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March has brought a fresh wave of exciting new openings across Cape Town, the Winelands, and Johannesburg. From a unique meal on wheels experience and two exciting reopenings, to live music and an 80s-themed bar, my list of must-have reservations this month features 8 fresh openings and old favourites across Cape Town and Johannesburg that you won’t want to miss.
Cape Town and the Winelands
Bus Cuisine
(V&A Waterfront, Cape Town)
Bus Cuisine is a new upmarket restaurant on wheels, offering a very unique way to experience Cape Town’s sights while enjoying a multi-course lunch or dinner. Guests are driven along the Atlantic Seaboard, taking in the city’s exceptional scenery while enjoying a leisurely meal with slick and attentive service. Expect freshly baked bread, mixed seafood, venison, and a decadent dessert, with a vegetarian option available. Lunch is R1,250 per person, and dinner is R1,650, with a new breakfast service coming soon. All alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included in the price, with a top-tier wine selection to complement your meal. This is a one-of-a-kind dining experience worth trying when in Cape Town.
One of the best experiences ever. The food, the wine, the service – top notch.
Seebamboes 
(District Six, Cape Town)
From the duo behind Belly of the Beast and Galjoen, chefs Anouchka Horn and Neil Swart present Seebamboes – named after the native seaweed that grows abundantly along South Africa’s coastline. It’s a small and intimate restaurant with a tasting menu that reimagines the old-school classic “surf ‘n turf”. Think lamb chops grilled over coals with seaweed, snoek mousse with biltong, and venison tataki with veldkool. Perched on the mezzanine above Galjoen, the space feels like a sleek yet laid-back bar, with high tables and chairs and a striking view of Table Mountain as the backdrop. Seebamboes opens 7 March – and it’s already fully booked for opening week, so don’t wait too long to secure a seat.
BABY
(Sea Point, Cape Town)
BABY is Sea Point’s snazzy new bar-restaurant on Regent Road, open just three nights a week. This 80s-inspired time capsule is bold, playful, and a little eccentric – think pink and mauve décor, a Grecian bust and disco ball, great music, and cocktails that flow freely. Arrive early (before 10pm) for a tasty, pre-dancing dinner, including snacks like fried stuffed olives and ricotta toast with hot honey, prosciutto and lemon zest, as well as heartier options like wagyu cheeseburger sliders and fish tacos. After 10pm, the music kicks in, the disco ball lights up, and the dance floor takes over!
Everything about this place is just incredible! The food? Absolutely amazing. The drinks? Next level. The vibe? On point. And don’t even get me started on the lighting – it takes the whole experience up a notch. Truly an amazing jol all around!
L’Ami Family Brasserie
(La Motte Wine Farm, Franschhoek)
Fresh from its renovations, L’Ami Family Brasserie at La Motte Wine Farm is back, serving honest, seasonal flavours in a warm and modern farmhouse-style setting. The à la carte menu runs from Wednesday to Saturday for lunch, with dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, offering farm-to-table dishes. Expect fresh oysters, steak tartare, crayfish, Karoo lamb, and farm-style sides like hasselback potatoes and summer asparagus. A children’s menu makes it welcoming for all. Dine indoors in the beautifully rustic yet elegant space or find a spot on the wrap-around stoep, shaded by ancient oaks, overlooking the gardens.
Beautiful restaurant. Service was excellent, friendly and professional. Food was delicious. Would definitely return.
Johannesburg and Pretoria
The Pot Luck Club at The Peech
(Melrose North, Johannesburg)
The Pot Luck Club has found a new home at The Peech Hotel in Melrose North, serving all its signature crowd-favourite dishes. Open since early February, the menu delivers classic PLC favourites like the crispy–on-the-outside-fluffly-on-the-inside chickpea fries with aioli and smoked ketchup, fish sliders with mojo dressing, and the fragrant linefish tagine. The space is light, bright, and effortlessly stylish, perfect for a date night or a business lunch. Please don’t leave without ordering dessert – try the PLC sweets board for a mix of nostalgic treats or the cheese board with three local cheeses, pear, saffron chutney and wafer-thin lavash.
Fantastic food and friendly staff make it a great experience. We would recommend this restaurant for future visits for sure.
Flute Live Rosebank
(Rosebank, Johannesburg)
Nestled in the heart of Rosebank, Flute Live combines live music and authentic African cuisine. With rave reviews from diners, the menu features rich, flavourful dishes like hearty hardbody chicken stew, mogodu, fall-off-the-bone oxtail, jollof rice, samp, and fried plantain. A resident band plays every night, with occasional visiting bands to mix things up. It’s the perfect spot for a special occasion or a romantic dinner for two. Please note, Flute Live has a smart-casual dress code and a strict age restriction of 18+.
Everything about the place was exceptional. Absolutely beautiful and food was very delicious and prepared to perfection.
Piza ē Vino Leaping Frog
(Fourways, Johannesburg)
The newest Piza ē Vino location has opened its doors at the Leaping Frog Centre in Fourways, offering Chef Matteo’s Italian classics in a casual and welcoming space. Start with antipasti like the garlic and parmesan pide, calamari, or crispy zucchini fritti, then dive into one of the many delicious pizzas or pastas on their extensive menu. Whether you grab a booth inside or a table under the umbrellas outside, it’s the perfect spot to share a pizza and enjoy a glass of wine – just as the name suggests!
Great evening, great service.
Pasta Barra
(Brooklyn, Pretoria)
Pasta Barra in Brooklyn, Pretoria, is a neighborhood favourite and now you can easily book a table on Dineplan. Known for serving the “best pasta in Brooklyn”, their rave reviews back up the claim! With relaxed, comfortable seating both indoors and out, it’s the ideal restaurant for a laid-back Italian meal. Kick off with shareable starters like the calamari or arancini with salsiccia sausage, then dive into a bowl of perfectly cooked pasta with rich, traditional sauces like the hearty ragù, light and delicious carciofi il limone (artichokes and fresh lemon), or my personal recommendation, the cacio e pepe. If you’re a mac and cheese fan, this Roman classic will steal your heart!
One of my favourite restaurants.
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