When the sun is shining in Joburg, it's time to head out and enjoy a long lunch in a sunny garden or courtyard. To save you from staring out at a mall parking lot, we made a guide focused on Joburg restaurants with charming courtyards or hidden gardens, leisurely pool decks, rooftops with views, sprawling piazzas, and other places where the outdoor space offers something special.

Garden restaurants and cafés

BLIND TIGER CAFÉ
A popular neighbourhood spot on Parkview's pretty main street of Tyrone Avenue. The front of the restaurant is cosy, with a long bar and windows opening onto the street. Blind Tiger's hidden garden is a hit, with loads of space to spread out under the trees. There's a great cocktail menu and red meat lovers should try the beautifully plated "topless burger", a juicy medium-rare beef patty topped with blue cheese and caramelised onion.
Where: 62 Tyrone Ave, Parkview

CAFÉ 28 INANDA
Tucked into a Sandton office park, Café 28 Inanda isn't easy to find unless you know someone who has already been hooked by what we think might just be the best Neapolitan pizza in Joburg. Pillowy dough, light as a feather, with a fantastic array of toppings. Add an Italian beer and look out over an immaculately landscaped nine-hole golf course and manicured gardens, and you might forget that you are in Joburg. We strongly recommend you reserve your table well in advance as weekends tend to get busy. 
Where: 54 Wierda Rd, Wierda Valley, Sandton

BERGBRON PLAASKOMBUIS EN PADSTAL
Come to the homely Afrikaans plaaskombuis (farm kitchen) in Northcliff for bulging plates of unpretentious and good value comfort food that you'd more typically find far from a big city like Johannesburg. The Afrikaans padstal (farm shop) styled café is set out just as you might find at a farm kitchen in many small South African towns. A long, shady stoep (veranda), a tall shiny windmill, and even an old tractor overlook verdant gardens. Breakfast is served all day at the Bergbron Plaaskombuis en Padstal, where options include the sonop jaffel (sunrise toastie) with fried egg, bacon, and cheese, phutu pap (crumbly maize porridge) with maalvleis (minced meat), or a classic cooked breakfast with all the works, served on rustic enamel plates. 
Where: 268 Weltevreden Rd, Blackheath

DELTA CAFÉ
What started as a small café in a carefully converted old cottage looking out over the lush Delta Park is now a hive of activity with a café, beer garden, and pizza restaurant set over two outdoor covered areas. With stables on its doorstep, a playground, and a dedicated menu for kids, Delta Café is an ideal hangout for families. And with direct access to the Braamfontein Spruit biking trails, it's also popular with the cycling crowd. There's a simple and relaxed menu of light home-style breakfasts and lunches such as chicken pregos or pizzas made in a giant wood-fired oven.
Where: 20 Marlborough Rd (entrance via garden centre), Craighall Park

THE FORUM KITCHEN AT L'ANTICO GIARDINO
A classy weekend-only breakfast and lunch venue created by top events organisers The Forum Company, located at their beautifully restored Lanseria farm White Light (about 30 minutes from Sandton). The "ancient garden" or L'antico Giardino spreads out under tall trees and into a lush garden with the majority of seating outdoors. The kitchen serves breakfasts and a weekly changing menu of immaculately presented and flavourful lunches made with fresh produce sourced from nearby farms and suppliers.
Where: White Light, Pine Valley Rd, Lanseria

GROUND THE VENUE
Ground Café at Ground The Venue in Muldersdrift offers a charming farmhouse-style indoor space and spacious outdoor seating in a beautifully manicured garden, making it perfect for both planned outings and spontaneous visits. The menu features fresh meals and tempting deli options, along with Naked Coffee. For an escape from Joburg, book a picnic experience tailored to your taste, from DIY setups with food boxes to luxe packages like the Boschendal Picnic or Bougie Boho, complete with treats, blankets, and even bubbly. It's ideal for weekends with groups of up to 10, so be sure to reserve your spot! Plus, Ground Café is a dog-friendly venue, so you can bring your pooch along for the adventure.
Where: 19 Driefontein Road, Muldersdrift

HERB CAFÉ AND PLAYARD AT HERB LAND
Herb Land, a wonderland of flora on the outskirts of Midrand, is a unique herb garden and nursery where everyone can experience the world of herbs. Visit the on-site Herb Café for a seriously good selection of all things sweet: Belgian waffles with salted caramel, peanut praline, strawberries and ice cream (including vegan variations), pancakes with similarly sinful toppings, and freshly baked cakes by the dozen. It’s a place where birthday celebrations and bridal and baby showers abound. The kiddies' play area at PlaYard (entrance R40 per child from ages one to 13) is astonishingly large. In fact, you’ll do well to dedicate the whole morning or afternoon to exploring all this magical place has to offer. Booking for the Herb Café and PlaYard is essential. 
Where: Herb Land, 264 Summit Road (R562), Bridle Park, Midrand

KRANZ RESTAURANT AT THE NORTHCLIFF
The Northcliff Boutique Hotel is perched right on top of the Northcliff ridge and its garden terrace serves up one of the finest panoramic views in Joburg. The hotel's restaurant Kranz opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (note that non-hotel guests can only visit the property with a dining reservation, strictly no walk-ins or drinks-only bookings). The cuisine is elegantly presented and is flavourful continental fare, complemented by a solid wine list. Visit for lunch and dine outdoors in the garden or arrive early for your dinner reservation so you can enjoy the sunset.
Where: The Northcliff Boutique Hotel, 10 Solution Close, Northcliff Ext. 25

LEBO'S OPEN AIR RESTAURANT
Where once there was a dumping ground, township tourism pioneer Lebo Malepa, of the eponymous backpackers, envisaged a park. Together with the neighbours, Lebo created a quiet, green space where local children can play safely and visitors can relax with a plate of home-cooked food. Lunch is simple, wholesome, and South African at Lebo's Open Air Restaurant. A central wood fire is stoked and a set of potjies (South African cast-iron, three-legged pots) are filled with a selection of delicious freshly prepared curries (chicken, beef or vegetarian) for lunch, which you can spice up with plenty of homemade mango achar.
Where: Lebo's Soweto Backpackers, 10823A Pooe St (cnr Ramushu St), Orlando West, Soweto

SETTEBELLO AT THE ITALIAN CLUB 
SetteBello, tucked into The Italian Club in Bedfordview, overlooks the club's green sports fields from a sizeable wraparound terrace. The food is super tasty classic Italian and the atmosphere lively. Order the excellent pasta dishes (the puttanesca is a particular highlight) or wood-fired pizzas, and pick up some treats at the deli before you head home.
Where: 7 Marais Rd, Bedfordview

TRUFFLES ON THE PARK
This lively bistro and bar with its wraparound patio, copper bar counter, wooden interior, and masses of greenery is a surprising and welcoming breath of fresh air in the heart of Sandton Central, overlooking the verdant Mushroom Farm Park. A 2021 menu revamp and the addition of the Lower Terrace, which works well for smaller, private events, has helped further cement the reputation of Truffles on the Park as a great venue for casual afternoon drinks.
Where: Mushroom Farm Park, 125 Daisy St, Sandton Central

DOLCI CAFÉ
This pretty, family-run neighbourhood café in Craighall serves delicious Italian food, including Neapolitan-style pizzas, homemade pasta and the most delicious chocolate-filled ravioli. Truffle pasta, porcini bruschetta, prawns with a hint of chilli, a superb beef carpaccio, and delicious veal are just some of the dishes we have tried and can sincerely vouch for. Dolci Café is loyal to the simplicity of Italian cooking, using few ingredients per dish, but still making sure that they are of the highest quality and present the most satisfying flavours. The whole restaurant opens out on to a shady streetside terrace and there's also a great pizza bar.
Where: 28 Clarence Ave, Craighall Park

LEAFY GREENS WHOLE FOOD CAFÉ
Travel 40 minutes north of Sandton into the countryside and you’ll find places so dedicated to farm-to-fork dining that you can actually eat at the farm itself. A good example is Antonia De Luca’s Leafy Greens, a colourful vegetarian café located on her family farm in Muldersdrift. Perfect for a leisurely breakfast en route to the Cradle of Humankind, this café is on a working farm, so there's literally loads of space.
Where: Rocky Ridge Rd, Beyers Naude Dr, Muldersdrift

Eating on the square 

MELROSE ARCH
While this flashy shopping and dining precinct built around a series of piazzas and wide walkways is most certainly not a garden, Melrose Arch has gone to great efforts in recent years to take the inside to the outside. There are more than a dozen cafés and restaurants with huge terraces offering al fresco dining. They also recently added an astroturfed area in the middle of their two outdoor piazzas (always the hub of the action), and set about pedestrianising parts of the precinct's streets. If you are looking for outdoor seating and a lot of space, you'll be spoilt for choice. Favourites include The Grillhouse, Tashas, Mezepoli, the French café Paul, Piza ē Vino and the Halaal Turkish restaurant Istanbul Kebab.
Where: Melrose Blvd, Melrose 

MILK BAR
Named after Abu's Milk Bar in downtown Addis Ababa, Milk Bar in Parkmore is a quirky African retro-styled café that looks onto an adjoining sports club. The playful décor with its old-fashioned hand-painted barbershop signs and colourful African upholstery reflects the café-bar's casual and friendly atmosphere. A huge outdoor beer garden spreads out across a wide terrace and into the gardens and under the trees, taking up far more space than the actual bar building itself. Serving casual café fare, it's ideal for a weekend family lunch, especially with a jungle gym for the kids. On warm evenings, the beer garden swells to capacity, so it's advisable to arrive before sunset.
Where: Sandton Sports Club, 11 Holt St, Parkmore

PICNICS AT INDABA HOTEL
The four-star Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa in Fourways is an oasis of calm in its busy surroundings with 260 hotel rooms, as well as conferencing facilities and the luxury Mowana Spa spread across acres of land on what was once a farm. Breakfast and lunch is served at the hotel's Epsom restaurant, which opens onto a tree-shaded courtyard, although we recommend booking a picnic to enjoy at a quiet spot in the Indaba grounds. With prior booking, the Indaba team will have your picnic blanket and baskets set up at one of the many quiet green corners of the sprawling property (a spot overlooking the birdlife at the dam is particularly romantic).
Where: Indaba Hotel, Conference Centre & Spa, cnr Winnie Mandela Dr and Pieter Wenning Rd, Fourways

SADIE'S BISTRO
Enjoy a sunny, al fresco lunch at Sadie's Bistro, nestled among Joburg's historic mining HQs in Marshalltown. Indulge in a fresh, delicious salmon bowl and a tasty Lebanese-style meze platter. With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, you can expect elevated comfort food like butter chicken curry and irresistible homemade churros. Whether you're lounging in the relaxed outdoor seating or exploring the diverse menu, it's a little slice of home and heritage right in the city's heart.
Where: 69 Main Street, Marshalltown

THE SHORTMARKET CLUB
The brainchild of chef and restauranteur Luke Dale Roberts, The Shortmarket Club at Rosebank's Oxford Parks precinct is a great spot for a lively, relaxed dining experience with bold global flavours and an Asian twist. Enjoy inventive dishes like Japanese pancakes with crispy calamari or oysters on a dry-ice platter while sipping signature cocktails on the outdoor terrace. With great service and exceptional food, it's a must-visit – but be sure to book in advance. For a delicious deal, check out their fixed-price lunch menu offering here. 
Where: Oxford Parks, 199 Oxford Rd, Rosebank

STELLE
It's easy to miss this northern Italian-influenced restaurant, hidden inside the rambling and secluded Acorn Lane estate on Rivonia Road just two blocks from Sandton City. The spacious house flows out into a large and picturesque courtyard and garden, making Stelle perfect for lazy afternoon meals under the trees. If you are an anchovy fan, try the bell peppers served in traditional bagna caoda, a superb sauce of anchovies and garlic, or the deep-fried "carozza" mozzarella sandwich served with rocket and anchovy sauce.
Where: 61 Rivonia Rd, Sandhurst

THE ZONE @ ROSEBANK
With its open piazzas and trendy atmosphere, outdoor dining is a treat at The Zone @ Rosebank. Whether you're after Mediterranean flavours at Akti, serving up moussaka, souvlaki, and grilled octopus, or craving a chic brunch at tashas with eggs Benedict and maple bacon flapjacks, you'll find something to satisfy your cravings. Proud Mary offers a stylish spot with a seafood raw bar and picanha steaks, while the recently opened (October 2024) George's Grill delivers juicy burgers, steaks, and ribs, including truffle-topped options. Its diverse array of restaurants make The Zone the perfect spot for a weekend outing, brunch, a lunch treat, or dinner with friends. 
Where: 177 Oxford Rd, Rosebank

Hidden courtyards

ARBOUR CAFÉ AND COURTYARD
The cute, French-inspired Arbour Café is actually twice as large as it appears, occupying an entire courtyard that is reached via the back of the café. The menu's French inspiration is found in its perfectly executed omelettes and galettes (a savoury French crepe made using buckwheat flour), each of which comes in six different combinations of fillings. Classic sweet crepes are also on the menu and there's a daily changing selection of cakes, pastries, fresh salads, and sandwiches for lunch. 
Where: Cnr St Andrews St and Wrenrose Ave, Birdhaven

BREEZEBLOCK
This quirky 1970s retro-styled café in Brixton boasts a spacious courtyard that has become a popular spot for digital nomads who are in need of a change of scenery. The name comes from the neatly painted 1970s breezeblocks that line the courtyard. Breezeblock is decorated using recycled materials and restored furniture found in dumps and at yard sales. The all-day breakfast is excellent (try the Mexican huevos rancheros) and on occasional Friday and Saturday afternoons, they host vinyl DJ sets in the courtyard.
Where: 29 Chiswick St, Brixton

CHE ARGENTINE GRILL
In 2019, Joburg's most loved Argentine restaurant moved from its original location in Maboneng to new premises in Parkwood. The Parkwood venue of Che Argentine Grill retains a similar rustic feel to the original with candlelight in the evenings and an authentic wood-fired parilla, and now spills out into a cozy terraced courtyard in the back. The courtyard is a discreet spot that's worth booking in advance. Che's owners are utterly charming and the food is excellent. We love their parilla-fired sourdough bread and their flawless steaks, paired with their special homemade Che chimichurri on the side. 
Where: 128 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood

CLICO RESTAURANT
One block from Rosebank's Keyes Art Mile is Clico Restaurant at the small Clico Boutique Hotel. The restaurant’s setting is a chic and intimate triple-volume glass structure that looks out onto a courtyard garden, making it an inviting dinner venue, or a gloriously lit breakfast or lunch spot. For breakfast, try the poached eggs with grilled halloumi and confit tomatoes, or for winter mornings, oats dressed with honey and Egyptian dukkah will ease your cravings. Named after the French Champagne label Cliquot, there's an excellent selection of Champagne and local boutique wines, and the regular Sunday jazz brunch events are the perfect event to enjoy them. 
Where: Clico Boutique Hotel, 27 Sturdee Ave, Rosebank 

FOAKES AT VICTORIA YARDS
A coffee shop, roastery, and bakery with a peaceful open courtyard set amid the workshops and artist studios of eastern Joburg's makers' community Victoria Yards. Sit in and enjoy your sandwich and coffee, or get it to go and find another quiet spot to chill out among Victoria Yards' kitchen gardens. Foakes is a veritable shrine to sourdough, so the freshly baked bread is excellent, while the Foakes coffee is hand-roasted in small batches with five single-origin options and two unique blends. 
Where: Victoria Yards, 16 Viljoen St, Lorentzville

LIVY'S
Livy’s is Joburg’s newest all-day social club, where parents can kick back and enjoy fine dining while the kids play next door at Joy Jozi. Divided into two, with a stylish, art-inspired restaurant that flows into the padel courts, Livy’s offers a lively space to socialise, eat, and drink. The menu, curated by Chef Tyron Gentry, is packed with delicious bites, including creamy mozzarella and feta arancini, and melt-in-your-mouth Chalmar beef fillet. The cocktails are just as impressive – rum-forward and full of flavour.
Where: 49 Eastwood Road, Dunkeld

OZZY'S @ THE MONARCH
A former telephone exchange dating back to 1924 is now a beautiful boutique hotel, hidden in plain sight next to The Zone @ Rosebank. The Monarch Hotel is filled with furniture from bygone eras, contemporary printed wallpaper, and an exceptional art collection. The double-glazed windows shelter you from the bustling district outside, which makes sitting in the quiet courtyard restaurant Ozzy's @ The Monarch as recharging an experience as a trip to the countryside. Ozzy's features three distinct menus from fine dining to a relaxed terrace selection savouring light snacks or East Asian-inspired dishes.
Where: 167 Oxford Rd, Rosebank

​​RAZOR CHARLIE LATIN EATERY
Enter into a courtyard area with overhanging lights, plenty of lush greenery, and cosy seating nooks, and you'll be transported to a quirky Latin-inspired refuge, hidden among the designer furniture showrooms and workshops of the Kramerville design district. It's an Instagrammer's dream. We are great fans of Razor Charlie's Mexican-inspired menu of breakfast dishes, which includes their breakfast burrito and huevos a la mexicana (scrambled eggs, tomato and chilli). For the more hungry, the mains include a chimichurri stripped rump steak and a range of quesadillas, chicken or steak tacos.
Where: 6 Desmond Rd, Kramerville

SPILT MILK SOCIAL CAFÉ
This corner café on Melville's iconic 7th Street opens directly onto the street, with a lovely terrace that is great for people-watching. However, the real gem is in the back of Split Milk Social Café – a large sunny courtyard with loads of space that is a perfect venue for a lazy breakfast or a light lunch. Try the freshly made soup served with homemade bread.
Where: 1 7th St, Melville  

44 STANLEY
A former 1930s industrial complex transformed into a boutique shopping destination, 44 Stanley offers an enticing selection of designer clothing and artisanal homeware stores, plus great coffee shops and cafés, spread across a series of pretty interlinked courtyards. A favourite is Salvation Café, whose tables flow outdoors onto a covered veranda and into a picturesque olive tree-shaded courtyard, perfect for relaxed family meals. Turn that morning meal into a memorable experience with a choice of healthy, sweet, and savoury, plus breakfast burritos, and for lunch, there is a delicious selection of salads, sandwiches and wraps. La Pergola brings northern Italian cuisine to Joburg, with fresh pizza made daily from scratch, while Saint Germain is a quirky and laid-back French-inspired café. In the courtyard behind The Bioscope, try Yang Zhao's beloved eatery Beijing Opera for a fresh take on Pan-Asian dining.
Where: 44 Stanley Ave, Milpark

VICE CAFÉ
A trendy Aztec-inspired coffee spot in Craighall Park. Vice Café's outdoor space features an abundance of potted cacti in the most beautiful and vivid colours. It looks out onto the street, with ample seating and a sun-shielding canopy for those scorchingly hot days. A relaxed and inviting space to start your morning off with a coffee in hand, they serve Mexican coffee, and "elixirs" – freshly made and bottled smoothie blends and juices packed with lots of healthy and immune-boosting ingredients.
Where: 11 Rothesay Ave, Craighall Park

THE WILD SIDE RESTAURANT AND BAR
The Wild Side in Craighall Park, just off Jan Smuts Ave behind The Valley Centre, is a restaurant-bar with a neon-bright tropical theme and a delicious menu of casual-contemporary fare (the brioche bun burgers do not disappoint), plus cocktails and Saturday afternoon DJ sets. The indoor dining area opens out onto a large terraced courtyard garden where the majority of tables are out in the open. The perfect meeting spot for sunny afternoon drinks. 
Where: The Wild Side, 6 Burnside Ave, Craighall Park

Decks and rooftops

54 ON BATH
54 on Bath boutique hotel in Rosebank offers a variety of dining experiences, from the chic and intimate Level Four restaurant to its stylish rooftop terrace and bar. Sip on gin cocktails inspired by the botanical surroundings, thanks to a partnership with Hendrick’s Gin, or unwind with a glass of wine while enjoying the serene rooftop garden. The Terrace and Level Four Bar, revamped in November 2024, now feature elegant pergolas, a refreshed pool deck, and a lush lawn, perfect for relaxing. This is also the venue of one of our favourite afternoon and high tea experiences.
Where: 54 on Bath Ave, Rosebank

AURUM AND ALTO234
Located on the 7th floor The Leonardo, one of Africa's tallest buildings, Aurum is an elegant dining destination with soaring triple-volume ceilings. The restaurant opens out onto a sunny rooftop pool deck, where, just a few steps from the door, you can book a sun lounger for the day. Dinner is contemporary fine dining with seasonal menus, and there's also a lighter à la carte menu for breakfast, brunch, and lunch that appeals to all-day eating, from cheese and charcuterie platters to tasty burgers. Perched atop The Leonardo is where you'll find Alto234, a sky-high urban bar boasting unbeatable 360-degree views of the city, chic cocktails, and gourmet tapas including oysters, bao buns, and honey whiskey chicken wings. Sip Moët from the Champagne vending machine as you soak up daytime panoramas, golden hour glow, or twinkling city lights. Open Tue – Sun, with curated experiences – book ahead and dress for the breeze.
Where: The Leonardo, 75 Maude St, Sandton Central

THE CITY BEACH CLUB
Flops aren't mandatory at this beach club in the heart of Braamfontein. It's wild, sandy (yes, literally), and sophisticated. Enjoy sweeping views of Joburg while you sink your toes into the sand. Part of the Play Braam precinct, The City Beach Club is a chilled break away from the busy city below. The menu is unfussy, eat-with-your-hands fare: think ribs, wings, and chips and guacamole. 
Where: 68 Juta Street, Braamfontein

FLAMES AT FOUR SEASONS HOTEL THE WESTCLIFF
With sweeping views over the lush northern suburbs, Flames, the terrace restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, is one of Joburg’s top sundowner spots. This laid-back yet luxurious venue is perfect for sipping cocktails or indulging in a multicourse weekend brunch featuring oysters, and the unforgettable zucchini risotto.
Where: Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, 67 Jan Smuts Ave, Westcliff 

NOVA BISTRO AT THE HOUGHTON HOTEL
At The Houghton Hotel, Nova Bistro offers a laid-back atmosphere with a breakfast buffet, café bites, and all-day casual dining with plenty of space indoors, from formal tables to lounge chairs, and cosy corners for meetings. But the real charm? The spacious terrace at Nova Bistro is perfect for sunny Joburg days, and you might find yourself lingering longer than planned.
Where: Lloys Ellis Ave, Houghton Estate

ROOFTOP AT HALLMARK HOUSE
On the top floor of the landmark Hallmark House Hotel building in New Doornfontein (a five-minute drive from Maboneng) is the Hallmark's spectacular rooftop venue, offering incredible 350-degree views of the distinctive downtown skyline from its wraparound balcony. Enjoy a casual contemporary menu of dishes like sticky pork ribs or truffle mac and cheese for lunch while admiring the view. 
Where: Hallmark House, 54 Siemert Rd, New Doornfontein

PABLO SANDTON
The new Pablo, once located on Melville's 7th Street, has gone upmarket with a move to the Mint Hotel in Sandton Central. The café occupies a breezy space that opens onto a terrace overlooking the hotel swimming pool. Pablo Sandton features many of the old favourites, including their famous shakshuka served with Yemeni flatbreads, as well as sharing plates and mezze dishes inspired by Middle Eastern cuisines that appeal to the brunch crowd.  
Where: Mint Hotel, 84 Katherine St, Sandton Central

THE TROYEVILLE
For incredible skyline views, a taste of Joburg’s vibrant history, and delicious Portuguese cuisine, The Troyeville is a top choice. The Troyeville Restaurant, the hotel’s signature dining spot, is open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with weekends, special occasions, and rugby game days drawing big crowds. Tuck into their classic Mozambican king or queen prawns with chips, salad, or Portuguese salted cod (bacalhau). You can also relax in the Pizza, Gin, and Wine Garden with city views and wood-fired pizzas, or head to the Sunset 1403 Rooftop Bar for sunset drinks, twinkling city lights, and fun live shows and events on the weekend.
Where: 1403 Albertina Sisulu Rd, Troyeville

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