Start tapping your feet: 8 Restaurants in Joburg that offer great live music

Is there any better way to enjoy a lazy winter weekend than with a languorous lunch, accompanied by a couple of tunes? These restaurants have added live music to the menu – we approve.

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The Potato Shed
Always a great choice if you’re grabbing a bite before you hit the Market Theater for a night of thought-provoking entertainment, on Sundays the Potato Shed broadens its offerings (not, you’ll be pleased to know, limited to the homely spud; there are plenty of fish and meat options, too) to include lamb on the spit and a spot of jazz.

The Orbit
When a restaurant proudly claims to be Johannesburg’s Home of Jazz, you know that you’re in for some quality stuff. Expect everything from contemporary to fusion bands, while the bistro’s offerings are similarly eclectic: from beetroot, pine nut and blue cheese salad to butternut and weet potato curry.

Die Ou Pastorie
The first thing you’ll notice about this historic Skeerpoort venue is its charming garden; the second is its enticing menu, with highlights ranging from robust meat dishes to indulgent sticky puddings. Then there is the music, with performances given by the likes of Jesse Clegg and Chris Chameleon. Sunday lunch is a special affair, where resident musicians set the stage with French café classics that would please any chanteuse.

Il Giardino D’Egli Ulivi
Accustomed to making regular appearances on Johannesburg’s ‘best’ lists, the charming eatery is idyllic in every sense: imagine the sun-kissed cuisine of the Mediterranean savoured under suitably picturesque olive trees. Throw in a live band on Sundays, and you have a setting that’s worthy of any Hollywood romance.

10 Bompas
Known for its stunning menu and wine pairings, 10 Bompas has declared the first Sunday of every month a special day for jazz lovers. Guests can look forward to a three-course lunch, enjoyed under the trees, as the band plays on.

Gilroy’s Brewery
One of the first breweries to offer craft beer before hipsters made it A Thing, Gilroy’s takes the concept of a long Sunday lunch very seriously. Look forward to typical pub grub (think ploughman’s platters, beef and onion pie of nibbles baskets), all washed down with signature beer. Music-wise, the bill changes every week – but it’s always about being laidback and lazy in the best possible way.

Possums
You might already be familiar with Possums’ romantic courtyard setting and fine dining menu. It’s a favourite brunch spot; its popularity explained by offerings like breakfast pie or cornbread served with smashed avo. Visit o Sunday, however, and you’ll have an altogether different experience: there’s live music playing at The Deck, where you can also enjoy a suitably more pared down menu: think fish and chips, tapas and pizza.

The Radium Beer Hall
A little piece of Johannesburg history, the Radium is the city’s oldest pub. It’s jazz programme is just as old; in fact, with artists gigging on the first Sunday of every month for the past 25 years, it’s the longest running jazz show in the country. That alone makes it worth a visit – and the Portuguese-inspired menu certainly adds to the allure (the seafood is particularly noteworthy).  

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