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If you’re hunting for new restaurants in Cape Town and Johannesburg, November brings a tempting mix of new openings. From Bree Street’s Maru Korean Steakhouse to Gardens’ atrás and Amura at Mount Nelson, Cape Town offers everything from modern Korean BBQ to fine seafood experiences. Up north, Joburg’s scene is buzzing too, with Club Como Neighbourhood, Nook, and family-friendly Clay Café Illovo adding fresh options for lunch, dinner, or casual drinks. Whether it’s a special night out, a relaxed weekend lunch, or a creative family outing, these new openings are must-book spots. Reserve your table on Dineplan and discover something new in your ‘hood.
Cape Town
Maru Korean Steakhouse 
(Cape Town City Centre, Cape Town)
The newest addition to Cape Town’s buzzing Bree Street, Maru Korean Steakhouse blends traditional Korean dining with a few fun twists. The menu is designed to impress: from the “Butcher’s Experience” featuring premium cuts grilled to perfection, to “By The Bucket” serving up some of the crispiest Korean fried chicken in town. You’ll also find a “Raw Bar” with oysters, meat and fish tartares, and premium caviar service, plus an irresistible lineup of “Side Kicks” like spicy tteokbokki rice cakes and truffle bibimbap. Step inside and you’ll be transported straight to Seoul, with all the quintessential Korean energy, warmth, and flavour, right in the heart of Cape Town. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
We were so eager to try Maru, and it exceeded our expectations. The food was superb, a modern take on Korean BBQ, and the vibe and ambiance was amazing. I highly recommend anyone to try it.
Lunacy
(District Six, Cape Town)
Tucked along Harrington Street, Lunacy is the latest venture from the team behind the ever-popular Tommy’s Chop Shop. This stylish new wine bar and restaurant offers a thoughtfully curated list of mostly local wines, with a few standout international picks for good measure. The food menu keeps things seasonal with tasty shareable plates that pair perfectly with what’s in your glass. There’s always something happening here too – from guest wine farms taking over the bar to guest chefs shaking up the menu. The vibe is effortlessly cool, relaxed, and made for long evenings with good wine and great company. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm to late.
Great evening with fantastic wine options and wonderfully prepared tapas in generous portions. An authentic and relaxed space! We will be back!
atrás
(Gardens, Cape Town)
Meaning “behind” or “back” in Spanish, atrás is all about returning to the roots of cooking; where every ingredient’s story and natural flavour take centre stage. Set inside the striking, rugged Black Brick Hotel on Roodehek Street, this new Gardens gem serves as the hotel’s main restaurant, surrounded by five other unique food and drink spaces. Helmed by Chef Diego Silva – born in Peru and trained in world-renowned kitchens like Noma (Copenhagen), La Granja (Ibiza), and Tulum Treehouse (Mexico) – the menu celebrates exceptional local ingredients from environmentally conscious producers, with dishes that honour sustainability and seasonality. Bookings open on Dineplan from 6 November onwards for lunch and dinner daily, and breakfast walk-ins are welcome.
Amura at Mount Nelson
(Gardens, Cape Town)
Inspired by the Andalusian culture of southern Spain and the rich ingredients of Cape Town’s glittering ocean, experience seafood dining reimagined by Michelin-starred Chef Ángel León – where every bite tells a story of the Cape’s two seas. The menu includes traditional and contemporary tapas, seasonal specialties, and artisan delicacies such as marine sausages. Complemented by a carefully curated drinks list featuring boutique wines from Spain’s finest small-scale producers, alongside local pioneers of the industry.
Johannesburg
Club Como Neighbourhood
(Linksfield, Johannesburg)
Fans of the original Club Como in Morningside – recently named among the Top 100 in the 2025 Dineplan Reviewers’ Choice Awards – will be thrilled to hear the team has opened a new spot in Neighbourhood Square, Linksfield. Like a quick escape to the Mediterranean, this stylish new outpost offers tasteful décor, signature cocktails, and a seafood-focused menu featuring everything from fresh sushi rolls, seafood crudo and ceviche dishes, and heartier seafood options from across the Med. You’ll also find steaks, pasta, and vegetarian options worth exploring. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
The food is delicious, staff is friendly and accommodating, and the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. We were there for my sister’s birthday, and the staff went out of their way to make it special. Thank you so much! Will definitely be a frequent customer.
Nook
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
A new speakeasy-style bar and restaurant has quietly opened in Sandown – and it’s already turning heads. Nook is all soft lighting, sculpted walls, golden curves, and plush red accents; a space that feels both intimate and impossibly chic. The menu leans toward sharing plates – each one beautifully plated and flavour-forward – alongside sushi, luxe caviar service, and cocktails that look as good as they taste. Open Thursday to Monday from 3pm until late, Nook occasionally hosts live DJ sets, so keep an eye on their socials for event nights. Book your table on Dineplan and discover Sandton’s newest restaurant opening.
The restaurant is absolutely beautiful, the staff if very friendly and attentive.
The Fat Ginger
(Linksfield Terrace, Johannesburg)
Not a new opening, but newly bookable on Dineplan, The Fat Ginger in Linksfield Terrace is a gastropub worth checking out if you haven’t yet discovered it for yourself. Originally the Keg & Beagle, established in 1998, the venue was reimagined in 2020 by owner Chris Williams (the original “Fat Ginger”), transforming it from a traditional English pub into a modern gastrobar where great food, craft drinks, and good times come together. On the menu, you’ll find delicious things like truffle fries with parmesan, crispy pork scratchings with apple and mustard sauce, sharing baskets of saucy and deep-fried bites, as well as juicy burgers, steaks, ribs, and hearty pot pies – all the best comfort pub classics, just a little more refined. With 17 beers on tap, a solid wine list, and a warm, welcoming vibe, The Fat Ginger is the perfect spot for casual drinks, tasty tapas, and relaxed dining. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Have lived in the area and how sad to have discovered this lovely restaurant/bar only now. Excellent food and service.
Clay Café Illovo
(Sandton, Johannesburg)
The much-loved Clay Café has opened a branch in Illovo, and it’s every bit as charming as you’d expect. A hit with families, birthday groups, and kitchen teas, it’s the perfect spot to spend a relaxed morning painting pottery, getting creative, and enjoying a wholesome meal with great coffee. Come back a few weeks later to collect your finished pieces – a lovely keepsake from a screen-free day well spent. Look out for their weekly specials, including Whacky Wednesdays for their 30% off pizza deal, and weekday student discounts. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am on weekdays and 9am on weekends.
Second experience and still super impressed with this amazing experience. Best thing that has happened to 204 Oxford. Your team are like family, they handle our kids like precious jewels, the patience and love are on another level.
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