The temperature might be plummeting, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have any fun. Sure, you might have to pack away your swimming costume and picnic blanket for a while, but winter has its own appeal, like snuggling up under a blanket to watch a movie and sipping delicious hot chocolate.

Lucky for us, we have an array of cosy restaurants where you can huddle with your besties after work or go on candlelit dates. So don’t let winter put a freeze on your social life, warm your weary soul with the latest restaurant trends at these winter hotspots.

 

Churchills (Johannesburg)

(www.churchillsbar.co.za)

 

This Melrose Arch establishment was named after the British statesman. And just like a British private club, it’s fitted with leather sofas and a welcoming fireplace that’s sure to keep the cold at bay. And with menus listing cigars and cognacs, you can indulge your fantasies of being a lord or lady of means. Or you could just pop in for a fish and chips. Jolly good!

 

La Madeleine (Pretoria)

(www.lamadeleine.co.za)

 

If you’ve ever wanted to dine at a restaurant in the French countryside, this one’s for you. Offering French and Belgian cuisine, it’s located in the leafy Lynnwood Ridge suburb of our capital city. Take a seat in the main dining room and bask in the glow of a hearth fire. From green-pea soup with bacon espuma to slow-braised veal cheeks, venison and crème brûlée, get a bellyful of European fine dining without having to buy an air ticket.

 

Browns of Rivonia (Johannesburg)

(www.sa-venues.com)

 

This popular restaurant brings Joburgers a taste of the Cape Winelands, and it was converted from an old farmhouse. Choose from an extensive wine cellar with the help of an expert sommelier. The main dining area opens on to a patio that overlooks a garden with a koi pond and there’s the extra luxury of four fireplaces. It might be cold out there, but it’s worth braving the chill for a quintessential classy dining experience.

 

Asoka (Cape Town)

(www.asoka.za.com)

 

Rainy Cape Town winters are not for the faint-hearted, but we have a restaurant suggestion that will lure you out of hibernation. Set on vibey Kloof Street in Gardens, Asoka brings lucky Capetonians some amazing flavours from around the globe. Check out the Norwegian salmon, Asian beef tartare with spring onion and duck spring rolls with hoisin sauce. These flavours are sure to give you a warm, fuzzy feeling. And just to make sure you’re really toasty, you can take a seat near the fire.

If you are a restaurant owner and want to keep up to date with restaurant trends, download our eBook The definitive 21st-century restaurant playbook. It provides food for thought and all the tips and tricks you need to keep you ahead in the restaurant business.

Author : Rudi Badenhorst

SHARE
Food trends restaurant trends