Besos, which means kisses in Spanish, is as charming as its name. Tucked inside The Woods Shopping Centre in Craighall Park, it’s like a flirty wink from across the room, but in restaurant form. We were invited to visit Besos (February 2025) to try their Sunday Brunch Club offering.
Walking into Besos feels like stepping into a Mediterranean farmhouse, but with an effortlessly stylish touch. Lush greenery, neutral tones, warm lighting, and minimalist-chic décor set the scene. Open seven days a week for brunch, lunch, and dinner, the dining experience at Besos is relaxed yet refined, and the space has become a popular spot for special occasions, from birthday celebrations to baby showers.
Sunday Brunch Club at Besos
Photo: Johannesburg In Your Pocket.
Sunday Brunch Club at Besos takes place every Sunday from 10:00 – 13:00 at R300 per person. It includes one brunch dish and two mimosas – great for those who like their brunch a little boozy. We tried the Steakhouse Bagel – sliced sirloin, scrambled eggs, and hollandaise sauce on a fresh bagel, and the Chicken Benedict, featuring a tasty buttermilk fried chicken and a poached egg on an English muffin. We enjoyed both brunch menu items, especially the Chicken Benedict, and would order it again.
The brunch club concept is inspired by the Besos team’s international travels. "We wanted Sunday Brunch Club to create special moments for our guests and build a little community. It’s not just about the food – it’s about the atmosphere. Brunch parties are a big thing overseas, especially in Dubai and New York, and we wanted to bring a glimpse of that to South Africa," a core member of Origami Hospitality Group, Lara tells us.
Besos food: What's on the menu
The cuisine leans continental with a touch of Latin flair, thanks to a hard-shell taco selection that’s a crowd favourite – think prawn, chicken, and lobster, and vegetarian options. The prawn tacos we tried needed more seasoning, but the shells were flavourful and we're looking forward to sampling another variant on our next visit.
Other popular small plates include tiger prawns, riblets, and savoury tarts, which make for great starters. Mains range from comforting pasta dishes like fillet pasta and beef ragu to grilled meats, including sirloin, tomahawk, and ribeye. The focus is on food that's fresh, well-cooked, and unfussy. Mains start at R150 and, while desserts are limited, the quality is good. We were, however, disappointed with the dessert portion sizes when we ordered the Lindt Moist Cake. Although decadent and delicious, it was about the size of a cupcake for R120.
"You could say everything on Besos' menu is our favourite food put into one menu," says Lara. "For example, the croissant crumble is inspired by a twist of bread pudding that my cousin used to make for us in Egypt! The roasted chicken is inspired by a chicken dish we had in Barcelona. The caccio e pepe is there because my husband had this delicious caccio e pepe at Cecconi's every day for three days during a trip to London, and fell in love with this pasta. The fillet hummus is inspired by my granny's hummus, and the churros by my husband's family's recipe. Every dish at Besos has a little story." Tyler Clayton, chef of the Origami Hospitality Group, draws inspiration from these dishes, infusing them with his own expertise to reimagine each dish into an elevated dining experience at Besos.
Vegetarian options are available, and the kitchen is happy to accommodate vegan requests. For more information, see the full Besos food menu here.
Drinks at Besos
The cocktail list is made for exploring. House specials sit alongside the classics, with signature drinks like the Besos Secret, a refreshing mix of gin, basil, strawberry, cucumber, and lemon; and the spicy margarita, a bold blend of tequila, lime, orange, and jalapeño that we can attest packs a punch. Prices start at R130. Besos also has a well-curated and wide wine selection ensuring there’s always a perfect pairing. For more information, see the full Besos drink menu here.
The Besos crowd
A stylish hangout with a younger, effortlessly cool crowd, Besos is great for girls' brunches, date nights, and celebratory get-togethers. Easy to love, just like its name suggests, it’s a fun spot for those who appreciate good food in a visually appealing setting.Keeping it in the family
Besos is one of three restaurants in the Origami Hospitality Group; the same team behind Alma, also at The Woods Shopping Centre, and Gaucho in Linden (originally founded by the Molina family, who are from Argentina and Spanish-speaking).
Staying true to their roots, all of their restaurants embrace a Spanish theme. After taking over Gaucho (which means "cowboy" in Spanish) with its bold, masculine aesthetic, Besos entered the picture as a more feminine, playful counterpart in April 2023. Alma (meaning "soul" in Spanish) is the group's third and newest restaurant, also the first restaurant that Lara and her husband conceptualised together from the start. They found their best times and the best connections are always around food. "We find very special how food can connect souls. And this is one of the ways on how we connect our souls and invite all our guests to connect over food, just like us." Lara shares. Meat is the hero on this menu of 'flame-crafted cuisine', but it's far from your typical steakhouse.
In review
Sunday Brunch Club menu: 7/10 (Well made, with a good variety of savoury options including chicken, beef, and fish, and a few sweet bites. The long wait-time knocked off a couple points.)
Drinks: 7/10 (Nicely crafted cocktails, albeit the spicy margarita wasn't entirely to our taste. No complaints about the mimosas though, and we're looking forward to sampling more drinks on the menu.)
Ambience: 7/10 (We visited on a rainy Sunday morning, which may have affected turnout. While the restaurant was calm and quiet, it remained welcoming. The energy picked up from 13:00 onwards. We're curious to revisit now that Sunday Brunch Club has gained some traction.)
Besos' opening hours and location
Open Mon – Sat from 09:00 – 22:00 and Sun from 09:00 – 19:00.
The Woods Shopping Centre, 345 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall Park, Randburg
Contact the restaurant on +27 10 822 2083 or book online via Dineplan here.
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