When you’re looking to spoil a bride-to-be or planning a baby shower – or any girls’ get-together, for that matter – ordinary simply won’t do. You need five-star service, décor to drool over and, naturally, a feast to remember. Try these options, hand-picked to impress.
Café Hemingways
A firm favourite among ladies who lunch, Café Hemingways has gained favour thanks to a menu based on locally sourced, organic produce – but when it comes to special events, the high tea is a true delight. Choose from a variety of menus (featuring savouries like oysters, prawn and avo mousse shots or smoked duck pancakes, or indulge your sweet tooth with three-layered millefeuille cheesecake and croque-em-bouche), or allow chef Engela to create a special feast just for you.
Dolci Café
The pretty, charming interior of this Craighall neighbourhood local is something special – as is the Italian-inspired fare. Chef Jackie has gained acclaim for her designer cakes and will work with you to create your ultimate high tea menu – although the breakfast options and freshly-baked pastries are sure to please, too.
La Vie en Rose
This long-time favourite has changed venues and is now located at the Killarney Country Club – but the menu, featuring its famous breakfasts (think spicy Shakshuka or waffles served with cottage cheese, bananas, walnuts and honey and burgers) remains as enticing as ever. You can also choose a special menu – buffet, canape or high tea – for your event. Either way, the outdoor setting is simply stunning.
Buitengeluk
If we’re honest, most Joburg-dwellers have harboured fantasies of relocating to Cape Town at some point. This Broadacres restaurant brings you one step closer to fulfilling that dream, with its stately Cape Dutch manor and exquisite gardens.
The Silver Teaspoon
Styled as a Victorian tearoom, this vintage venue brims with charm. Banters are well catered for, while the a la carte menu offers a range of light tarts and pancakes. Oh, and there’s also a nail bar on site – bonus!
The Hide
Despite its tucked away location, this relatively new addition to the scene has cultivated such an enthusiastic and loyal following (particularly when it comes to pizzas) that it no longer qualifies as one of Joburg’s best kept secrets. Nonetheless, you’ll still impress with a venue that prides itself on unsurpassed service and dishes made with garden fresh ingredients.
Petit Fours Milan
Cake really is an art form at this French-inspired boutique bakery. Known as much for its elegant table settings as for baked goods that look like they have been carefully crafted by a Renaissance artist, the café owners will work with you to design an event that’s precisely to your tastes.
Olives and Plates
Don’t be put off by the university campus address. Olives and Plates has fast become a favourite amongst Joburg foodies, who rave about everything from the breakfasts (try the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter, banana and maple syrup) to the cakes, which fans swear are amongst the best in Joburg. And just how pretty are those dishes!
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