Welcome to The Marabi Club where superb food and drink blend together with the best in live jazz performances. Inspired by the penny-whistle Marabi clubs of the 1920’s which were formed in the wake of one of the world’s richest gold rushes, in Johannesburg. It was a lifestyle prompted by the need to escape the hardships of the working week and was defined by illegal shebeens, where fierce talk of politics was accompanied by the equally disruptive soundtrack of jazz. Today The Marabi Club is tucked into the basement of Hallmark House in Maboneng, under a hotel and is characterised literally by a hole in the wall, through which one steps in to a world of magic. Marabi is only open Wednesday to Saturday evenings until the early morning, and the experience is like nothing you have ever seen or experienced before. Order an incredibly potent ‘Skillachi” house cocktail and…
Epicure is the restaurant name that is on everyone’s lips, and it’s no secret as to why. The Belgian-Burundian Chef has made a name for himself in the restaurant industry, and we were excited to pay him a visit. Located in Central Square in Morningside, Épicure is a unique blend of Pan-African chic and the unique menu features some creatively named dishes such as Taste of Tangier, Perfect Pepe, Hunters Reward, and the Rolex (a tasty beef curry wrap with a Ugandan twist.) Épicure in itself is an adventure from a décor perspective. Beautifully appointed booth’s and tables with low hanging woven grass lamps, beautiful blue suede fabric, and dark wood with leather chairs – its an interesting mix, but together the entire collection works so well together that to remove anything would be a travesty to the look and feel. The Afri-tapas menu (or Share-Share as it is called)…
It’s all about life in the city – as we know, so we caught up with uber talented actress, model, DJ and presenter, Thuli Phongolo to find out more about her favourite spots around the city… What is your favourite restaurant in Joburg? The Terrace at the Saxon Hotel… it’s absolutely stunning! Every time I go there I forget that I’m in Joburg. It has a sense of calm that you don’t usually gather from the city. I also love the fact that its private. It makes it easier to engage with your guests and relax. What is your favourite coffee spot in Joburg? I’ve recently fallen in love with Naked at Morningside. They have quite a variety of coffee with an exquisite taste. Its unlike any other coffee I’ve ever tasted, coffee is no longer the same without that Naked touch! What is your favourite hotel in Joburg? The Four Seasons, Westcliff… the view is to die for! It’s tranquil and…
We love an excuse to celebrate and recently headed through to Montecasino’s Casa Bella to hellp them celebrate their first birthday, in true Italian style, of course. Nestled in the heart of Jozi’s premier entertainment destinations, Casa Bella, means “Beautiful Home” in Italian, and that it certainly is. Beautifully tiled floors and polished wood feature in the stylish interior which, combined with a warm, inviting ambience, provides an upmarket yet friendly dining experience. It is literally a home that runs on love, laughter, delicious food, outstanding wines and exceptional quality and service. The standard menu features fresh, authentic and carefully considered cuisine made from the finest quality ingredients such as imported Italian flour, 100% Durum wheat and locally sourced fresh food items. They are also ranked in the top 10 according to TripAdvisor, as well as a recent nomination from the Restaurant Association of South Africa (RASA). Authentic food is…
If you are heading down to the Cape soon, and are going to be in the Durbanville area, then may we suggest a stop in at the beautiful Meerendal Estate. You can taste some vino of course, but there is loads more on offer and Meerendal boasts biking and running trails, paragliding (when the weather’s just right!), and its family friendly weekend vibe. There are two restaurants on the estate, The Crown Restaurant and Carlucci’s – the latter is the one that fills up fast so that come lunchtime, one would be hard pressed to find a seat in the restaurant – either in the undercover area or the garden with its sweeping views of the Boland mountains. The restaurant has been open since 2016 – initially as a small restaurant which has evolved into a full blown restaurant with rolling lawns, ample space for kids to play in a…
It was just recently announced, and not that surprising either that one of our favourite restaurants ever (and one of the most popular in SA since Chef Chantel Dartnall won best chef) Orient Boutique Hotel – home of the acclaimed Restaurant Mosaic – has won the Best Hotel Wine List in the World for 2018 beating off strong competition from around the globe. The 2018 Fine Wine World’s Best Wine List Awards, now in its fifth year, honoured Restaurant Mosaic in the following categories: • Best Hotel Wine List in the World 2018. • Best Long Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Champagne & Sparkling Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best Dessert & Fortified Wine List in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Best By-the-Glass Wine List Without Coravin in Middle East and Africa 2018. • Jury Prize Mosaic’s competition in the…
It was such a hit last year, and we are really looking forward to the second edition of the much talked about Pinotage and Biltong Festival, which will be showcasing 18 of the countries top Pinotage producers at this event, taking place on the 13th and 14th of October! The wineries are: Bellevue Wine Estate, Beyerskloof, De Krans, Ernst Gouws & Co, Flagstone Wines, Grande Provence, Hill & Dale, Jakkalsvlei, Koelenhof, Mellasat Vineyards, Mount Vernon, Neethlingshof, Perdeberg Cellar, Simonsvlei Winery, Taillard Wines, Van Loveren Family Vineyards Whalehaven and Wellington Wines. The Festival will once again be hosted at Leriba Hotel in Centurion and will the same procedure as last year, namely seeing one wine from each winery being paired with a biltong flavour, but most of these producers also have other Pinotage’s which will be for tasting and for sale directly from their stands. The festival concept offers visitors a…
We are so ready for beach days, braais and holidays – and were over the moon to learn that one of our fave pool side refreshers, Frost Popsicles have just launched an awesome range of cool new flavours, just in time for summer! Plus there are a few non-alcoholic versions planned – so everyone can join in the Frost Popsicle Revolution! The entire Frost Popsicles range is made from all-natural ingredients, is low in calories and contains no artificial flavourants, colourants or sweeteners. And with the exception of the Vanilla Coffee Popsicle, all other Frost Popsicles are dairy-free and vegan-friendly. “We’re thrilled with the growth we’ve seen over the past two years,” says Natasha Fagri, who created Frost Popsicles with business partner Jon-Marc De Carvalho. “When we launched in September 2016 we began with just two wine-based Popsicles – the Tranquille and Brut PJ Pops™ – selling in 26 stores…
Whatever you do, make sure that you have Saturday 29th September diarised as the much anticipated Steenberg Garden Party is heading to our beautiful city! The venue is the picturesque l’antico giardino part of the forum company in Lanseria which boasts the most stunning gardens and is the perfect fit to host laid back live music with ample seating in relaxed garden lounge areas, which will keep you delighted for the duration of the afternoon. Not only is the view a good one, but you can also savour the best of spring with fine bubblies and wines at this annual event which is brought to the people of Jozi by Steenberg Vineyards, one of the jewels of the Constantia Wine Route, this elegant outdoor affair invites you to explore Steenberg wines and tuck into a harvest table laden with fresh culinary delights. From the youthful and vivacious Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc…
Our country is so beautiful, and we honestly believe that as long as we live, we would never run out of places to go and wonderous things to see. We spent time in KZN recently and share about two amazing new retreats that we discovered. Surrounded by mountains, and peace and quiet – these are both literally an oasis of calm and relaxation. Wild Horses – Drakensburg If you’re looking for a true hideaway and escape from life, then look no further than this charming spot in the notorious Drakensburg which overlooks the breath-taking Sterkfontein Dam and Platberg Mountains on the Sterkfontein Nature Reserve. The comfortable yet stylish lodge is all about the finer details, and with freshly baked biscuits accompanying your tea and a nightcap waiting for you on your bedside table, you’ll quickly get used to the spoils that accompany this restful and restoring getaway. With only four…









