Jozi restaurants that won big at the LUXE Restaurant Awards

South Africa’s culinary best gathered at MIRA Sandton for the 2026 LUXE Restaurant Awards, presented in partnership with Audi South Africa and Johannesburg held its own against stiff Western Cape competition.

From a pioneer in the hospitality space to a no-frills food truck earning national recognition, here are all the Joburg spots that walked away with a win.

1. Marble Hospitality, Pioneer Award

Based in Rosebank’s Keyes Art Mile, Marble built its name on fire-cooking open-flame grilling that turns premium South African ingredients into something worth the trip. The group behind it took home the Pioneer Award, a nod to the lasting influence it has had on Joburg’s fine dining identity since launching in 2016.

• Tip: Book a window seat for views of the art mile while you eat.

2. Embarc, Contemporary Restaurant of the Year

Tucked into Parkhurst, Embarc is the kind of neighbourhood restaurant that quietly earns its reputation seasonal produce, carefully balanced plates, and a standout wine list that keeps regulars coming back. It was named Contemporary Restaurant of the Year, adding to a trajectory that began when it won New Restaurant of the Year at the 2021 LUXE Awards.

• Tip: Go for the wine list, it’s one of the most considered in Joburg’s casual fine dining space.

3. The Pot Luck Club Johannesburg, Hotel Restaurant of the Year

Luke Dale Roberts’ Joburg outpost, set inside The Peech Hotel in Melrose North, brings the small-plates philosophy that made the Cape Town original famous. Bold, globally inspired dishes designed for sharing, the linefish taco and smoked beef sirloin with truffle café au lait are regulars on the must-order list. It earned Hotel Restaurant of the Year and a LUXE Two Star rating on the same night.

• Tip: The Prix Fixe menu is the most efficient way to work through the kitchen’s best.

4. Olives & Plates, Restaurant Group of the Year

With multiple locations across Johannesburg, including Wits Club and Sandton, Olives & Plates has built a reputation for reliable, well-executed food in settings that feel warm rather than corporate. The group took Restaurant Group of the Year for its consistent quality and growing footprint.

• Tip: The Wits Club location has a loyal local crowd, worth a visit on a quieter weekday.

5. Qunu, African Restaurant of the Year

Situated inside the iconic Saxon Hotel in Sandhurst, Qunu is the kind of room that commands quiet. Calm, light-filled and sophisticated, the restaurant celebrates premium South African ingredients with global influence, matched by carefully curated wine pairings. It was named African Restaurant of the Year at the 2026 awards.

• Tip: Arrive early and have a drink in the Saxon’s garden before your meal, the setting is half the experience.

6. Cyra, LUXE Two Star

Inside The Houghton Hotel in Houghton Estate, Chef Candice Philip’s fine dining restaurant has moved quickly from newcomer to national benchmark. The four-course and seven-course tasting menus are built on precision and seasonal thinking, with views across the Houghton Golf Course that make arriving before sunset worth planning for. Cyra earned a LUXE Two Star rating.

• Tip: Book a table that faces the golf course and ask to arrive before sunset, the views are some of the best in Joburg dining.

7. Les Créatifs, LUXE One Star

Hidden above a shopping centre in Bryanston, Les Créatifs is as much a creative institution as it is a restaurant. Chef Wandile Mabaso, trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in Paris and New York,  calls his cuisine Afrique moderne: contemporary French technique applied to indigenous African ingredients and storytelling. The walls rotate monthly exhibitions from local artists. It earned a LUXE One Star.

Note: The restaurant is currently closed for renovations until end of July 2026.

• Tip: The location looks unassuming from the outside, it’s above the West Pack in Hobart Grove. Don’t let that put you off.

8. Marble Restaurant, LUXE One Star

Alongside Marble Hospitality’s Pioneer Award, the flagship Marble Restaurant in Rosebank earned its own LUXE One Star, a double win for the brand on the night. Known for its fire-cooked meats and collaboration with South African artists, it remains one of Joburg’s most consistent fine dining addresses.

• Tip: The open-flame grill is part of the show, ask for seating with a view of the kitchen.

9. Briskets & Biscuits, Food Truck of the Year

Texas-style barbecue with a South African twist. Briskets & Biscuits built its following on smoked meats, flavour-packed wings, and indulgent biscuits and took Food Truck of the Year to prove that great food doesn’t need a fixed address.

Tip: Follow their social media for location updates, the truck moves around.

10. Slaps Sandos, Grab and Go Restaurant of the Year

Joburg’s winner in the quick-service category, Slaps Sandos took Grab and Go Restaurant of the Year for a straightforward, no-fuss offering that clearly resonates with the city’s lunch crowd.

• Tip: Expect a queue during peak lunch hours, worth it.

11. Ocaso, Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year

A Mexican-inspired eatery and cocktail lounge in Rosebank, Ocaso opened in late 2025 and quickly found its footing. The menu leans into classic Mexican staples reimagined with a South African twist tableside guacamole, birria tacos, flame-grilled meats while the vibe shifts at sunset when the music ramps up and DJs take over. It earned Lifestyle Restaurant of the Year.

• Tip: Go for the gong ritual at sunset the atmosphere shifts noticeably and it’s worth timing your arrival around it.

12. Nine Lives, Supper Club of the Year

Hidden between the fourth and fifth floors of the HYDE Hotel in Rosebank, Nine Lives is Joburg’s first inter-floor speakeasy. Inspired by the mood of the 1970s, it pairs precision cocktails with elevated comfort food, think tuna tostada, smoky bonito risotto, and Russian caviar flown in fresh, in a room of velvet, low lighting, and plush banquette seating. It won Supper Club of the Year in just its first year of operation.

• Tip: The entrance is through Proud Mary, you’ll miss it otherwise. Take the lift, look for the lipstick message on the mirror.

13. Club Como, People’s Choice Award

With locations in Morningside and Linksfield, Club Como serves a Mediterranean-spanning menu that pulls from Greek, Portuguese, Italian, French and Spanish traditions. It’s the kind of place you arrive at for dinner and leave hours later known for strong cocktails, sharp service, and a room that feels social without being loud. The People’s Choice Award went to Club Como, which is perhaps the most honest indicator of how well it’s landed with Joburg diners since opening.

• Tip: The rump hummus starter has a near-cult following among regulars, order it first.