re sure they’ll come up with something special. In the meantime, there’s the King of the Day offer available on their app. Our mouths are watering just thinking about our next order.
Best Take Away Pizza
Pizza Perfect has spent the past 32 years perfecting the perfect, iconic Italian pizza. From their hand-stretched dough to the generous toppings and lashings of cheese all cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven, it’s no surprise that this well-named company is the winner in this category. And if you don’t believe us, pop in and watch them preparing the pizzas in their signature open kitchens.
Best Ribs & Best Kids’ Menu
Spur Steak Ranches have hardly changed over the years and that’s why we love them. You can rely on them to provide great service no matter how many times they have to sing happy birthday in one evening. Their nutritious child friendly menu, combined with their play areas make them a firm family favourite. But don’t let grown up kids stop you reminding yourself how delicious their signature burgers, ribs and steaks are. And do not forget their famous onion rings.
spursteakranches.com/za#, 021 555 5100
Best Take Away Chicken
As soon as you see a Nando’s ad in that iconic font, you know they’re going to make you smile. And boy, does their chicken also make you smile. It doesn’t matter how you dress it up – with lemon and herb sauce or with their very own mild or peri peri (no one does it hotter!) – Nando’s flame-grilled chicken is the taste we crave. And we know lots of Seffers who make a beeline for their nearest Nando’s store when they’re overseas just for that taste of home!
Best Food Delivery Service
Featuring thousands of restaurants, the only tricky thing to navigate on the Mr D app is the number of options! They will bring you convenience food or an entire gourmet menu from your favourite restaurant – always delivered fast and hot. And be sure to look out for their regular special promotions and discount vouchers – as if you needed any incentive to tap on that Mr D icon!
Best Bottlestore
Not only do TOPS at SPAR stores offer great value, convenience and an amazing range of the finest spirits, wines, liquor and non-alcoholic beverages available, but they also seriously know the difference between a cultivar and a vintage, double from triple distilled, between peaty and oak aged and they know when it’s whisky or whiskey (we’ll help you with that one – without an ‘e’ is Scottish and with an ‘e’ is Irish) Cheers!
Best Cocktail Bar & Best Pick Up Spot
Dim the lights and turn up the live music, News Café is the quintessential place to meet friends old and new. Let your hair down, order yourself a drink, soak up the atmosphere and scan the room for a new bae. If they’re hanging out at News Café you already know they have great taste so you can’t go far wrong!
Best Craft Beer Pub & Best Neighbourhood Pub
If is a fine craft they at The Green Craft Bar – beer, cider, gin, brandy, whisky. So if you can pour it, you can drink it. The Green also offers some of the best views in Ekurhuleni. Throw in some delicious craft food from snacks to signature Green Burgers (obvs named after the restaurant, not for their colour!) and you’ve got all the makings of a great afternoon or evening out.
Best Local Band
Get your dancing shoes on as guitar duo and sisters Nicola and Lindie-Lee Venter, better known as Die Venterjies, know how to get a party going. Their upbeat original tracks, combined with some old favourites, have been a hit at every langarm dance party in the country. In 2019 they won an Aitsa Music Award for Best Boeremusiek or Traditional Album and recently landed a record deal with the music giant, Universal Music, who immediately recognised their unique potential. Now the girls are back in the spotlight, with a brand new album, Roer Jou Voete.
Best Accessory Shop
There really isn’t a part of your body that you can’t adorn with beautiful Lovisa jewellery and accessories. From head to toe, literally, Lovisa will make you glint, shine and dazzle. Their exquisitely designed pieces come in sterling silver, silver plated, cubic zircona, white, yellow and rose gold – you can theme a look or mix and match, according to your mood. Go and choose something and start dropping hints in time for Christmas!
Best Fashionable Boutique
Whether it’s an outfit for everyday wear, a matric farewell dress, or you’re the mother or granny of the bride, or you have to impress at a work event, you’ll definitely find something beautiful to wear at Chickitas Boutique. And if they don’t have what you are looking for, they will find it for you. Catering for young and old, as well as plus sizes, the store’s well-trained staff are waiting to lavish you with attention!
chickitas.co.za, 082 899 1582
Best Barber
Be legendary and get your next haircut at Legends Barbershop. They provide you with a professional grooming service, design, styling, colour and a close shave in any of their stores. They will even bring their Exclusive Legendary Mobile Service directly to your doorstep. They’re also passionate about making everyone feel good about themselves and regularly take the tools of their trade out to homes for the elderly and on to the streets, serving those who are less fortunate.
Best Beauty Mecca Spa
Located in the D’Oreale Grande at Emperors Palace, Octavia’s Day Spa will induce a sense of peace and tranquillity as soon as you enter. Sumptuous doesn’t even come close to describing the spa, with its rich fabrics and décor. Highly trained therapists will administer a range of treatments – you can go alone and leave the world behind for a while, or enjoy a ‘sparty’ with friends. Go on, spoil yourself!
Best Clothing Store for Her
Mr Price keeps it casual, on trend and right up to date with clothes that we can all afford. Every season has something new from shoes, sandals, tops, pants, and beachwear (we hope your summer bod is ready!) as well as many wardrobe classics and staples that we always go back to. We love that so many ranges are also locally made, supporting the country’s local rag trade.
Best Clothing Store for Him
Classic, hip, right up to date – Markham takes the prize and deservedly so. International labels alongside local brands will keep you in fashion for casual and work wear all year round at an affordable price. And who doesn’t love a well-dressed man?
Best Hair Salon
Paul James Hairdressing stylists are as obsessed about your hair as you are and will do anything to ensure it is shiny, sleek and beautifully styled. Using only the best range of high-end products, which are also available for sale so you can pamper your locks in between appointments, stylists combine their creativity with passion. Whether it’s just a trim or a complete make over, a session at Paul James Hairdressing will leave you feeling like a new person!
Best IV Bar
Want to clear your mind, reduce stress, enhance sports performance and recovery, and improve the appearance of your skin? If your answer was “Uh, yes please!”, then the IV Bar has just what you need, namely a range of customised intravenous vitamin drips each specifically formulated to optimise everything from fertility to general well-being. Did we mention that all these benefits can be felt in as little as 15 minutes? That’s what we call immediate gratification!
theivbar.co.za / 010 140 1908 & 066 258 2826
Best Jewellery Store
For three generations, Browns has been designing engagement, wedding and eternity rings and other exquisite pieces of diamond jewellery. Only stones with the most perfect cut and clarity make it into a Browns piece, so if you want to be sure that she says ‘I do’, make sure the ring as well as the girl is a keeper!
brownsjewellers.com, 0860 BROWNS (276967)
Best Nail Bar
Not just manis and pedis, but skincare and body massages, good hair days and bad hair days (and unwanted hair days), Sorbet knows how to pamper. They don’t have customers, they have guests who are family. And they are not just a brand, they bring a whole passion to their work, too. They’re all about hot towels, hot wax, manicures, blowouts and bro-outs, Hollywood, Brazilian, Swedish and gelish. They paint and they dip, deep cleanse and deep tissue. We can feel the tension ebbing away already.
Best Place to Buy Beauty Products & Best Pharmacy
If their vast range of health and beauty products and gifts induces a fainting spell, the pharmacists at Dis-Chem will surely have something to help you feel better and refocus on everything they have on offer. Visit the in-store skin strategy salons where you can pamper yourself at reasonable prices. No wonder they’re known as ‘the pharmacists who care’!
Best Shoe Shop
From boots, takkies, sneakers, fashion shoes, and even school shoes – Shoe City has them all. Slip your feet into comfy flats, towering stilettos or a pair of summer sandals and be the envy even of Cinderella. With so many local and international shoe brands to choose from, it’s not just us girls that will be spoiled for choice – there’s plenty for the guys, too.
Best Tattoo Parlour
It’s outrageous how amazing Artrageous Tattoos are! And they’re more than just a tattoo studio. Not only do they create and apply great pieces of skin art, but they can also remove unwanted tats. Just lie back, relax and let them do their creative thing! They also offer laser therapy treatments, and pigment and spider vein reduction. Find them on Instagram @artrageous_art and on Facebook page at Artrageous Tattoos.
For bookings WhatsApp 084 547 4614 or email bookings@artrageous.co.za
Best Show them off Undies
You could be forgiven for wearing your undies Superman style outside your clothes when they come from Bras N Things. They’re so pretty, it’s a shame to hide them! From underwear, swim, sleep and loungewear to playwear, statement pieces and sexy accessories, they design with you in mind. So put away your granny panties and show us a bit of strap here and a flash of lace there – go on, its summer time!
Best Shop for Baby Essentials
Baby City will equip you from cradle to potty training, weaning to solids with every conceivable product or gadget imaginable to keep you and your baby safe and comfortable. From everything feeding-related, hygiene products, clothes, bedding, toys, and accessories, as well as all the everyday bum creams and diapers, you can kit out your nursery with cots, compactums, nightlights and more. Make sure your most precious cargo is strapped snuggly into the car with their range of SABS-approved car seats. A gift registry is available.
Best Young Boutique
You’ve been invited to the coolest party and haven’t got a thing to wear! Where’s the first place to look for something that’s locally designed, on-trend and speaks to your unique sense of style? Yes, it’s YDE of course. From head to toe – dress, shoes, accessories – you can coordinate the complete outfit at YDE. And if you want to follow the latest fashion news, sign up for their newsletter and always be ahead of the pack!
yde.co.za, 021 460 2500
Best Store for Kids’ Clothes
Winning Best Store for Kids’ Clothes is just another milestone in the 100- year journey of Ackermans. Their hard-wearing clothing is good for rough and tumbles, for parties and they even have a school wear range – all at great prices. Kids and parents both love shopping at Ackermans, which makes it a worthy winner.
ackermans.co.za, 0860 900 100
Best Kids’ Party Spot
Let’s face it, hosting a kids’ party at home is hard work and messy! So why not book a venue that’s fun for the littlies and relaxing for the grown-ups? The Parks knows a thing or two about keeping the kids entertained and fed with great healthy party food. They offer four different party venues including the quaintly named Gnome Room. They also host arts and crafts sessions, and special events, and have a lifestyle centre to keep kids and adults busy for days!
bookings@theparksfarm.co.za / theparksfarm.co.za, 072 356 7816 or (011) 963-3077
Best Kid’s Take Away & Best Beat The Budget Restaurant
We don’t know any children that when asked if they want take aways don’t chorus ‘McDonald’s’! In fact we don’t know any grown-up who don’t love a Big Mac either! For the kids there’s the free gifts with every Happy Meal and we all love a McFlurry. McDonald’s take aways work for everyone as a special treat or when you just don’t have time to cook dinner. The ‘golden arches’ never fail to please.
Best Toy Shop
Before you complain about how much screen time your kids are getting, head to Toys R Us and have a look at their selection of exciting, learning and educational toys for a vast age range. We love how this favourite toyshop has stayed abreast of the times, stocking all the latest interactive electronic gadgets for our Generation Alpha kids yet at the same time keeping it old-fashioned with bikes, dolls, jigsaws, games and puzzles, dress-up and more. Honestly, there’s something for all the family!
Best Private Primary School, Best Private High School & Best Pre Primary
Learners at St Dominic’s Catholic School for Girls are always at centre stage. A leader in future-focused education from two years old to Grade 12, the school ensures the girls participate, take charge, and get involved. The school turns out critical thinkers, self-starters and contributing team players giving their learners an all-girl advantage!
stdominics.co.za, 011 917 5150
Best Public Primary School
Their motto of ‘Invictus’ or undefeated is very apt for Farrarmere. They are literally undefeated and once again take the title of Best Public Primary School. They make sure the kids learn in the most effective, fun, happy, safe and memorable way and are more than ready for high school by the time they leave at the end of Grade 7! Cleary they’re top of the class!
farrarmereprimary.co.za, +27 11 849 4221
Best Public High School
Benoni High School has the motto ‘better than the best’ their own as winners in this category! Their ethos is to educate and equip learners to contribute to the building of our nation and to support educators in a safe and secure learning environment. Rich in cultural activities and sports, Benoni High School gets our vote.
Best Online School
Gone are the days of ‘chalk and talk’ in the classroom! Teneo Online School is one of a new generation of schools that have taken learning entirely online by offering live real time learning or recorded lessons for students to ‘attend’ in their own time and at their own pace. But don’t imagine your child will be cut off from other learners as they also have a full programme of extracurricular activities from drama to debating, music to chess and much more.
Best Tertiary Education Institute
Wits has long been a centre of excellence and earning a place to study there is still the ultimate accolade for our Ekurhuleni learners. Wits alumni include four Nobel Laureates, almost 50 who have been awarded national orders, hundreds of Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, and many more who have been recognised for their excellent results and world-renowned research across many different fields of study. No wonder they say once a Witsie, always a Witsie!
Best Asian Restaurant
Thailand is a country of harmony, style as well as of taste and flavour. Simply Asia has captured all of this and more in their bowls of delicious Asian fusion food and on their rainbow platters of sushi! Enjoy the fragrances of the east to tempt your nostrils and your palate. Eat in or order out, but if you’ve never tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing.
simplyasia.co.za, 021 447 4387
Best Around the World Cuisine
It all started with a trip to Mexico, where the Salsa Mexican Grill learned to master the craft of Mexican cuisine. They brought those recipes and cooking methods back home and added their own Salsa spin, creating something that is truly auténtico. They put true Mexican pride and passion into each and every nacho, burrito, quesadilla and taco, using only the freshest ingredients and feistiest flavours. That’s how they turn every feast into a fiesta. So, what are you waiting for, amigo?
salsamexicangrill.co.za, 011 615 4562
Best Bistro
@The Bistro Rynfield has witnessed its fair share of marriage proposals, wedding anniversaries, birthday parties and more but now it’s time to celebrate them and their win in this year’s Readers’ Choice Awards. They’re planning their own party on November 4 and you’re all invited, but if you miss it, we’re sure it won’t be the last opportunity to dance the night away at this popular spot!
011 425 0512
Best Greek Restaurant
Orexi means appetite in Greek and Orexi’s Greek Street Food will certainly whet your appetite with its giros, souvlakia, and platters of delicious meze style dishes. You’ll be smashing the plates in deep appreciation (but ask them first). They also have a food truck that will bring their authentic flavours of Greece to your next function.
orexigreekstreetfood.co.za / Benoni – 081 494 7968 / Boksburg – 074 788 2222
Best Hotel Restaurant
Situated on the top floor of the Radisson OR Hotel, Level Seven Restaurant & Skybar is all about style and glamour. The décor is bold, modern and luxurious and there are views over the city by day and of miles and miles of twinkling lights by night. The cuisine is ‘modern international’, so even if you’re not jet-setting, go and enjoy a sundowner and make like you’re far from home.
Best Indian Restaurant
Did you know that the word ‘masala’ comes from an ancient Himalayan word meaning ‘spice’ and no one blends and cooks them better than Masala Indian Restaurant right on our Ekurhuleni doorstep? The flavours are subtle, and the spices are not too hot (unless that’s how you like them). You’ll find all the traditional classics, with a modern Masala twist on their extensive menu, complemented by a fine wine list.
Boksburg: 011 894 3546 / 084 848 1853 / masalaindianrestaurant.co.za
Benoni: 011 425 1233 / masalabenoni.com
Best Italian Restaurant, Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, Best Restaurant for a Business Lunch, Best Restaurant for a Little Romance & Best…
What a slam dunk for this great eatery! A massive favourite for any occasion, Il Gusto serves Italian and Mediterranean-inspired food and great vino – not to be missed! Take the family, take your new bae, or take your boss – everyone is welcome! We bet their phones are going to be ringing off the hook with so many awards to their name, so make a reservation now!
ilgustosa.co.za, 011 894 7847, 083 324 9901
Best New Restaurant
With a menu inspired by the city of Napoli, Tonino Cucina & Griglia is a much-welcome new kid on the block. The Italians say ‘the appetite comes when you are eating’ but just thinking about Tonino’s menu makes us hungry! Sourdough and wood fire baked, their pizzas are sublime and their special ossobuco is a must-order! With a children’s pizza-making station, this restaurant is set to become a firm favourite with the whole family.
Best Restaurant for a Burger
With names like Smash Burger, Yabbler, Sweetbird and Bomba, RocoMamas has always made dining out at their restaurants fun as well as yum. With a funky décor and rock and roll vibe, they’re all about ‘fast and casual’ in a good way. There’s nothing casual about their approach to great food and great service. This is a smashing win!
Best Restaurant for Lunch in the Country
The Shed & Silo Café was created to fulfil a dream of the owners who had never quite found the place they were looking for. Thanks to them, now you have somewhere to go that is always unhurried, and is a pleasant, mellow environment with light music to sit, relax and let time slip by. And the food is excellent, too. What a combination! A country vibe in the city, great food and completely chilled. The Shed & Silo completely meets the brief of Best Restaurant for Lunch in the Country.
theshednsilo.co.za, 064 102 3230
Best Seafood Restaurant
You won’t find fresher seafood, friendlier staff or a warmer welcome anywhere this side of the Mediterranean! You can smell the ocean the minute you sit down to enjoy any of Ocean Basket’s magnificent dishes whether it’s today’s catch of the day, any size of prawn, oysters or a combo platter to share. Always a Readers’ Choice favourite!
Best Fine Dining/Spoil Yourself Restaurant
Get your glad rags on and treat yourself to a sumptuous dinner and all together glamourous evening at Pigalle. This sophisticated restaurant is a real treat – French champagne, live music, and a dance floor to smooch the night away. We recommend you save Pigalle for a special occasion, though who’s to say that any night of the week isn’t special!
Reservations: 011 450 2242
Best Steak Restaurant
Who doesn’t have a memory made in a Turn ‘n Tender? It’s where we’ve been going for as long as we can remember, not only for their perfectly cooked steaks, but for the friendly service, and the sense that it’s somewhere we can go where we belong. They have an amazing wine list and are one of the few places that know how to serve an after-dinner brandy. They are part of the fabric of our city and long may they continue to be so.
Best Sushi Restaurant
There is something so inherently beautiful about a plate of perfectly prepared sushi. It’s fresh, appealing to the eye and certainly a delight for the palate! Yamitsuki really knows how to present their food: they are artists as much as they are chefs! Enjoy daily specials and lunch time offers, a selection of sushi as well as dim sum and teppanyaki. This is a worthy winner.
yamitsuki.co.za, 011 455 0380
Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Lexi’s Healthy Eatery strives for the most sustainable, conscious, moral and nutritious way of living limiting use of plastic, and sourcing locally as far as possible, in an effort to chart a course to a better world. Lexi’s encourage eating mostly plants, very little processed food and excluding animal products as much as you can. Lexi’s is definitely a place for vegans and vegetarians, they nevertheless also have dishes for the flexitarians.
Best Vegan Restaurant
Kaylee’s promotes a healthy, happy and cruelty-free lifestyle, all while promoting quality local brands and businesses. Their food will show you just how exciting vegan cooking and baking can be. The food is creative and vibrant as well as inventive. Whilst over the years following a plant based diet has become a whole lot easier, Kaylees provides an onsite market for everything you need to be full time vegan.
Best Portuguese Restaurant
A perennial favourite with our readers, Papa Boa is obviously keeping up the very high standards it has set for itself. With live music sessions, great food for all the family and an extensive menu of Portuguese classics as well as buffet offerings, the portions are generous and the prices reasonable.
www.facebook.com/PapaBoaRestaurant, 011 918 4686
Best Book Shop
With Exclusive Books you need never be without a good read again. Browse in-store, buy online and now, when you need to feed your book addiction, you can find them on your Uber Eats app during shop trading hours. Dinner and a good book delivered to your door sound like bliss to us! And don’t forget to claim your Fanatics points for great discounts on your next book binge. And we’re so happy that book launches and meet the author events are back. Check the calendar online. They also offer a full range of magazines (yes, they still exist), notebooks (all those empty pages, crying out to be filled) diaries and cards and gift wraps.
Best Bridal Shop
If you can’t find a dress to say yes to at Bride & Co then you might just be a bridezilla. Their range of styles and prices will have you twirling as you try on your dream wedding dress. They will also fit out your groom, groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the mothers of the bride and groom and if you’re slipping into another gown for the wedding supper, they can help with that, too.
Best Computer/Electronics Store
Where else can you find every piece of hardware, software, accessories and more for your home office than Incredible Connection? And everything comes with good advice and a ‘how to’ for the technically challenged. Even if you don’t know what that thingy majiggy is called but you know you need one, they’ll work it out and show you exactly where to find it. They have great after-sales service, too.
Best Florist
Valour Flora is a first-time winner and well deserved! They are about way more than bouquets and flower arrangements, they will also organise balloons, gifts and delivery to your door. When you need to brighten up your day with some flowers, give them a call!
071 461 9205
Best Furniture Store
Coricraft has stylish, comfortable furniture for every single room in your home. And we mean every single room. That includes your new home office, because who hasn’t got a home office these days? They also cater for your outdoor space. With many locally manufactured items, including super slouchy couches, choose your shape, choose your fabric and there you have a custom-made suite to suit your home.
Best Garden Centre
Heckers Garden Centre is a complete lifestyle nursery. Whether it’s the colour in your flower beds you’re looking for or to grow your own herbs and veggies, Heckers has the plants, the seeds and all the info on where and when they should be planted. Talk about green fingers! And if yours aren’t so green and you need a little help, the Heckers people are on hand with practical advice and support from identifying that blight on your rose bush to rescuing your orchids!
heckers.co.za, 011-894-3643
Best Gift Shop for Life’s Little Luxuries
A gift for him or her, or for a birthday, an anniversary, a baby shower – at Cinderella Gifts you’ll find an original gift (except maybe not a glass slipper) for every occasion. It’s a treasure trove of beautiful things that they will also gift wrap for you. When your imagination deserts you, you can rely on Cinderella to come up with just the right thing. And maybe even spoil yourself whilst you’re there, it is after all the best gift shop for all life’s little luxuries.
084 640 3480
Best Hardware Store
Who didn’t indulge in a little additional DIY during lockdown? We certainly did and our first point of call for all our building materials and more (the ‘more’ being good advice because our husbands don’t always know exactly what they’re doing) was Builders Warehouse. They seriously know their stuff – from plumbing, electrical, garden equipment, door and window frames, paint and waterproofing – no job too big or small for a visit to Builders!
Best Home Décor
Now you’ve DIY’ed it, you need to dress it and your home deserves everything Mr Price Home has to offer. Your kitchen counter appliances will be the envy of everyone, and friends will drool over your fall-into-bed linen. There are scatter cushions, candles (for ambience as well as beating load shedding) and plenty more to pretty up your home at Mr Price Home.
Best Kitchen Essentials Shop
Where do we go for the sharpest kitchen knives, finest crystal glasses and best crockery, cutlery sets and gadgets to chop, squeeze and peel? To @home, of course. Their pieces of kitchen equipment are works of art, shiny and bright pots and pans that we just love to see on our kitchen counters and in our kitchen cupboards. And they have a fantastic gift registry for anyone setting up home.
Best Online Shopping Site
With the price of petrol through the roof, online shopping is definitely the way to go! Order today and get delivery of any one of thousands of items tomorrow from Takealot.com. There are very few categories that you can’t find and now there are groceries and liquor, too! There are many ways to pay but just one way they deliver – fast and reliable to your door.
Best Optometrist
When it’s time to admit your eyesight isn’t what it used to be, get to Spec Savers for the best, affordable eyecare. Book an eye test and if you can’t decide on the best frames that suit you in the store, you get to take six pairs to try on at home for free – so all the family can have an opinion. And if your hearing is also a little suspect, they have a full hearing screening service at selected stores, too. Now, where did I put my glasses?
Best Outdoor/Camping Store
We South Africans love the great outdoors and love to have all of the gear. If you want to be safe, comfortable and maybe even a little stylish on your next great adventure, go and get your kit from Outdoor Warehouse where you’ll also get the best advice as to what you need and what you really need from their expert salespeople. Whether it’s a hike in the Berg or a trek to basecamp, these guys are there to help.
Best Shopping Centre
With a carefully curated and diverse tenant mix, Greenstone Shopping Centre offers retail therapy at its best, entertainment, wining and dining, masses of parking and free wifi. Whether you need to dash in and out and grab and go, or want to browse and window shop, Greenstone Shopping Centre is family oriented and centrally located. And a big bonus, they’re thinking green and provide recycling stations for all your glass, paper, plastic and cans as well as places you can drop batteries and ink cartridges.
www.greenstoneshoppingcentre.co.za, 011 524 0445
Best Shopping Mall
The East Rand Mall is one of the retail pillars of Ekurhuleni and in fact, attracts visitors from much further afield. With almost 70 000 square meters of space, that’s a lot of retail, cinema and entertainment, restaurants and coffee shops to choose from. You could easily get lost (except there’s always a friendly security person to point you in the right direction!) A day and night time destination, this is a regular and well-deserving winner.
eastrandmall.co.za, 011 823 1110
Best Sporting Goods Store
For gym bunnies, runners, cyclists, swimmers, or the latest padel tennis enthusiasts, Sportsmans Warehouse has all the kit and equipment for just about every sporting discipline. They also have your favourite team’s fan gear which you can personalise – so you can do more than just dream about wearing that number 11. They also have a free delivery and installation service for all exercise machines, table tennis and pool tables for hours of fun at home.
Best Thrift Shop
Cash Crusaders is more than just a thrift shop. It’s a place to buy, sell and to lend and borrow! That includes choosing from many new and previously owned items to buy or securing a quick and easy loan when life throws you a curved ball. Simply give them an item for safekeeping and get an immediate cash payout, with extensions to your loan available. That’s what we call a great business model for buyers and sellers alike.
Best Stationery, Arts & Crafts
PNA is a treasure trove for those of us who love a top desk drawer full of rows of sharpened pencils, highlighters, and staplers! The shop is equally loved by hobbyists who’ve been searching for an exact shade of green paint, kids who desperately need a specific item for the school project they left for the last minute, and the person in charge of the office-stationery supply cupboard. With over 36 stores in Joburg, you’ll be sure to find whatever you’re looking for at PNA.
pna.co.za, 011 672 4391
Joint winner – Best Forecourt Store
Leave the pump jockeys to fill the tank whilst you go get what you need in BP North Rand Road’s Pick and Pay convenience store. When you need to grab those last items you need for supper on the way home from work, or a sweet treat to keep you going on the road for the day, a stop off here is a must.
011 918 8211
Joint winner – Best Forecourt Store
Engen Great North has its Engen convenience store stocked with groceries, a bakery, a coffee shop and more for when you need to hop in and grab a quick bite or stock up the pantry. You can even shuffle in slippers if you forgot to get milk for breakfast!
011 395 2147
Best Pet Store
We’re not sure if it’s the pets or the fur parents who are crazy, but you’ll definitely go crazy when you see the range of pet food and accessories they have at Crazy Pets. If you have furry, scaly or feathered animals, warm or cold-blooded, there’s a bed, cage, or tank for them at Crazy Pets. If you don’t even have a pet, their stores are enough to make you run out and get one!
Best Plasticware
Seriously, what did we do before West Pack Lifestyle was around? What did we store our jerseys in during summer and what did we keep the kids’ Lego in to keep them from landing under our feet? Where did we buy all our party décor and packaging, or our school bags, lunch packs and home office organisers? And have you ever gone into a West Pack store and come out strictly with only the things you went in to buy? We simply don’t believe it’s possible!
Best Art Gallery
Situated in the Library Building, Springs Art Gallery is host to a variety of exhibitions, workshops and art classes that promote visual literacy and the visual arts, making them accessible to everyone. The Gallery hosts the annual Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Award and runs the Arts Development School, targeted at the unemployed and out-of-school youth. It also provides a valuable support base for those whose schools don’t offer art as a subject – and where would the world be without art?
Best Boutique Hotel
If you need a vacation but can’t get away, what about a staycation? You could easily forget you were in the heart of Ekurhuleni once you check into The Afrique Boutique Hotel OR Tambo with its unique rooms each with a different design and with a garden terrace. Relax and enjoy a break without the hassle of visas, foreign exchange (and exchange rates!) or even getting on a plane! This could be your new home from home!
afriquegroup.co.za, 011 918 8001
Best Local Car Dealership
Would you buy a new or used car from this dealership? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’ from our readers! Auto Alpina specialises in premium quality new and used vehicles. They provide world-class after-sales servicing, and auto body repairs (ouch!) as well as sourcing genuine and alternative parts for your car. Whether you’re looking for a high performance vehicle or a family saloon, they will find it for you.
010 300 8542
Best Cinema Complex
On the rooftop level of the Eastgate Mall, this SK complex has no fewer than 10 cinemas – from arthouse to block busters, kids’ movies to romance and action drama. Catch all the latest releases here, or pre book up and coming shows and be sure to be first in the line! And you can watch in comfort and luxury with your feet up, a drum of popcorn and your favourite cool drink. The big screen experience has never been this impressive. Sterkinekor.com
087 055 0064 or 0861 MOVIES (0861 668 437)
Best Country Club & Best Golf Course
Benoni Country Club is a favourite with golfers, sporting fans of tennis, cycling, and bowls among other sporting codes as well as with families. It has witnessed a number of weddings and celebrations in its beautiful function rooms over the years. It’s part of the story of Ekurhuleni and continues to be booked out for events, especially over weekends, such is its popularity!
benonicc.co.za, 011 849 5211
Best Craft Market
Next time you’re at a loose end, don’t be – visit Sunshine Market Serengeti and browse among the huge number of stalls, snack at the artisanal food stations and let the kids run around in safety. The summer is here – make the best of al fresco shopping!
www.theurbankmarkets.net / 083 777 1906 / 082 896 8000
Best Estate
Ebotse Golf & Country Estate definitely lives up to its name which means ‘beautiful place’ in Sotho. It teems with birds and wildlife and also features play areas for children, a Scottish links-style golf course, and walking and biking trails. And it’s all ultra-secure. Ebotse represents the great African outdoors within the city limits. We’d move there tomorrow if we could! Ebotse.com
082 3733 970
Best Estate Agency
Nobody knows Ekurhuleni like locally owned real estate agent Kingstons. They’ve been assisting clients buy and sell properties for almost 10 years and have seen how the city has grown. And they have grown with it, adding specialist agents in each area dedicated to getting their clients the best deal possible. So if you’re in the market for a new home, make sure you call Kingstons.
kingstons.co.za, 010 020 2431
Best Gym
Virgin Active keeps us fit and healthy, providing us with the best equipment, longest access hours, best trainers and most varied group classes. There’s really no excuse not to pull on your lycra and go pump some iron, climb on the spinning saddle or get on that stair master. Come on, you know you want to! That summer bod won’t tone itself!
Best Local Hotel
Emperors Palace offers four different hotel properties from which to choose from 5-star unsurpassed luxury to the comfort and convenience of 3-star accommodation. All are located within the entertainment mecca, it’s hard to know which one to choose, so maybe have a mini break and stay one night in each!
Best Interior Decorator/Designer
Cocoa Bean will give your home a full make over or tweak it here and there to give it a brand new, fresh feel. It will always work to your taste and style. They will source, buy and install fixtures and fittings and lighting solutions, help you choose colour palettes and will even create an entire story board for you before you embark on the process. Their aim above all is to create beautiful spaces without stress! Now, let us talk about that lounge room we want to spruce up.
www.facebook.com/cocoa bean design studio, 011 849 0909
Best Local Radio Personality
Anele Mdoda is one of our most loved and hardest-working presenters. Not only does she lead the fun and games on 947’s breakfast show, but she can often be seen on our TV screens. With her larger-than-life personality and distinctive laugh, it’s no wonder its Anele we want to wake up to in the mornings!
Best Local Radio Show
If we said ‘Anele, Cindy, Frankie Fire and Thembekile’, we know you’d know exactly who we were talking about. Together they are the crazy 947 Breakfast Club team bringing us music, sport, traffic, news and a whole lot of laughs every weekday morning between 06:00 to 09:00. We can’t start our day without them!
Joint winner – Best Local Radio Station
With a line up that starts with the Anele and the Club and takes us through the day and night with cool jocks and great music, 947 is more than just a radio station, it’s part of our everyday lives! We can’t miss the Top 40 Countdown, Bloc Party or Date Nights! Throw in lots of listener competitions, events, concerts and opportunities to interact with your fave presenters and it all adds up to 947.
Joint winner – Best Local Radio Station
With a footprint that extends far beyond Jozi, Jacaranda FM is a radio staple for many South Africans. The fact that it’s bi-lingual is an added bonus to the fantastic ‘80s, 90s and now’ music that they play. If you miss anything live on air, their website and podcasts are also amazing and provide so much additional information. They’re all you need to keep up with what’s happening here at home and elsewhere.
Best Place to Take Out of Towners
Out of towners would be forgiven for never wanting to leave Emperors Palace once they get there. We also know we can’t wait for visitors so we can show the place off to them! With four hotels to choose from to the casino, spa, multitude of restaurants, shows and children’s entertainment then this is a holiday destination all on its own!
Best Place to Watch the Big Game
It’s game, set and match to the Grand Slam Sports Diner! With a larger-than-life screen inside and 21 HD flat screens both inside and out, there’s no better vantage point from which to watch any big sporting fixture. They’ve been welcoming sports fans for nigh on 20 years with great food, craft beers and a selection of wines for any connoisseur. It all makes for a great visit even when it’s not a match day!
grandslam.co.za, 011 454 3700
Best Theatre
The Barnyard Theatre at Emperors Palace always provides great entertainment, from musicals to family shows. It can also be booked out for your next corporate event, conference or private party. Their pizzas and food platters add to the wonderful informal feel of the venue, and they’re great for fundraisers. Whatever the occasion, their shows are always rocking!
Best Weekend Getaway
Is any place in South Africa as iconic as Sun City? Four hotels to choose from, to time share options including outdoor activities on the golf course, the beach at the Roaring Lagoon, or discovering the ruins of a mythical civilization at the Maze of the Lost City, not to mention the thrilling nightlife then we’re exhausted even thinking about a short break at this ever popular resort! And we’re lucky enough for it to be close enough to sneak off for a weekend!
Best Must Hire Venue for a Private Function
What special event hasn’t been celebrated at Summer Place? Since it lends itself to any size occasion in any season, there isn’t one that we can think of that couldn’t be booked here, and clearly, many of you have since you have voted it your Must Have Venue Hire for a Private Function. Create a custom décor and menu for any size conference or event and you can be sure it will be organised with attention to the tiniest detail.
summerps.co.za, 011 894 3614
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
If you’re looking to stretch it out and tone it up, then take your yoga mat and head to Cygnus Pilates Studio in Benoni where you can enjoy a group or one-on-one class. Owner and teacher Shona Swanepoel will put you through your paces ensuring the best fitness outcome for your overall well- being.
cygnuspilates.co.za, 0842111604
Best Medical Facility
No one wants to spend time in a hospital bed, but if you have to, Medicross will take the very best care of you. It’s more likely you’re looking to stay out of hospital – so they also provide a preventative healthcare and disease management programme. Stay well, everyone!
medicross.co.za, 011 301 0000
Best Law Firm
A solutions-oriented legal practice firmly rooted in the East Rand, Hammond Pole Attorneys has invested heavily in automation meaning they can run their legal processes 24 hours a day. And we know that along with New York, the law never sleeps, so whenever you need a lawyer or a matter dealt with as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, these are your people.
hammondpole.co.za, 011 874 1800
Best Motorcylce Dealership
Once a HOG, always a HOG, and if you don’t know what one is, best get yourself to the Harley Davidson Dealership and ask and maybe even have a test ride. Then when you’ve bought yourself an iconic HD leather jacket, you’ll need to find a Chapter to join. That’s when you roar off with your BAE riding pillion, but remember, no helmet, no ride!
https://goldrandharley-davidson.com/
011 823 3763
