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Inside Carnivore Restaurant: Still Serving Africa’s Greatest Eating Experience

Published

8 hours ago

October 23, 2025

Chiraag

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A Feast Born in Kenya, Perfected in Johannesburg

In the leafy embrace of Muldersdrift, just beyond the hum of Johannesburg’s city lights, there’s a place where dinner feels more like an African safari than a meal. The Carnivore Restaurant, set within the Misty Hills Country Hotel, Conference Centre, and Spa, isn’t just another dining venue; it’s an institution.

Now celebrating over 30 years in South Africa, the award-winning eatery remains true to its Nairobi roots, continuing the legacy of the original Carnivore Kenya, once hailed among the world’s most iconic dining experiences.

The Ultimate “All You Can Eat” Adventure

From the moment you step through Carnivore’s doors, it’s clear you’re in for something different. The scent of sizzling meat fills the air as waiters parade through the hall carrying long Maasai-style spears stacked with game cuts, poultry, beef, lamb, and even exotic meats when in season.

The concept is simple: keep eating until you can’t anymore. Once you’ve had your fill, you lower your little paper flag, a signal that your culinary journey has ended.

For years, diners have flocked here to experience this proudly African take on the Brazilian churrascaria style, served with Carnivore’s signature sauces, stews, fresh salads, and home-baked bread. The menu also caters to vegetarians and pescatarians, offering hearty plant-based and fish alternatives without losing the communal flair that makes the restaurant so beloved.

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Image 1: Facebook/Carnivore – Johannesburg

From Weddings to Wildlife Ambience

It’s not just the food that brings people back. Carnivore’s atmosphere feels like stepping into a celebration; think rustic wooden beams, open fires, and drumming rhythms that call to your inner adventurer. The restaurant’s 500-seat capacity makes it ideal for weddings, corporate events, and banquets, with the Misty Hills gardens adding an elegant backdrop for photographs and receptions.

Couples often choose it for its unique “African feast” wedding experience, a banquet where laughter, storytelling, and local flavours flow as freely as the wine list.

Awards, Legacy, and the Spirit of Jozi

Over the years, Carnivore has earned a constellation of awards, from Best Traditional Restaurant to Best Restaurant to Take Tourists To, reinforcing its place as one of Joburg’s true bucket-list destinations.

It’s a place where visiting travellers meet locals, where business dinners stretch into nightcaps, and where many South Africans had their first taste of venison or crocodile.

Despite new dining trends and endless culinary reinventions, Carnivore continues to do what it does best, celebrating Africa’s bounty with warmth, authenticity, and an unforgettable sense of theatre.

So, next time you’re hungry for something truly local, skip the city skyline. Head north to Misty Hills, where the fire never goes out and the feast never really ends.