The best of Johannesburg
27 places worth going across 3 lists — pick a list, or open the map.
The best coffee shops in Johannesburg
Our pick of Johannesburg’s specialty coffee — a genuinely strong roaster scene across Kramerville, Rosebank, Milpark and Linden. South Africa’s entry on the global coffee ranking is in Cape Town, not Joburg, and we have not pretended otherwise. A favourite.place selection. Sources: The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops 2026 https://theworlds100bestcoffeeshops.com/top-100-coffee-shops/
Johannesburg’s best casual eats
Our pick of Johannesburg’s best casual eats — Vilakazi Street and the Soweto shisa nyama, the Fordsburg samoosa and karahi counters, the CBD’s Ethiopian quarter, and the kota, which is Joburg’s own (bunny chow is Durban’s). A favourite.place selection. Sources: favourite.place https://favourite.place/explore
Johannesburg’s best restaurants
The best restaurants in Johannesburg. No MICHELIN Guide covers South Africa, so the authority here is the Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards — the country’s definitive ranking — and every entry is a current one-star holder in the 2026 edition. Sources: Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards 2026 https://www.eatout.co.za/article/breaking-the-2026-eat-out-woolworths-restaurant-awards-winners/