Southern Africa
The Southern African hot list
Spring 2025
What we’re loving in Spring 2025 (and you will too)
Stay informed and stay inspired! The Southern African hot list is your monthly dossier of what’s shaping the cultural and creative landscape across Southern Africa. From smart new openings and design-forward projects to events worth pencilling into your diary, we spotlight the ideas and initiatives that matter. Whether you’re a local with a keen eye on your surroundings or a traveller seeking authentic inspiration, this is your curated guide to the things that are getting our attention (and deserve your’s, too).
Top photography courtesy of &Beyond Suyian Lodge
01
& Beyond Suyian Lodge: safari serenity in Kenya
Set on 44,000 acres of private wilderness in northern Laikipia, & Beyond’s Suyian Lodge pairs raw Kenyan landscapes with refined comfort. The lodge’s low-impact architecture – timber frames, stone walls and open-air living spaces – blurs the line between indoors and the surrounding plains. 14 suites prioritise privacy, many with private plunge pools and verandas overlooking the conservancy. Wildlife here is abundant and sometimes elusive – black rhinos, wild dogs, Grevy’s zebras and black leopards traverse the land. You can explore on horseback, walk with pastoral herders, take guided walking safaris or enjoy yoga atop rock platforms. Spend your evening stargazing by firelight far from city lights. We also love that &Beyond Suyian Lodge operates in partnership with Space for Giants and the Suyian Conservancy Trust, directing revenue toward anti-poaching initiatives, habitat restoration and community projects.
& Beyond Suyian Lodge
Suyian Conservancy
Laikipia County Sosian
Kenya
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Photography courtesy of &Beyond Suyian Lodge
02
Tambourine: unique flavour pairings in Cape Town
Tambourine is the new Cape Town restaurant making insiders talk. Chef Keane Munro, together with executive chef Kyle du Plooy, has built a menu around unexpected flavour pairings, moving comfortably between South African influences and global inspiration. Housed in a renovated heritage building on Harrington Street, the interior balances original brickwork with playful, dichromatic light art and leather seating. At Tambourine, sustainability and provenance guide every ingredient. Beef, lamb and chicken are pasture-raised; vegetables come mainly from the restaurant’s own pesticide-free, regenerative farm in Khayelitsha and fish is line-caught and wild whenever possible. Small plates celebrate fire, acid and texture – charred baby cabbage with chestnuts and blue cheese, Jerusalem artichoke risotto with smoked hay butter and lamb broth with mieliepap (maize porridge) and crispy skhokho (crispy crust left after cooking).
Tambourine
104 Harrington St
District Six
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Tambourine
03
Chongwe House: wild design on the Zambezi’s edge in Zambia
Chongwe House is a private, sole-use retreat on the banks of the Chongwe River, just outside Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park. Designed by KT Interior, the design honours the home’s sculptural, organic architecture, with curved ferro walls, tree-trunk features and hand-painted details. The interiors combine natural textures, soft linens and earth-toned finishes to create a serene, tactile oasis. Floor-to-ceiling windows and open decks connect each space to the river, where elephants, hippos and crocs roam freely. As a family or small group, you can enjoy full privacy with four ensuite bedrooms, an infinity pool and spaces that flow seamlessly between indoor and outdoor living.
Chongwe House
Plot 18
House 5
Lilayi Road
Lilayi
Zambia
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Photography courtesy of Chongwe House
04
Kleinsky’s: Johhannesburg’s newest bagel hotspot
Cape Town’s much‑loved Jewish deli has found a home in Johannesburg and it’s already become a city favourite. Kleinsky’s is known for its bagels – handmade, slow-fermented, boiled, baked and finished with toppings that are both traditional and inventive. Folks are flocking for the classics – pastrami bagels alongside tangy pickles and house-made coleslaw. But trust us, this joint isn’t just about old-school favourites. Try the California bagel, with wasabi cream cheese, smoked salmon, avocado, pickled ginger and a sweet soy drizzle – it’s a hit. The Johannesburg space reflects the same retro design nods as the Cape Town spot, filled with local artwork, the hum of conversation and the cosy feel of a community staple.
Kleinsky’s
64 St Andrew St
Birdhaven
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Kleinsky’s
05
Curry Club: Durban’s spice legacy on Cape Town’s plates
Curry Club began as a flight kitchen in Gardens, delivering fragrant North Indian-style curries right to customers’ doorsteps. It’s now evolved into an exciting restaurant set in a heritage house at the Cape Quarter in Green Point. The menu is unapologetically flavour‑forward, featuring London-style Punjabi curries, with the head chef hailing from the foothills of the Himalayas. These curries are known for being fragrant rather than overly fiery. Staples include the butter chicken, tikka masala and rogan josh. Don’t miss the inventive specials like the chicken sagwala, Kerala fish and gunpowder lamb aloo. Interiors are simple with a lively vibe, with quirky decor and an interesting 90s Britpop playlist.
Curry Club
The Cape Quarter Lifestyle Center
Corner Jarvis & Napier St
Green Point
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Curry Club
06
The Salt Road: taking salt to new levels in Johannesburg
If you’re looking for an unexpected dining experience centred around a pantry staple, don’t miss The Salt Road in Johannesburg. At the heart of this concept are chefs Craig Cormack and Beau du Toit. With decades of culinary experience, they’ve built a menu around more than 180 types of salt. South African brines sit alongside Peruvian crystals, each chosen for its character. These salts are not just seasonings but a way of telling stories. The dishes draw on traditions of preservation, fermentation and global salting practices – a kind of culinary anthropology on the plate. The design is contemporary without being sterile – raw woods, ceramics and open shelving give the space a lived‑in warmth.
The Salt Road
10 2nd Ave
Houghton Estate
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of The Salt Road
07
Blazed: Johannesburg’s cult favourite fried chicken spot
Blazed has elevated fried chicken to cult status in Johannesburg. What started as a passion project has quickly grown into a destination for diners chasing crunch, heat and daring flavours. The chicken is brined, battered and fried to perfection, then served with sauces that pull from global street‑food traditions – think spicy Korean glaze, smoky American barbecue or peri‑peri heat. The interior design of Blazed is a modern take on a classic diner aesthetic. As you step inside, you’ll immediately spot the red and white checkered tile that evokes a nostalgic, retro feel. We love the large, playful mural of a rooster in a suit, which serves as a central artistic piece, while a retro-style marquee sign displays witty phrases, adding to the casual and fun atmosphere.
Blazed
95 Iris Rd
Norwood
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Blazed
08
Plato Coffee: minimalist coffee craft in Durbanville
Plato Coffee has established its presence across multiple South African towns and Durbanville is now home to the latest spot. The Durbanville branch follows the brand’s well-known minimalist design. Inside, you’ll find the bright and airy open space with brown leather benches complemented by large, light-wood communal tables. The counter features their classic textured, geometric design on the front with minimalist pendant lights hanging from the ceiling, contributing to a modern aesthetic. There is also outdoor seating in the beautifully landscaped garden with café tables and chairs – the perfect spot to sit back and enjoy your favourite cup of coffee. Their coffee beans are sourced from across Africa and roasted in‑house, with a menu that shifts from filter brews to imaginative iced concoctions.
Plato Coffee
25 Church St
Durbanville
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Plato Coffee
09
Ocaso: rooftop tapas and cocktails in Johannesburg
Ocaso, meaning sunset in Spanish, is Corona’s first flagship venue in South Africa, where sun-soaked afternoons transform into lively nights. The venue takes over the former Shortmarket Club site in Oxford Parks – owned by Luke Dale-Roberts until early 2025 – and is now steered by restaurateur Heinz Rynners alongside Ben Stanger and Luke Dakers. The interiors, brought to life by Bourne Kreative, feature handcrafted finishes like a glowing woven bar inspired by Corona’s motifs, bohemian beaded lanterns, ocean-blue floors, macramé cushions and textured plaster walls. The tapas-style menu combines Mexican favourites with South African edge – try the beef birria tacos with consommé, corn ribs dusted in smoked paprika and mini taco boards (with tuna, chicken, lamb and pork). And don’t miss the cocktails – the Sol Bravio is a must.
Ocaso
1 Oxford Parks
199 Oxford Rd
Rosebank
Johannesburg
South Africa
Photography courtesy of Ocaso
10
The Mussel Monger Observatory: seafood simplicity in Cape Town
Food visionary Kyle Dods is taking The Mussel Monger to new levels with his new flagship space in Observatory. Together with his sister brand, Dashi x The Mussel Monger is a shared space that brings together premium seafood and Japanese-inspired bowls – two distinct brands cohabiting in a seamless culinary narrative. Mussels and oysters are farmed ethically in Saldanha Bay and arrive fresh daily, served simply to highlight their briny purity. The Dashi side offers umami-rich poke bowls and street-style dishes that complement without overshadowing the sea’s stars. The space reflects Dods’ signature ethos – light, clean and pared-back elegance – blended with ocean and umami inspirations.
The Mussel Monger Observatory
51 Gogosoa St
Observatory
Cape Town
South Africa
Photography courtesy of The Mussel Monger Observatory
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