a food & travel adventure to johannesburg
I’ve just got back from a whirlwind food and travel adventure to Johannesburg where I caught up with the food scene in our biggest and most vibrant city. I used to live there, so Joburg is my second home and I love visiting. Normally I stay with family and friends and land up spending most of my time in their homes and don’t get out as much as Id like. Last week was a little different. I stayed in four amazing hotels and bounced around old favourite haunts and discovered a few amazing new places. kulula.com – South Africa’s number one low-cost airline and Avios Rewards Programme (who they have recently partnered with) invited me to fly to any destination in South Africa for a foodie adventure and I chose Joburg. South Africa is filled with exciting destinations and Avios customers can earn three Avios for every R10 spent on Kulula flights. If you are not collecting points every single time you fly, you are wasting an opportunity. Places to go, people to see, and food to eat is what I always say.
Avios is the reward currency for the British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Meridiana Club,as well as the Avios Travel Rewards Programme in the UK and South Africa. The Avios Travel Rewards Programme turns everyday spending on flights, accomodation and car hire. It offers members the chance to get to their dream destinations quicker by collecting Avios without changing their spending habits. Avios can be used towards return flights with British Airways, on flight upgrades, car hire and hotel breaks. You also get points at other partners like Pick n Pay and BP.
Where can you collect Avios in South Africa:
- Booking cash flights with British Airways, kulula and other partner airlines.
- From fuel at BP.
- Converting Pick ‘n Pay smart shopper points into Avios.
- Spending on the Avios Credit Card or British Airways Executive Club Credit Card or by converting Standard Bank UCount points and Absa Rewards.
- Car rental with Avis.
- Booking accommodation through Avios.com.
- Selling a house through Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty.
I’m so excited to be giving away one return ticket to one lucky reader to any destination in South Africa sponsored by Kulula. You too can fly away and have a foodie adventure of your own in Cape Town, Durban, George or Joburg as I did. Or do other things that you love. Check out the competition details at the end of this post and GO and enter now!….and tell your friends about it too.
I realised very soon into my stay in Joburg that I needed at least another three trips to properly catch up with the best food in town, so I’m only including a few of the highlights here. I cant wait to visit again for more deliciousness.
3 fab new restaurants to visit
Luke Dale Roberts X at the Saxon
I was invited to dine at the New Luke Dale Roberts X signature restaurant at the Saxon and it was a fine dining adventure of note. They serve an eight course tasting menu paired with or without wine and you can opt for a local or international pairing. We chose the local. The kitchen is run under the experienced and seemingly peaceful leadership of Candice Philip who with a small team of chefs create and cook an impressive range of contemporary dishes. As with any degustation menu of this calibre – and paired with wine, the meal is an orchestrated eating journey that takes you through an array of flavour and textural stages. Its intense and its often mind-blowing. I found the restaurant to be more formal that Lukes Cape Town establishments and the small space with highly attentive staff buzzing around makes it feel more like a production than a regular dining experience, but I really loved it. The staff are super friendly and jacked up.
Urbanologi
My favourite restaurant experience in my week in Jozie was a lunch at Urbanologi on Saturday. Located in the trendy 1 Fox street The Sheds precinct and inside the Mad Giant Brewery, this is an edgy and uber cool space to house a restaurant of this nature. The interior has a retro / industrial feel with murals by graffiti artist – Justin Nomad. Furniture and interior designer – Haldane Martin, ceramicist – Mervyn Gers and organic uniform designer – Daniella Kisten. Angelo Scirooco – who won the San Pellegrino Chef of the year in 2015 and who worked under Liam Tomlin at the Chefs Warehouse and Canteen – one of my favourite restaurants in Cape Town, heads up the kitchen and is knocking up some incredible food. I was blown away by the menu, the presentation and the man himself. The menu is likely to change and evolve but I do hope they never take the deep-fried potatoes with seaweed emulsion off the menu because this mayo is life changing and after a little interrogation I’m so going attempt to make something similar because it is that wonderful. We ate as much as we could and the steamed buns with truffle creme and toasted potato skin salt (I know right?) along with the crispy dropped black pepper pork belly with a tamarind dressing are dishes that will linger in my memory for a while.
Cafe Del Sol Tres
This is the third restaurant in the Cafe Del Sol group and its recently opened to add some 1920’s art deco glam to 4th Ave Parkhurst with a menu that is a slight departure from the two sister restaurants. Cafe Del Sol Classico (the first to open) in Olivedale won best Italian eatery in Gauteng in the 2015 Eat Out Awards and is the only one I haven’t been to but its a winner. I ate at Café del Sol Botanico in Bryanston on my previous trip to Jozie and loved it. The Landmark Cocktail bar adjacent to the restaurant is wonderful with award-winning mixologists on hand to create bespoke cocktails for you if you so desire. This family of restaurants are lovingly looked over by Mamma Luciana, daughter Chiara, and son Ryan. The food is fresh and hand-made – including the pasta, and only the best, and where necessary, the most authentic ingredients are used. Tres has a few extra cheffy touches added but on the whole it’s intrinsically Italian with a few signature dishes. I loved the halumi and aubergine stack for starters and the limoncello prawns with rocket linguine as a main.
Neighbourgoods Market
This is the Joburg version of the Cape Town Biscuit Mill Market and its all lifestyle. You can take your food to an upper desk where there is ample seating and a large bar area. Live music happens on Saturday afternoon so its a must visit place in the city even if it gets super busy from 12pm.
China Town Cyrildene
I popped past China Town in Cyrildene on my trip but sadly didn’t have any time for a meal in one of the restaurants. I did some research and would have chosen Northern Foods or Northern Plate (unsure of the exact name) if I had a chance and will do that the next time I visit. The fresh produce market was so awesome and if I lived there I would visit regularly to stock up on amazing greens and other produce.
44 Stanley
This is one of my favourite spots to visit in Joburg but really its at its best on a weekend when its bustling with people and the beer garden is packed with festivities and bands. I love the Salvation cafe for a meal and apparently their cheesecake is the best in town.
4th Ave Pankhurst
4th Ave Parkhurst is a culinary hotspot and my old stomping ground. There are so many pavement restaurants on this strip its hard to choose where to go. I adore Nice and their legendary eggs in a bread basket is my favourite dish. I also popped past Basalt – the new homeware store by Jacques Erasmus from Hemelhuijs in Cape Town. Its next level gorgeous and filled with exquisite artefacts and foodie goodies in designer packaging.
1 Fox Street The Sheds
I’m a sucker for inner city dead space rejuvenated into something edgy and arty and 1 Fox Street in Ferreirsasdorp is just that. The precinct houses galleries, the Good Luck Bar and Restaurant, The Fox Market Shed (a food / lifestyle market), and the Fox Junction Event Venue. Its also where the Mad Giant Brewery and Urbanologi are so the perfect spot to chill on a Saturday afternoon. Fox Precinct was part of the first mining camps that sprung up at the time of the discovery of gold in the 1880s and today, this precinct has been transformed into a dynamic cultural hub and will be my new stomping ground when I’m in the city of gold.
4 luxuriouls places to stay
Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff
Luxury on every level at this iconic Johannesburg hotel with panoramic views over the forest part of the city (The Parks). Refurbished into a more modern and stylish property centrally located. It’s the ultimate oasis from a bustling city.
The Peech is a beautiful Boutique Hotel with only sixteen rooms centrally situated in the leafy suburb of Melrose. This gem of a property over delivers on the four stars it holds with luxurious rooms and the friendliest staff.
Fairlawns Boutique Hotel & Spa
Fairlawns is an opulent and luxurious all-suite boutique hotel located in a the residential Sandton neighbourhood of Morningside. The property has undergone a major revmap taking and it into a more modern era, but it still has a stately ambience with a park-like feel in an established garden. Its a tranquil sanctuary for any kind of traveller with one of the best Spa’s I’ve ever been to.
Luxurious and contemporary glamour in this modern boutique hotel with only 9 suites (all very large), and perfectly situated near to the Sandton CBD. Its part of the Morukuru Family and is also a Relais & Chateaux property.
Competition
WIN one return ticket to any destination on Kulula. To enter simply leave a comment naming one of the Avios partners and telling me where you would go and one place you would like to visit when you get there.
The competition is open to anyone in South Africa over the age of 18 and remember sharing is caring. The more you tell all your friends the better.
Winner will be drawn and announced on Friday 12th of August.
Disclaimer ~ my flights to Joburg were sponsored by Kulula and this post is sponsored by Avios
Def going to try out some of these restaurants! We were just down in CPT and did lots of touristy things, I vowed to visit some new and exciting places in JHB too {we live here and tend to always stick to doing the same old things…} x
Amazing pics too!
WOW! Some photo shoot! I AM ALWAYS impressed by the beauty of your eye for food and settings. Simply beautiful.
Oh yes – competition..! Pick ‘n Pay is an Avios partner…
I would LOVE to go back to Cape Town and go to the Tasting Room, we never quite made it there on our recent trip… 🙁
BP is one of the Avios partners.
I would fly to Cape Town, and when I’m there I would visit my family in Tulbagh! ?
British airways, we’ve been to 1fox for teambuilding but was not aware of Urbanologi it looks fascinating with their menu items and Asian flair, if I win I would like to explore a little more of CPT Stellenbosch and surrounds, 3 days including flights seems just too little, chefs warehouse and Mr Roberts establishments
As always great article and pictures, thanks for sharing…cant wait for summer to do more exploring..
This sounds like such a delicious adventure. If love to go to Cape Town but maybe I’ll think of trying a city I haven’t been to before. Pick n Pay is an Avios partner.
Ah, your photos are gorgeous. Joburg is really upping the ante on the food scene nowadays.
It would be hard for me to pick between Durbs and Cape Town for a trip – Cape town never disappoints with their amazing restaurants (I have to go and eat at El Burro’s Taqueria again) and Durbs is where my cousin lives with her gorgeous new baby girl.
Oh, and BP is an avios partner. 😀
Thnaks so much Eddie – I do so love pointing my lens at foodie things 🙂
I love my avios card. Recently flew to CT and didn’t know that Kulula was their partner so I missed out big time! I always fill up at BP though! Loved looking through all your pictures and following your travels on snapchat. I would love to go to back to CT and do some wine tastings in Stellies!
Pick n Pay is an avios partner! Love the post 😀
Pick ‘n Pay is a partner
Would love to visit 1Fox as well as eat at Urbanologi! Looks amazing!
Hi Sam,
I would absolutely love to pay my elderly parents in East London a surprise visit..
I stay in Cape Town & last saw them in December & miss them both so much. Then a quick pop past PE/Uitenhage/Despatch to see my beloved son, my only child.
I am also a cancer survivor as due to me having stage 4 cancer at the age of 34.
My Avios points will also increase Kulula but we fill up both our cars with BP!!
Your photo’s are absolutely amazing Sam & love your blog.
Avis is a partner and I would use the ticket, and subsequent Avis car rental, to head to Cape Town where my first stop would be the Food Barn. It’s the first restaurant I ever tried ‘fine dining’ at many, many moons ago and would love to go back and see how it’s fared against my ageing taste buds 🙂
Thank you for sharing a Jozi story of urban chic and contemporary and will lovely pictures.
BP is an Avios Partner.
Would love to go to Cape Town and love to dine at The Test Kitchen in Woodstock and experience a foodie delight.
Am currently living in Durban
I followed your trip from my sick bed and loved the new angles you brought to my newly adopted city, a place that I’ve only experienced by rushing from one meeting to another. My eyes have been opened and I’ve made a list of the places that I am going to explore whilst planting my feet on Jozi ground.
Re the competition: Pick n Pay is an Avios partner and if I win tickets there is no other place that I will visit than my beloved Cape Town, city of my heart. I will feast the company of my tribe and the new restaurants that’s opened since I left the city. Oh to wake up in the shadow of the mountain again… 🙂
Hi I Found a copy of your book “Sweet” and just love it. However I cannot find Chocolate Orange Cake in your recipe book. I did see an accolade given to the recipe somewhere on a post. Am I missing something or am I needing new specs?
Pick n Pay is one of the Avios Partners. I would go to Cape Town and I would like to go to Kyoto Garden Sushi Japanese Restaurant.
Makes me glad I live in this city – didnt realise all its delights before i moved. BP is an Avios Partner, and I would love to go to Port Elizabeth and go to the Bridge Street Brewery for one of their beers and some tapas.
BP is an avios partner. Great write up and stunning pictures. Nice to see Joburg thriving. I would head straight to Durban and search out the infamous Victoria Street Market. Aromatic smells, vibrant colours and the best masala!!
We’ve just moved to Joburg – thanks for the great tips! BP is an Avios partner, and we would take a trip back home to Cape Town!
Really loved this post and your photos are gorgeous. I would pick a flight to Cape Town to visit the much talked about Jason Bakery as I would love to try the infamous lobster rolls, weekly doughssants and their #kickasspies (hello cassoulet!). Avis car Rental is an Avios partner
BP is an Avios partner. I would definitely so a trip to Cape Town. Would try out a few places while there NV80, Bukhara, Barons, Reuben’s, Nobu. Still want to do nigh tea at Mount Nelson.
BP is a partner….Cape Town always my first choice – would hire a car and try out La Colombe restaurant 🙂
I really enjoyed this, Sam! I don’t visit Johannesburg often and realized, after reading this, that I am missing such a lot! Your photos are absolutely beautiful!
BP is an Avios partner. I would love to check out the foodie scene in Cape Town. Places such as the Biscuit Mill in Woodstock, the Cape Town Neighbourgoods Market, wine tasting at a few winelands, etc. would be on my to-do list.
Kulula. I would visit Cape Town with my wife for our 20th wedding anniversary. Drive to Gordonsbay for freshly grilled fish & chips like we did on our first holiday.
Avis is a partner of Avios.
I would use my kulula ticket to fly up to Joburg & use your event-filled trip as a bountiful inspiration. I am particularly looking forward to eating at Urbanologi and exploring the 1 Fox Precinct.
I would totally head to Jozi town to visit my soul sister and bestie. While there we would love to dive in, discover and soak up the vibe, taste, texture, colour and rhythm whilst buying some fresh produce from the market in China Town, Cyrildene. That would be followed by hitting the Fox Precinct for an audacious
and bold craft beer at the Mad Giant Brewery before experiencing the taste of the deep-fried potatoes with seaweed emulsion at Urbanologi.
And oh yes lest we forget the delicious wine the city of gold has to offer! This would be a trip to remember!! Pick ‘n Pay is an Avios partner.
Hi Sam, what an amazing competition! My daughter lives in CT and we live in JHB. I would love to pitch up by surprise and go and fill up at BP (Avios) – and drive out to Mzolis where I have always wanted to go. I would also love to eat at the Foodbarn which is my absolute favorite in CT.
And one for luck! I would then go and stock up on snacks from PNP for our homemade soup for supper!
Thanks for your blog which I tap into every single day to check for new posts!
BP is an Avios partner. I would fly to Cape Town and have freshly baked scones and coffee at Winchester Mansions with my parents and good mate ?
BP Joburg Urbanology
Kulula is an avios partner. I would go to Cape Town and I would love to visit pot luck club and the test kitchen …. And babel …. And that’s just a start. So much to see, so much to do ….
Kulula is an avios partner. I will go to Joburg and follow in your footsteps. The shed def is a place that I would visit as well as Parkhurst
Visit my brother Rene Naidoo in Durban then go to Balito and eat at Mozambik with my friend Brett Michelein, and visit the beach of course ???????????
Kalula rocks! Sam your descriptions and pics make me drool! We have been in Jozi 2.5 years from PE and love experiencing textures, tastes and the art that goes into developing the menus and presentations, we love 1 Fox Street and 44 Stanley (reminds us of Stanley Street in PE) and now a few more places to try out!
Avios at BP. I ‘do love to visit 1 Fox St The Sheds. Sounds fascinating. Might find some good input for our Conference. http://Www.wineandfood.co.za
Id love to win to fly to Cape Town to head to FFMM to check out his incredible looking meat and attend one of his new butchery courses! Avis is a partner ??
Pick and Pay is an Avios partner. I would love to go to Johannesburg and experience this adventure you went on. I have family there and have been hearing about the neighborgoods market for years. Would love to go there. And maybe meet my nephew for the first time! ?
To the point. I love it x
Pick ‘n Pay is an Avios partner. I can’t wait to visit Urbanologi when I get to Jozi.
Avios partner with Avis. I would do a Natal Midlands Meander and stay at Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
I would so LOVE to fly to Jozi my old stomping ground and check out Urbanologi! Looks and sounds totally amazing. Pick ‘n Pay where I shop and BP where I fill up are my fav Avios partners. Your pics looks so amazing. They make me miss JHB and lazy lunches at 44 Stanley 🙂 x
I have only been to Johannesburg once and, if I win, I would love to experience Urbanologi. Pick ‘n Pay is an Avios partner.
I fill up at BP as they’re an Avios partner! I would love to travel to Jozi to check out Joziburg Lane (https://joziburglane.co.za/) at No. One Eloff as one of my foodie stops!
Pick n Pay (Smart Shopper) is an Avios partner. I would fly to Cape Town, my old home, for a bite at Jasons on Bree or treat myself at Babel for a lunch – Babylonstoren with my gorgeous friend Lisa from Somerset West
Beautiful pics! BP is an Avios partner. Would love to visit Urbanologi in JHB and the bakery at 1 Fox street, looks delicious. You are blessed to do what you are passionate about x
British Airways is a partner with Avios.
Would be great to fly from Dbn to HB to visit Gold Reef City.
As always, loved your post and immediately sent it on to my sister in Jhb.
I would love to win the Khulula ticket and would use it to visit my son and my sister in Jhb. We would hit China Town Cyrildene, and most definitely the 1 Fox St complex – having made sure the wheels are turning on BP petrol as they are an Avios partner.
Pick ‘n Pay is an Avios Partner.
I would go to Cape Town to try all the awesome Food places !!
Pick ‘n Pay is a Partner. I live in Joburg and would love to go to Cape Town !
Avis is an Avios partner. Fly me to Durban and I’d hit up the curry buffet at the Oyster Box hotel!
BP is an avios partner. I would love to go to Cape Town so I can eat at La Colombe or the Pot Luck Club :). Your pictures are truly beautiful!
Most Defs the Peech Boutique Hotel. I so need a relaxing holiday. Anything for my mind, body and soul to get away and take a break from the world
BP is one of the Avios partner! I have my Avios card and credit card and I’ve linked or so I get my points when I shop at Pick n Pay. I’d probably fly to Durban for a mini break and visit the Ocean Terrace at the Oyster Box and some surfing in Ballito 🙂
The Winner of the flight on Kulula is Jess. Thanks for sharing this post on SM. Thanks to everyone for entering. Sam x
Well done Jess! I was waiting to book my flights ????