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One of Joburg’s most successful and enduring competitions, The Best of Joburg Readers’ Choice Awards, is just that … awards given out to those who Caxton Newspaper readers feel are the best of the best in the City of Gold. 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 by clicking through to the link below. All the places to eat, shop, party and live in Joburg’s northern suburbs
Best Bakery & Best Continental Deli
Whether it’s sweet or savoury, Fournos makes and bakes it best. Their pastries, pies and deli counter are legendary and we never leave without at least half a dozen loaves of different shapes and sizes, dips, cold meats, and we definitely never make it out without a box of their Florentines.
fournos.co.za, 011 771 2500
Best Biltong & Best Butcher
Before you light that braai, go and check out Impala Butchery’s boerewors, we promise you, there is nothing tastier, other than maybe their lamb chops or aged steaks. And to nibble on while you get the fire going, there’s South Africa’s national dish, namely a bowl of biltong. Whether you like it thin sliced or chunky, spicy or fatty, Impala has a range of biltong and droëwors unparalleled in Joburg. Now, all we need is an ice-cold beer…
impalameat.com, 177 Beyers Naude Dr, Northcliff, 011 888 9838
Best Caterer
There’s only one thing worse than being talked about and that’s not being talked about! And it’s the word of mouth that has kept By Word of Mouth 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 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 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.
steers.co.za, 011 759 7221
Best Coffee Shop
Where would we be without coffee with wings…Caffeine deprived, that’s where we’d be. Single or double shot, skinny or grande, malted or spiced, the choice is yours but your cup of Seattle coffee will always be how you like it and made with love by expert baristas.
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 their DOUs combining two melt-in-your-mouth flavours? But perhaps what you didn’t know is that they will customise doughnuts for kids’ parties, gender-reveal parties, company events and more.
krispykremesa.com, 010 006 0400
Best Fish Deli
What can we say about Fisherman’s Deli? They are a perennial winner, as voted by our readers to the top spot. Clearly, their daily fresh fish, a large variety of seafood, live oysters, caviar and freshly made sushi are something our readers keep going back for again and again, as well as for the service – they will fillet, de-vein and prepare your fish for you saving you from all that hard work. You just need to light the braai!
fishermansdeli.co.za, Dunkeld West Centre, 011 325 2577
Best Food Market
Joburg’s longest-running outdoor market, Bryanston Market is home to some of our most skilled artisans. Each stallholder has a story to tell about their particular hand-crafted goods. The market has clothing, jewellery, gifts, plants and flowers, but above all they are known for their fresh and organic food produce, bakery and deli stalls.
bryanstonmarket.co.za, 011 706 3671
Best Place to Buy Fresh Produce
With its distinctly market feel and extra special offers on fresh fruit and vegetable combos, there’s no longer any excuse not to eat your greens (and reds, oranges, yellows and purples…) Providing a truly spectacular visual as well as a literal feast of fresh produce, FLM is a firm Jozi favourite and now stocks a wide range of other groceries too.
foodloversmarket.co.za, 086 000 7728
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.
woolworths.co.za, 086 002 2002
Best Ice Cream Parlour
Don’t you wish your folks had the forethought to gift you 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 summer.
paulshomemade.com, 011 485 0104
Best Milkshakes, Best Takeaway Burger & Best Restaurant for a Burger
With burger names like Smash Burger, Yabbler, Sweetbird and Bomba, RocoMamas has always made dining out at their restaurants fun as well as yum. Their G Shakes and Freakshakes are as decadent as they get, marbled with flavour, and they look as good as they taste. With a funky décor and rock ‘n’ roll vibe, RocoMamas is all about ‘fast and casual’ in a good way. There’s nothing casual about their approach to great food, great shakes and great service. This is a smashing win!
rocomamas.com, 086 088 8772
Best Patisserie
When you see tables laden with Just Teddy’s goodies, you just want to swoon. It’s almost a sin to bite into one of their masterpieces of confectionery, they are so beautiful. Colourful and shiny, delicate and creamy these cakes and pastries are in a world-class pâtisserie and boulangerie league of their own. And if you want to know how they do it, you can now join #BakeWithJustTeddy classes, where you get to learn skills from Teddy first-hand.
justteddy.co.za, Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre, 010 203 9038
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!
checkers.co.za, 0800-01-07-09
Best Takeaway 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.
pizzaperfect.co.za, 011 462 4413
Best Ribs
Thundergun has been a firm favourite for more than 50 years and has been delighting patrons old and new all that time. Their carvery is legendary, but few can resist their enormous rack of juicy ribs whose size is a challenge to even the most avid meat eater! And if you’re of ‘a certain age’ (we’re not saying) there’s a pensioners’ special on Tuesdays.
thundergun.co.za, Palala Centre, Beyers Naude Drive, 011 678 7224
Best Takeaway 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 hot peri-peri (no one does it hotter!) Nando’s flame-grilled chicken is the taste we crave. And we know lots of South Africans who make a beeline for their nearest Nando’s store overseas, too. There’s nothing like the taste of home!
nandos.co.za, 086 011 3332
Best Food Delivery Service
Uber and Uber Eats have become verbs in the South African lexicon and are shorthand for the convenience of ordering food from any restaurant anywhere in the city to be delivered straight to your door. Uber Eats means never having to say you’re sorry for not having supper ready, it means treating yourself to gourmet at home, a pizza during the match when you can’t tear yourself away from the TV screen. We’re just looking for excuses, but really, none are needed. Uber Eats is simply The Best Food Delivery Service.
Best Bottle Store
There’s a Liquor City across the road from our office, so trust us, we know what we’re talking about on this one. Never imagine you’re going to pop in for a six-pack or single bottle of vino for supper. Nope. There are too many aisles of bottles with beautiful labels, of liquids of all colours from red, white, amber, blue and pink. Then there are their own signature house brands that provide amazing value for money. Family-owned and customer-centric, we love this store that’s been around for almost three decades.
liquorcity.co.za, 011-306-9999
Best Cocktail Bar
With its trendy, upmarket décor, 011 Gin-Eatery provides the perfect vibey, friendly, upbeat escape from an everyday hum-drum life. Live music, every kind of gin cocktail in every colour of the rainbow, combined with great food – there’s nowhere with a more South African spirit to enjoy for after-work drinks with good colleagues or a weekend night out with good friends, and who says we can’t be both?
011jhb.co.za, 27 Minerva Avenue, Sandton, 010 020 9945
Best Craft Beer Pub
Smack a smile on, they say – we’re all about the taste – and what a selection of tastes they have. Who knew beer came in so many colours and intensity of flavours? If you want to quench your thirst, there’s nowhere better than Mad Giant. Their craft-brewed lagers and IPA are sensational and the taproom is all about ‘smoke, fire and extra fresh beer.’ They also deliver if you can’t make it to the pub and are craving an ice-cold one!
madgiant.co.za/taprooms/, 079 283 7380
JOINT WINNER Best Neighbourhood Pub
Giles is simply an institution. Between them, Giles Original Pub and Founders at Giles serve food all day. The place is popular with local residents, young professionals and sports fans who go to watch the match over a beer…or two. And then there’re the stalwarts who have been going for years (you know who you are!). A clear favourite in this category.
gilesrez.co.za, 9 Grafton Avenue, Craighall Park, 011 442 4056
JOINT WINNER for Best Neighbourhood Pub
The two coolest suburbs in the city have to be Parkhurst and Melville so that’s where you’ll find the cool cats hanging out at Jolly Cool. There’s a permanent party vibe going on at Jolly Cool, with pool tables, great music, amazing pizza and other pub grub, there are weekly food and drink specials and a Sunday shesa nyama.
4th Avenue, Parkhurst or 7th Street, Melville, 011 327 5883
Best Pick-up Spot
Because it’s so well loved by so many, and so busy pretty much any night of the week, there’s a good chance you might just meet the person of your dreams at The Baron. The question ‘do you come here often’ is usually met with a ‘yes’ so be part of the in-crowd and get to your nearest Baron. And if you don’t find who you’re looking for, the food and atmosphere are worth the night out anyway!
Best Local Band
Ross, Marco, Dale, Dirk and Neil – collectively known as Prime Circle is not only Jozi’s favourite but they’re one of the nation’s best-loved musical outfits, too. With their prolific gig schedule both at home and overseas where they also enjoy immense success and seven award-winning albums under their belts, they’re also one of the hardest-working bands we know. They have some SA November dates, so check out their website.
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 zirconia, 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
Since they arrived in SA, Zara has been the must-go-to shop when you’re on the hunt for that killer outfit. Always on trend for the guys, girls as well as kids, Zara clothes are fun as well as fashionable. And you can accessorise the entire look with shoes, bags, belts and more, so just know that when you need to knock ‘em dead, Zara will surely have just the thing.
Best Barber
Sorbet Man barbers are a coo, cutting crowd of blokes and babes with one solid agenda: to groom you, good & proper. At Sorbet Man, cuts & shaves are taken seriously, using only the finest products and with the keenest attention to detail. The menu extends from cuts & shaves to colour treatments too. As for their grooming therapists, they add a double serving of awesome to this man cave with their offering of massages, waxes, facials, manicures, pedicures and more. Rest easy fella, you know you’re in good hands.
sorbetman.co.za, 011 202 7940
Best Beauty Mecca Spa
When load-shedding, year-end deadlines and the pace of this crazy city that we love all get the better of you, go and have a serious day of de-stressing treatments at Life Day Spa and let them soothe your troubles away. They will restore and rejuvenate your hair, nails, skin and soul, leaving you replenished and ready to face the world again. There are packages and group deals for your girlie days are also available.
Lifedaysparosebank.co.za, 26 Bolton Road, 011 447 2255
Best Clothing Store for Her
From Trenery and Witchery to Country Road and their own Woolies women’s range, from casual to formal work and party dresses, sports kits and beachwear, Woolworths is a wardrobe staple for women of every age and size. With their standard classics and seasonal fashion lines, you can never not find what you’re looking for in a Woolworths. And who doesn’t have Woolies undies in their drawer?
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 as well as work wear all year round at an affordable price. And who doesn’t love a well-dressed man!
Best Hair Salon
Franco International provides therapy for hair beyond cutting and styling. They will transform your look with extensions, colour, smoothing and straightening, curling and crimping all in the most relaxing of atmospheres. They will advise on how to look after your hair and the best products to do it with. And it goes without saying…anything you tell your stylist, stays with your stylist.
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!
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 and manlicures, blowouts and bro-outs, Hollywood, Brazilian, Swedish and gelish. They paint and they dip, they deep cleanse and deep tissue. We can feel the tension ebbing away already.
sorbet.co.za, 011 202 7940
Best Place to Buy Beauty Products
The Body Shop is the original ethical cosmetics company, pioneering cruelty-free products long before it was a thing. They have been in the business of beauty products, campaigning and change-making for more than 40 years and along with their beautifully crafted and divine-smelling lotions, their brushes, sponges and other beauty accessories are all developed with sustainability in mind. And we just love their gift hampers, too.
Best Tattoo Parlour
If you can imagine it, Sally Mustang can recreate it as a tattoo, no image is too elaborate for these master tattoo artists. And if you’ve made a mistake somewhere along the way, they also do tattoo removal. Piercings and skin, brow and lash treatments are also available at their funky, modern studios. And their gentle approach will ensure you don’t feel a thing!
sallymustangs.co.za, 39 Stanley Avenue, Braamfontein, 011 809 8094
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, it’s summer!
brasnthings.com, Mall of Africa, 011 805 0570
Best Young Boutique
Cotton On has brought a fresh, new young look to South Africa, and is doing good along the way. It’s a brand for the environmentally and socially conscious – perfect for the Gen Zs and newly woke Gen Alphas who want to feel good about looking good! They have everything for summer for both boys and girls – shorts and stunning tees, crop tops, summer dresses, swimwear, sandals and takkies – and the parents will love the prices!
Best Store for Kids’ Clothes
Even our tots are fashion-conscious these days, and Cotton On Kids provides a range that they can strut or toddle their stuff in. From their organic newborn range to kided age 2–14 and a youthful 11+ range, they have the trendiest gear and the most stylish PJs – and since they are an environmentally and socially savvy brand, your kids will thank you for shopping there!
Best Kids’ Party Spot
Even though they may have run thousands of parties, Bounce ensures that each event is unique and special for the birthday boy or girl and above all is hassle-free for the parents. Forget hosting at home – that’s too much work! Book your next special kids’ occasion at Bounce and leave it to the entertainment experts!
bounceinc.co.za, Fourways Mall, 011 517 2500
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 from reminding yourself how delicious their signature burgers, ribs and steaks are – not forgetting their famous onion rings.
Best Kids’ Takeaway
We don’t know any children that when asked if they want takeaway don’t chorus ‘McDonald’s’! They love the free gifts as much as the Happy Meal and who doesn’t love a McFlurry? McDonald’s takeaways 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 at the same time keeping it old with bikes, dolls, jigsaws, games and puzzles, dress up and more. Honestly, there’s something for all the family!
toysrus.co.za, 087 234 8697
Best Private Primary School & Best Private High School
Redhill Preparatory School and Redhill High School puts the emphasis on more than just a great education. They take a holistic approach to every child, forming well-rounded, socially and emotionally mature students. Their motto, ‘Innovate, Educate, Contribute’ sums up the all-round ethos of the school, which offers both IEB and International Baccalaureate at Grade 12, preparing students for an international stage.
redhill.co.za, 20 Summit Road, Morningside, 011 783 4707
Best Public Primary School
Bryandale Primary has been winning awards for years and it’s no surprise when you look at their facilities. They have fully embraced the use of technology in education, have a Learning Centre which supports students as well as a sophisticated Media Centre where a lot of experiential learning takes place. Their active and vibrant PTA makes sure that everyone is involved in the life of the school outside of the classroom.
bryandale.co.za, 121 Cumberland Avenue, Bryanston, 011 706 6087
Best Public High School
With consistently excellent achievements in its matric results, Greenside High is highly sought after as a high school. The school encourages creativity and problem-solving skills, social and cultural enrichment alongside academic excellence recognising that a handful of distinctions without self-confidence and a good EQ is worth little in today’s fast-paced world.
greensidehigh.co.za, Geers Avenue, Greenside, 011 646 0113
Best Pre-Primary
Taking care of your babes from 9 months to Grade 0, Buttercup PreSchool is a safe, secure, colourful and nurturing environment for your tots, preparing them to move up to ‘big school’ and Grade 1. With caring and experienced carers and teachers, Buttercup also offers out-of-term holiday care for kids with busy parents. What better place for your littlies to spend the first five years of school life?
1 Mulbarton Drive, Fourways, 011 467 6868
Best Online School
If you want to give your kids a head start in the world, the BIDC will put them through the Cambridge system from year 7 right up to AS level. Exams can be written at a several accredited centres around the country, and then the world’s their oyster.
britishinternationalcollege.co.za, 130 Bryanston Drive, 011 706 7775
Best Tertiary Education Institute
Wits have long been a centre of excellence and earning a place to study there is still the ultimate accolade for our Joburg learners. Wits alumni include four Nobel Laureates, almost 50 who have been awarded national orders, hundreds of Rhodes and Fulbright scholars, and many more that have been recognised for their excellent results and world- acknowledged research. Wits also celebrate 100 years, this year! No wonder they say once a Witsie, always a Witsie!
wits.ac.za, Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein, 011 717 1000
Best Asian Restaurant & Best Sushi Restaurant
Thailand is a country of harmony – of style as well as of taste and flavour, and Simply Asia has captured all of this and more in their bowls of delicious Asian fusion food and on their rainbow platters of sushi! 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 Restaurant
With a constant eye on local and international food trends, Olives & Plates is a worthy winner of this award which recognises a local restaurant that is nevertheless outward-looking. O&P are constantly creating new dishes, layering flavours to achieve amazing results, and will bring the same flair to off-site catering for weddings and events as they do in their restaurants and eateries around Joburg. With their full programme of education and upliftment for their staff, we love everything about O&P.
Best Beat-the-Budget Restaurant, Best Neighbourhood Restaurant & Best New Restaurant
What an accolade to win Best New Restaurant and also to win Beat-the-Budget Restaurant and Best Neighbourhood Restaurant, but Emzini in Westdene has achieved this amazing hat trick! Translating as ‘in the city’, this vibey, well-priced restaurant has a fantastic outside area overlooking the Westdene Dam perfect for summer lunches and dinners. The owner is the former chef of Madame Zingara, and so while it might be ‘beat the budget’ the dishes are world-class, delicious and well-presented.
Emzinilove.com, 12 Lewes Street, Westdene, 067 776 8455
Best Bistro
Everything at the Fat Zebra is made fresh with lots of love and butter and that’s why we love it. The coffee is amazing – strong and not too hot, just like the barista ordered. They are the perfect spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner – with all-time favourites with a Fat Zebra spin. What’s more, they are pet friendly and will make sure that the dogs are well refreshed too!
thefatzebra.co.za , 34 4th Avenue, Parkhurst, 072 610 1837 or 71 7th Street, Linden, 067 403 1896
Best Breakfast & Best Restaurant for a Business Lunch
Although her flavours are always complex, there is nothing complicated or fussy about Tashas food. Described as ‘decadent comfort food’ isn’t that just what we’re looking for in breakfast to kick-start our day? And choosing the simple sophistication of their lunch menu will tell your client how much you respect them while sending the message that you mean business.
Best Greek Restaurant
Right down to the décor, Mythos says authentic Greek and transports you immediately to the islands. With ingredients brought in from Greece especially to bring the real flavour of the Mediterranean to Joburg, it’s no wonder that Mythos is a long-time favourite of our readers. And what we love is that whether your preference is meat or seafood or if you’re vegetarian, the simple but intense flavours of Greece are in every dish.
Best Hotel Restaurant
Jacaranda season is possibly the very best time to visit Flames Restaurant located at the Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff. With purple views over Forest Town, the Johannesburg Zoo and Saxonwold, what better place to sip cocktails while the chef prepares your meal? Choose à-la-carte or the chef’s signature dishes on the tasting menu, including vegan options, all accompanied by the best-curated wine cellar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Great all year round, but don’t say we didn’t tell you to book now for November.
flamesrestaurant.co.za, Four Seasons The Westcliff Hotel, 011 481 6190
Best Italian Restaurant & Best Sit-Down Pizza
We don’t eat to live, we live to eat, is Luca’s philosophy! Luca’s Ristorante Italiano has a new home in Sandton, and this popular authentic Italian favourite now boasts al fresco as well as indoor dining. Just in time for summer! All Luca’s dishes are just like Nona used to make – with a special nod to the family’s coastal Tuscan roots and some seafood specialities – and what better recommendation for an Italian restaurant than your Nona!
lucasristorante.co.za, 4 Gwen Lane, Sandton, 010 595 8470
Best Restaurant for Lunch in the Country
A drive out to Casa Linga is a truly special experience. We can leave the city behind and enjoy this elegant and charming organic farm. Walk around or take a tour and pick your own fruit and veggies and then settle down for a leisurely afternoon sipping cold wine and nibbling on the most exquisite cuisine. If you want to be even more relaxed, book a picnic in the woods or on the grassy lawns, and if you can’t tear yourself away, they now offer luxurious farm-stay cottages in the most tranquil surroundings.
Casalinga.co.za, Rocky Ridge Road, Muldersdrift, 010 595 4563
Best Restaurant for a Little Romance & Best Fine Dining/Spoil Yourself Restaurant
For meat and flame enthusiasts, there is nowhere that combines the love of both better than Marble. Chef and co-owner David Higgs celebrate the timeworn ritual of cooking on wood fires and gathering with friends. The interior décor is award-winning and a worthy match for the superb food. It’s special, it’s classy, and it’s a place to take your BAE when you want to push the boat out and spoil yourselves.
marble.restaurant, Keyes Corner, Rosebank, 010 594 5550
Best Seafood Restaurant
We don’t think we’ve ever been to The Fishmonger when every table hasn’t been fully booked (well, maybe only during lockdown, but that was exceptional times!) It’s not an idle boast when they say booking is essential – there is simply nowhere better for a fishy lunch or supper than this all-time favourite. Their platters solve the dilemma of choosing between fish or seafood (because we never can!) and are the perfect combination of both. Waiters will take you through the catch of the day, the different sizes of prawns and crayfish and even recommend the wine to go with it.
fishmonger.co.za, 011 783 5128
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 Vegetarian Restaurant
Lexi’s Healthy Eatery strives for the most sustainable, conscious, moral and nutritious way of living limiting the use of plastic, and sourcing locally as far as possible, to chart a course to a better world. Lexi’s encourages eating mostly plants, very little processed food and excluding animal products as much as you can – while Lexi’s is definitely a place for vegans and vegetarians, they nevertheless also have dishes for the flexitarians.
lexiseatery.com, The Zone, Rosebank, 083 385 5823
Best Vegan Restaurant
The Fussy Vegan is justifiably proud of the role they have played in educating people about veganism and taking it to the level it has now reached. From fast food to eat in, to their grocery stores and beyond, veganism is more accessible – and delicious – than you can imagine. TFV offers burgers, subs, tex-mex and bowls and a great choice of sides – just like any other restaurant! Try it, it’s for the sake of the animals.
thefussyvegan.co.za, 067 342 8604
Best Portuguese Restaurant
Mozambik conjures up that Maputo ‘toes in the sand and sip on cocktails while the sun goes down’ vibe along with authentic Portuguese food and a warm atmosphere (or hot or very hot, depending on how you like your peri-peri sauce!). Known as Afro-Porto, their cuisine combines all the flavours that southern Africa’s melting pot of cultures has brought to our shores, but their best-loved dishes are without a doubt their chicken and braaied prawns. Mozambik is now flying the flag in the Lone Star state of Texas, too!
mozambik.co.za, 011 420 1349
Best Bookshop
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 Under Eats app during shop trading hours. Dinner and a good book delivered to your door, sounds 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 wrap.
exclusivebooks.co.za, 087 365 4677
Best Bridal Shop
If you can’t find a dress to say yes to at Bride & Co then you might just be 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.
Brideandco.co.za, Sunninghill, Rivonia, 011 807 4000
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
For every in-season bloom and even some out-of-season specials, Dunkeld Fruit & Flowers is the only place to go. A sea of buckets filled with every imaginable flower greets you, along with expert bouquet makers so you can choose stem by stem to make up your own personalised, beautifully created bunch. For the undecided or in a-hurry-customers, ready-made combinations of the most vibrant colours and aromas are ready to pick up any day of the week. If it’s exotic or just a beautiful garden arrangement you’re looking for, you’ll find it here.
Jan Smuts Avenue, Dunkeld West Centre, 011 341 0101
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, as well as 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.
coricraft.co.za, 087 245 0005
Best Garden Centre
‘Sow, ‘scape, style’ your outdoor living space, says Lifestyle Garden Home and honestl,y you can find everything to do all of that under one enormous roof! With pots, plants, seeds, soil, furniture and garden and patio fixtures and fittings to choose from, a morning spent at LHG is just a pleasure. Imagine refreshing your garden to enjoy through the long summer months –-there’s still time to plant and any time of year is good to re-design the stoep, and LGH has all the tools and equipment to do both with.
lifestyle.co.za, Beyers Naude Drive, Randpark Ridge, 011 792 5616
JOINT WINNER Best Gift Shop for Life’s Little Luxuries
If you can’t find a gift for a birthday, baby shower, wedding, anniversary, even a gift of commiseration, or any other occasion you can think of at Nikki’s: The Gift Shop (Best Gift Shop for Life’s Little Luxuries) then it simply doesn’t exist. The shop is a treasure trove of exquisite items, any one of which they will gift wrap for you. We challenge you not to find a little something to spoil yourself with too while you’re there!
nikkis.co.za, Victory Park Shopping Centre, 011 888 0605
JOINT WINNER Best Gift Shop for Life’s Little Luxuries
We all know Poetry for their beautiful clothes but when was the last time you really looked and saw their gorgeous display of gifts, from aromatic cooking oils and condiments, serving dishes, glassware, selection of knobs for cupboards and drawers, cookery books, scarves and more. And if you don’t know what to choose but know the person you are giving to will always find something they love, there are gift vouchers available. We’re definitely dropping hints for Christmas.
Best Hardware Store
LEROY MERLIN helps you make your home the best place to live! Way more than a hardware store, for which it is a worthy winner, LEROY MERLIN has four departments (do-it-yourself, building, décor, and gardening) which lead us into temptation we didn’t even know existed. Who knew hammers and nails, hoses and flanges, buckets and brushes could be so…appealing? But if you don’t find those sexy, try their décor department…Guaranteed to get the interior designer in you all fired up. You can always try their 3D online modelling and design tool before you commit, then when you do, join their workshops for the proper know-how! Buy a tool or hire a tool, or even have it installed by their experts! If you’re not into DIY, it doesn’t matter, you’ll love these stores and will find something you need to fix just as an excuse to keep going back!
leroymerlin.co.za, 010 493 8000
Mr Price Home Now you’re done with your DIY, you need to dress it up, and your home deserves everything…
Mr Price Home
Now you’re done with your DIY, you need to dress it up, 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’re scatter cushions, candles (for ambience as well as beating load-shedding), throws 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.
home.co.za, 086 083 4834
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 – and that’s 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 6 pairs to try on at home for free – so all the family can have an opinion…And if you’re 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 Pharmacy
Dis-Chem dispenses more than medication – it gives out great advice from qualified experts in every department – and there is a department for health, beauty, baby products, and so much more. Each pharmacy has a Wellness Clinic on-site, so customers who visit will discover the true meaning of ‘Pharmacists who Care’. And we love that the Dis-Chem Foundation gives so much back to the community, too so we’re always happy to support this great pharmacy.
dischem.co.za, 010 589 2200
Best Outdoor/Camping Store
We love the great outdoors and so when we need new hiking boots, a warm sleeping bag or even eco-friendly washing products we make straight for Cape Union Mart. And their outdoor activewear is stylish, too. If you prefer more glamping to camping, (that would be us!) they will ensure the inside of your tent is as comfortable as can be, and that you will eat if not of the best china then at least a proper plate using a real (fold up) knife and fork! Is there no end to the innovation in camping and outdoor gear these days?
capeunionmart.co.za, 086 033 3329
Best Shopping Centre
Hyde Park Corner epitomises ‘fifty and fabulous’ (in fact, it’s 50 something, but who’s counting!) Constantly upgrading its retail offering and centre aesthetic, Hyde Park Corner defines elegance. Home to literally hundreds of international brands including Louis Vuitton, Emporio Armani, Tiger of Sweden, Okaidi for Kids and Longchamp, as well as firm local retail favourites, medical suites, a banking court, restaurants and cinema complex, Hyde Park Corner has everything you need (want and desire) under one roof.
hydeparkcorner.co.za, Jan Smuts Avenue, 011 325 4340
Best Shopping Mall
Sandton City Mall defines the skyline of South Africa’s richest square mile and financial hub of the country and we’re lucky enough to have this prestigious mall right on our doorstep. You will hear all sorts of accents and languages spoken as people from all over the continent and overseas flock to shop here. More than 300 international brands have their flagship stores here, and Diamond Walk is home to many global luxury brands. Specialist stores as well as shops for your everyday needs sit alongside each other and together create the ultimate retail destination.
sandtoncity.com, Rivonia Road, Sandton, 011 217 6000
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 have personalised – 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.
sportsmanswarehouse.co.za, 080 000 7030
Best Stationery, Arts & Crafts Store
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 more than 36 stores in Joburg, you’ll be sure to find whatever you’re looking for at PNA.
Best Forecourt Store
The Pantry by Marble has revolutionised forecourt shopping, bringing us a cross between a supermarket, deli, take away and retail store. From fresh produce to ready meals to go, flowers, wine and everyday essentials like cleaning products, you can pull in and stock up on everything you need – and everything you don’t need, but want, desire, just have to have… And fill up with petrol or recharge your electric car while you’re at it.
pantry.co.za, 170 Jan Smuts Avenue, 011 442 4668
Best Pet Store
We love our fur babies, and Absolute Pets loves them too! From hygiene and nutritional products to toys, beds, bowls, collars and leads, a loyalty programme (for pet parents, not the animals!) to insurance plans (for the animals, not pet parents!) Absolute Pets is an absolute must. And they’re not just for furry friends, either. If you have a feathered or scaly one there’s stuff for them, too! Buy instore or online.
absoltuepets.com, 021 510 0897
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. Gift registries are available.
Best Art Gallery
The Goodman Gallery is an international, contemporary space which has been providing opportunities for South African artists to exhibit and make a name for themselves since 1966. Over the years they have introduced us to the likes of William Kentridge, David Goldblatt and Sam Nhlengethwa. Today the focus is on African women in the diaspora and beyond. The gallery also facilitates broader social access to art and supports NGOs in the healthcare and human rights advocacy sectors in South Africa. Whether you’re a collector or browser, the Goodman Gallery is a place to lose yourself in art for a while.
goodman-gallery.com, 163 Jan Smuts Avenue, Rosebank, 011 788 1113
Best Boutique Hotel
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa is an oasis in the city where you can go for a posh high tea, dinner in the gazebo, host a cocktail function or spoil yourself in the Spa. Although it feels a million miles away, it’s so close to home you can even sneak in a quick romantic getaway, so book an overnight (or two!) and do all of the above.
fairlawns.co.za, 1 Alma Road, Morningside Manor, 011 808 7300
Best Local Car Dealership
You won’t find a single ‘second-hand car salesman’ among Toyota Hyde Park’s staff, only experts who will advise on approved new and previously owned Toyota vehicles. Brought to you by the legendary Durban South Toyota Group, they also pledge the very best Toyota deals, service and customer care by offering the best after-sales service around (and they have high-speed Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine!)
hydeparktoyota.co.za , 355 Jan Smuts Avenue, 010 446 6500
Best Cinema Complex
With seven cinema screens, a VIP lounge and fully-licenced bar, Nu Metro Hyde Park offer the intimacy of a smaller complex together with all the razzamatazz we love about going to the movies. Gourmet snacks, big screens and big surround sound, with the comfiest, widest, most reclinable seats. Ever. If it wasn’t for the gripping, block-buster movie we came to watch, we’d be fast asleep.
n, Hyde Park Corner Shopping Centre
Best Country Club
Modern yet traditional, the Bryanston Country Club celebrates its 75th anniversary next year! Its tagline ‘It’s a lifestyle’ aptly captures the essence of the club – it’s about family, it’s about relaxing, playing golf, tennis, bowls and the most recent addition – padel tennis – it’s about celebrating, wining and dining, all in the most beautiful of settings in the heart of Joburg’s northern suburbs.
bryanstoncc.co.za , 63 Bryanston Drive, 011 706 1361
Best Craft Market
The Rosebank Sunday Market is a Joburg institution where you can spend hours browsing stalls of hand-crafted art, vintage clothing, jewellery, and antiques. You can sit and eat and enjoy live music or buy delicious deli items to take home. The market uplifts traders and small businesses and supports many local charities, so know you’re doing good at the same time as having a wonderful Sunday in the city.
rosebanksundaymarket.co.za, Rosebank Mall, 072 243 8582
Best Estate
Unbelievably, Eagle Canyon Golf and Lifestyle Estate was once an old granite and stone quarry, but today has been transformed into a luxurious, secure golf and residential lifestyle estate where an entire family community has been created. Clubhouse, gym, restaurant and bar, spa and hair salon as well of course as the links golf course, you need hardly ever leave home!
eaglecanyongolfestate.co.za, 3 Blueberry Street, 011 801 6611
Best Estate Agent
Pam Golding understands that selling your home is one of life’s most significant moments. There’s really not a market or suburb in Joburg that they don’t know or understand – from apartments to houses, plots to complexes, they know how to sell, and how to find you exactly the property you want to buy. It’s a housing jungle out there so use an agent that has stood the test of time and that wins Joburg’s vote again and again.
pamgolding.co.za, 011 380 0000
Best Golf Course
With rabbits, Guinea fowl, abundant birdlife and magnificent trees, plus The Spruit running through it, Parkview Golf Club presents a beautiful and challenging 18-hole course right at the heart of The Parks. Become a full-time member or play as a visitor, but this is one of Joburg’s definite ‘must-play’ parkland courses. Its luxurious clubhouse is a great place to stay and have supper after the game, with its excellent menu and bar snacks, but don’t make too much of the 19th hole, or you might be in trouble at home.
parkviewgolf.co.za , Emmarentia Avenue, Parkview, 011 646 5400
Best Gym
Virgin Active keeps us fit and healthy, providing us with the most equipment, longest access hours, best trainers and most varied group classes – so there’s really no excuse not to pull on your lycra and go pump some iron, climb in the spinning saddle or get on that StairMaster. Come on, you know you want to! That summer bod won’t tone itself!
Best Local Hotel
With arguably the most spectacular location in Joburg, The Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff has hosted presidents, rockstars and mere mortals in rooms that cling to the hillside overlooking the dense forest below. During jacaranda season there is no better vantage point from which to enjoy sundowners and a view over the purple canopy, (although we think that at pretty much any time of the year this 5-star property is an amazing experience). Check-in, or just book a day in the spa and finish off with dinner and drinks on the terrace.
fourseasons.com/johannesburg, 67 Jan Smuts Avenue, 011 481 6000
Best Interior Decorator/Designer
Whether it’s a full makeover or an update of one or two pieces to transform your home that you’re looking for, Form Interior will guide and advise you, source and select the fabric, furniture, fixtures and fittings and voilà! Their expertise and patience know no bounds, but their budgeting do so they won’t break the bank!
forminterior.co.za, 70, 7th Avenue, Parktown North, 072 631 5334
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 it’s 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 or what we’re talking about. Together they are the crazy 947 breakfast team bringing us music, sport, traffic, news and a whole lot of laughs every weekday morning between 6–9am. We can’t start our day without them!
Best Radio Station
Playing old-school cool by day and soothing classics by night, Hot 102.7fm has something for everyone’s musical tastes, regular news and power updates to keep Joburg in the know 24/7. Their jocks know their music and have the best playlists that jog those memories of our hey-day and keep us singing along and smiling.
hot1027.co.za, 010 157 1027
Best Place to Take Out of Towners & Best Must Hire venue for Private Functions
The Troyeville Hotel was first licensed in 1939, and is a Johannesburg original offering superb views of the Joburg skyline. Their unfussy but excellent Portuguese cuisine is a legend among those in the know, who are becoming more and more numerous as news of the hotel’s success spreads! The hotel has a coffee bar, restaurant, sports bar, rooftop bar, pizza, gin and wine garden and of course, for those private events, a banqueting hall! And did we mention, it’s a stone’s throw from Emirates Airline park, great for those pre- and
post-match drinks.
thetroyeville.co.za, 1403 Albertina Sisulu Road, Troyeville, 079 612 0125
Best Place to Watch the Big Game
When you can’t get tickets to the match or it’s being played too far away to even think about but you want to share in the ‘gees’, make your way with all the other official Springbok supporters to Montecasino’s Boktown. It’s fun for all the family, you can grab a beer and some biltong and settle in to cheer on the Boks on possibly the biggest screen you’ll ever see. There is always tons of additional entertainment before, during and after the game, as well as free Wi-Fi so you can post your pics online in real time. Go, Bokke!
montecasino.co.za, William Nicol Drive, 011 510 7777
Best Theatre
When you open with an award-winning and box office record-breaking show like The Lion King, you have a lot to live up to. The Teatro at Montecasino has done just that time and time again since 2007, bringing us some of the most spectacular local and international productions including Lord of the Dance, Chicago, Cats, War Horse, Phantom of the Opera – we could go on but you’ll just get FOMO and wish you’d seen every single show. So don’t miss out again, check online for the upcoming schedule and book online!
montecasino.co.za/entertainment/theatre/teatro , William Nicol Drive, 011 510 7398
Best Thrift Shop
Selling ‘upcycled’ and ‘previously loved’ clothes and accessories is at the very heart of Chic Mamas Do Care Jozi and what big hearts they have. All proceeds go to support educational projects in underprivileged areas, meaning that every cent you spend on that new-to-you outfit goes to sustainable causes. This is truly a socially and environmentally conscious store that brings thrifting into the 21st century.
chicmamasdocare.org/johannesburg, 59, 4th Avenue, Linden, 083 531 1783
Best Weekend Getaway
Is there anywhere in South Africa quite as iconic as Sun City? Four hotels to choose from, time share, outdoor activities on the golf course, on 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 – we’re exhausted even thinking about a short break at this ever-popular resort!
Best Yoga/Pilates Studio
‘Namaste’ is both a greeting and a blessing and Namaste Yoga Studio (Best Yoga/ Pilates Studio) provides both in abundance. Classes in Indieyoga, Hatha Vinyasa, mobility-based Slow Flow to Yin Yoga for young and old, the supple and not so supple are conducted from purpose-built studios and they also host workshops & retreats. Their motto is very appropriate – Strong, Supple, Serene.
namasteyogastudio.co.za, Ferndale Village Shopping Centre, 083 564 9446
