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From the moment George Hunter started his career as a bartender at Hard Rock Cafe in Sandton, he fell in love with the hospitality industry. "Those days were incredible. I stood behind the bar and served people a few cocktails, and I felt alive," he says. "I was in the moment... there was music, energy, and fun in the air. My passion for bartending hooked me immediately, and I wanted to know more, learn more, and do more." Since then, his dedication to fun, energy, and people has only deepened. In 2024 it culminated in the opening of Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery, a cocktail hotspot in Rosebank.
Launched with business partners Ricardo da Costa and Lee Govender, Hunter wanted Obscura to be a welcoming space. It's sexy yet unpretentious, playful, and intimate, and the cocktails (of course, the star) have been hailed as some of the best in Joburg. We have to agree. It also smells as good as it looks, an intriguing touch. In February 2025, Obscura cracked the nod on the World's 50 Best Discovery list. Most endearing of all is Hunter's sincere love for his customers and his staff's happiness, which come before anything else.
From Hunter's humble beginnings at "the bottom of the food chain" (as he says) to achieving his dream of owning Obscura, this mixologist and bartender has had quite the journey. He's applied his signature style to The Landmark Cocktail Bar in Bryanston, Anti-Establishment in Braamfontein, Sin + Tax in Rosebank (alongside founder and flavourist Julian Short), as well as Sandton's Saint Restaurant and the Marble Group (of David Higgs fame). And he takes no part of this story for granted, crediting all of the venues he's worked at and people he's worked with along the way. "I learned something from everyone," he says. "I am grateful to everyone who helped and is helping me on this ongoing journey."
Skilled in his field, Hunter is no stranger to the competition circuit, having won several prestigious titles both on his own and alongside his wife, Cameron-Lee Henning – also a mixologist. When he's not behind the bar, he can be found golfing, travelling, and spending time with his family. We caught up with him to find out more about the inspiration behind Obscura, balancing humility with aspiration, and his all-time favourite cocktail.
"I think [Joburg] has its own beauty that people often overlook because of the money and fast-paced lifestyle."
What got you interested in the world of mixology to begin with?
I jumped into the hospitality world to make some extra money and meet some new people, and I was hooked by how alive I felt behind the bar. I am also super intrigued with flavours, textures, aromas, preparation processes, and the various cultures that inspire food and drink. However, I only realised how much I loved it when I started bartending.
What inspired you to open Obscura? What kind of space did you set out to create?
I really wanted to create a space that blurred the line between restaurant and cocktail bar. Ultimately, it was a collaborative effort between myself, my partners Ricardo, Lee, the design team, and, in a big way, my wife, Cameron-Leigh. We serve everything with love, and it is our most important ingredient. We are also happy to work with all bars and restaurants so that we can grow the industry and put South Africa on the map as a hospitality destination.
Photo: Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery via Instagram.
What's the story behind the name, Obscura?
Originally, the inspiration for the name came from the phrase camera obscura, a technique used in photography. We took the idea of this pinhole photography and imagined looking through a keyhole into a room: you would be focused on the bits you could see, hence our slogan, "The more you look, the more you see." It came down to doing things differently and putting all of our love into it. We do not have a theme and are not stuck in any one direction.
"[In Joburg] there is so much genuine hospitality and friendliness underlying it all, and I believe this will one day make us shine."
You’ve competed in (and won) some of the biggest global bartending competitions. What have you learnt from these experiences, and how does this show up in the work you do today?
More than anything, it reminds me to be humble. Arrogance and ego will ruin your career and your work environment – I am not more important than the scullers in my shop. I am here to lead my team to victory, but that victory means the people who come to work feel happy and cared for. On the other side of the coin, I know what it takes to win on a global level, so I push my team to reach this level of service and craftsmanship. We operate like we are the best, and we aspire to create a culture of doing everything to the absolute best of our ability.
Photo: Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery via Instagram.
You must meet many interesting people and hear some wild stories working bars. What do you love about these types of interactions?
I simply love the fact that, no matter how much preparation you do, how many years of experience you have, or how much you think you have seen and heard it all... you never have. Every week is different, and every customer is unique.
"I am here to lead my team to victory, but that victory means the people who come to work feel happy and cared for."
Obscura’s menu is a blend of classic cocktails with contemporary twists. What’s the process behind crafting a signature drink?
Classics are close to my heart and extremely important, as they are the true measure of a bar and a bartender's ability. Consistency is the true form of quality! On the other hand, creating signature cocktails starts with a brief: what's the season and what's available? Are we trying to create a drink from a sustainable point of view? Is there any inspiration we can take from culture? We also look at what's happening globally and try to go a step further, or create our version of something popular. It all depends on the brief.
After that, there are multiple levels of research and development, starting with the theory of the drink and its flavours. First, we make the drink. If it is a delicious flavour combo, the next step is to adjust the texture or technique, elevate the glassware, and decide on the garnish and ice. We will also try other aromas and drinking vessels to see if they work. It's a lot of playing around until you're happy.
Restaurants mainly centre around food, with drinks playing a supporting role. How do the two interact to shape the story of Obscura?
You can just as easily come to Obscura for a couple of cocktails and a great vibe as you can for an evening of wine and food. The two – food and drinks – shape Obscura's story, because neither one is more or less important than the other.
Photo: Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery via Instagram.
What are some drinks trends you see shaping Joburg’s nightlife?
We see people are more focused and intentional on the adventures they choose, wanting higher-quality experiences. The experience will set the trend. Fancy bottle Tequilas at a nightclub versus a full high-quality tequila and spirit tasting at Obscura with knowledgeable staff. Both are relevant but different in their experience.
Your all-time favourite cocktail and why?
Impossible to say, because I have different drinks for different occasions. However, a classic espresso martini is, for me, perfect at any time, any place, and in any weather.
"[At Obscura] we serve everything with love. It is our most important ingredient."
What brought you to Joburg and what makes you stay?
Born and raised in Joburg, I think the city has its own beauty that people often overlook because of the money and fast-paced lifestyle. But there is so much genuine hospitality and friendliness underlying it all, and I believe this will one day make us shine.
Home is...
Where my wife and cats are.
What is a surprising thing people might learn about Joburg by having a conversation with you?
The number of high-quality establishments we have in Joburg, and the vast offering of different cultures they have. We are also spoilt for choice with golf courses.
Your favourite Joburg suburb, and why you choose it?
Fourways. It's quite central and close to the highway, and it's more convenient and spacious than other areas (at least, where I live). Parkhurst also has an incredible vibe, and I could potentially put that high on my list.
What three things should a visitor not leave Joburg without seeing or experiencing?
Obscura, sunsets at Marble, and a round of golf at one of our top courses.
Your favourite Joburg author or favourite Joburg book?
Sorry, you got me on this – I only read cocktail books and recipe books. My wife recently got me into some very cool fantasy books, but that's about it.
One song on your playlist that either is about Joburg or makes you think about this city?
AKA's All Eyes on Me [featuring Burna Boy, Da L.E.S., and JR]. It was trending when I worked in Braamfontein.
The most memorable meal you have eaten in Joburg?
The first meal when Obscura opened! Other than that, the first time my wife and I went to Orexi in Pineslopes.
If you had to create a cocktail that captures the essence of Johannesburg, what would it be?
I'm going to be that guy and say our signature drink is the Soul Candi Margarita. It was created for Ricardo, because he asked me to put a spicy margarita on the menu (he is also the man behind the Soul Candi brand). The ingredients are Don Julio Reposado, mango juice, lime juice, jalapeño syrup, habanero, and cucumber bitters.
If you could buy one Joburg building which would it be?
I've never thought about this. It would be a heritage building that I could turn into a bar or restaurant themed around the heritage of the building.
If you were Joburg's mayor for one day (average tenure), what would you change?
The blatant theft that happens in government: I would work to expose the corruption, remove it, and try to rebuild!
"[No matter] how much you think you have seen and heard it all... you never have. Every week is different, and every customer is unique."
What makes someone a Joburger?
Their love for Joburg. Also, if you have done and seen a couple of things that are cool.
What do you least like about Joburg?
The traffic and the crime – it ruins the city completely.
Your number one tip for a first-time visitor to Joburg?
Don't leave your phone on the table or anywhere where it can easily get stolen.
Photo: Obscura Cocktail Bar & Eatery via Instagram.
The perfect weekend in Joburg includes...
Golf, Obscura, time with my family, and maybe a trip to one of the food markets.
Three words that describe this city.
Authentic, underlying, beauty.
Check out some of our previous #MyJoburg interviews for more insights into the city:
#MyJoburg by Les Da Chef
#MyJoburg with Jessica Redinger, hotelier and dynamo
#MyJoburg with James and Vicky Peech, gracious hosts
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