Good Food Good Vibes Irene
A real local bistro. Great, satisfying comfort food at reasonable prices. Usually busy, but you can pop in without a reservation most nights.
Best time to go: dinner.
12 locals recommend
Village Bistro
Nellmapius DriveA real local bistro. Great, satisfying comfort food at reasonable prices. Usually busy, but you can pop in without a reservation most nights.
Best time to go: dinner.
Well run Italian franchise restaurant. Great view during the day and for sundowners. Mondays have half price pizzas and Tuesdays have discounts on steaks.
Best time to go: daylight.
Cappuccinos Southdowns
John Vorster DriveWell run Italian franchise restaurant. Great view during the day and for sundowners. Mondays have half price pizzas and Tuesdays have discounts on steaks.
Best time to go: daylight.
Franchise restaurant because the food is so good. Seafood and sushi. My favorite is the salmon med bowl, a deconstructed California roll in a bowl. Yum.
Located in a pleasant open air mall, the restaurant is in a tree lined square where children are free to play in the fountains. Take sunscreen and swimming costumes and watch the kids play.
Ocean Basket
Mezereon CrescentFranchise restaurant because the food is so good. Seafood and sushi. My favorite is the salmon med bowl, a deconstructed California roll in a bowl. Yum.
Located in a pleasant open air mall, the restaurant is in a tree lined square where children are free to play in the fountains. Take sunscreen and swimming costumes and watch the kids play.
The closest Gauteng has to a wine estate, just with milk. A historic dairy farm with two restaurants and lots of farm space for the kids to explore and play.
62 locals recommend
Irene Farm
28 Chert EndThe closest Gauteng has to a wine estate, just with milk. A historic dairy farm with two restaurants and lots of farm space for the kids to explore and play.
A beautiful getaway in the city overlooking a green lawn and a lake. The service is slow and forgetful, but a good spot for reading over a glass of wine.
7 locals recommend
African Pride Irene Country Lodge, Autograph Collection®
Nellmapius DriveA beautiful getaway in the city overlooking a green lawn and a lake. The service is slow and forgetful, but a good spot for reading over a glass of wine.
Come here for the Texan style smoked brisket, cream cheese centre filled pumpkin muffins, homemade ginger beer, live music and watch the locals go by while you sip on a craft gin and tonic in an Eucalyptus forest.
Certain Saturdays only. Google before you go.
16 locals recommend
Irene Village Market
7 Nelson RdCome here for the Texan style smoked brisket, cream cheese centre filled pumpkin muffins, homemade ginger beer, live music and watch the locals go by while you sip on a craft gin and tonic in an Eucalyptus forest.
Certain Saturdays only. Google before you go.
A wonderful and creative vibe. Order food, select a ceramic item, fetch paint from the store and create and chat away!
The Clay Café
7 Nelson RoadA wonderful and creative vibe. Order food, select a ceramic item, fetch paint from the store and create and chat away!
This is where the locals hang out on weekends. Bring your bikes, book a zip line, order a pizza and feel no FOMO.
32 locals recommend
The Big Red Barn
7 Nelson RoadThis is where the locals hang out on weekends. Bring your bikes, book a zip line, order a pizza and feel no FOMO.
My Favourite Meals Further Afield
Unforgettable fine dining. One of the best meals you will ever have. Delicious works of art created by one of the best female chefs in the world.
Stay over or organise a driver to incorporate wine pairing.
Book well in advance. Limited places available per evening. Get a quote, but take out that loan anyway.
7 locals recommend
Restaurant Mosaic
Francolin AvenueUnforgettable fine dining. One of the best meals you will ever have. Delicious works of art created by one of the best female chefs in the world.
Stay over or organise a driver to incorporate wine pairing.
Book well in advance. Limited places available per evening. Get a quote, but take out that loan anyway.
My favorite meal in the city. The Village (build your own) salad. The rest of the menu also great. Fairy lights in the leopard trees add romance and atmosphere to a stylish interior.
Life Grand Cafe The Club
147 Pinaster AveMy favorite meal in the city. The Village (build your own) salad. The rest of the menu also great. Fairy lights in the leopard trees add romance and atmosphere to a stylish interior.
Beautiful surrounds and delicious burgers with attentive service. I go here on a Saturday morning to enjoy the garden.
Kleinkaap Boutique Hotel
87 Jim Van Der Merwe StBeautiful surrounds and delicious burgers with attentive service. I go here on a Saturday morning to enjoy the garden.
Nice local vibe. Stunning crockery. Wonderful coffee and breakfast. my favorite is the wild mushroom sandwich.
10 locals recommend
Spout Coffee Company
Firwood AvenueNice local vibe. Stunning crockery. Wonderful coffee and breakfast. my favorite is the wild mushroom sandwich.
Aroma is one of several restaurants huddled together in fairy light covered Hazelwood. come here at night and soak up the chilled, romantic night life scene.
8 locals recommend
Aroma Coffee Roastery - The Village HazelWood
9 Firwood AveAroma is one of several restaurants huddled together in fairy light covered Hazelwood. come here at night and soak up the chilled, romantic night life scene.
Fine dining in a La Corbussier style house. Intimate and romantic. Order the Chateaubriand to understand why it's a world famous dish.
8 locals recommend
Brasserie de Paris
381 Aries StFine dining in a La Corbussier style house. Intimate and romantic. Order the Chateaubriand to understand why it's a world famous dish.
Deli style Italian restaurant with loads of atmosphere and wide food choice.
16 locals recommend
Old Town Italy Menlyn Maine
210 Amarand AveDeli style Italian restaurant with loads of atmosphere and wide food choice.
Places I Would Take My From-out-of-town-friends To.
Come here to forget you are in the city. Walk, play, pat a cow, sip a cappuccino, buy organic raw milk, give a long satisfied sigh.
62 locals recommend
Irene Farm
28 Chert EndCome here to forget you are in the city. Walk, play, pat a cow, sip a cappuccino, buy organic raw milk, give a long satisfied sigh.
Impressive architecture, beautiful views and a well told multi media story of my peeps and how we ended up where we ended up. The good and the bad. A world class experience.
Immerse yourself in Afrikaner culture while filling your tummy with traditional fare and book a buffet lunch. Sundays only.
195 locals recommend
Voortrekker Monument
Eeufees RoadImpressive architecture, beautiful views and a well told multi media story of my peeps and how we ended up where we ended up. The good and the bad. A world class experience.
Immerse yourself in Afrikaner culture while filling your tummy with traditional fare and book a buffet lunch. Sundays only.
A world class museum depicting South Africa's long walk to freedom. Stunning architecture, modern multi-media displays. Poignant and interesting. Plan to spend several hours here.
35 locals recommend
Freedom Park Heritage Site & Museum
7th AvenueA world class museum depicting South Africa's long walk to freedom. Stunning architecture, modern multi-media displays. Poignant and interesting. Plan to spend several hours here.
Great way to spend a weekend afternoon. Order a pizza at the top and watch paragliders throw themselves off a cliff.
64 locals recommend
Aerial Cableway Hartbeespoort
Great way to spend a weekend afternoon. Order a pizza at the top and watch paragliders throw themselves off a cliff.
Gourmet food stalls and a nice village vibe. Every Saturday morning.
46 locals recommend
Hazel Food Market
378 Queen's CresGourmet food stalls and a nice village vibe. Every Saturday morning.
This is my favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning. Gourmet international food. Craft beer, fair trade coffee, artisan gin and tonic served with bubbling dry ice and edible flowers. Add live music and great people watching and you recipe for a Saturday well spent
16 locals recommend
Irene Village Market
7 Nelson RdThis is my favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning. Gourmet international food. Craft beer, fair trade coffee, artisan gin and tonic served with bubbling dry ice and edible flowers. Add live music and great people watching and you recipe for a Saturday well spent
Places Where Parents With Kids Will Be Able To Have A Relatively Uninterrupted Conversation
Innovative and safe play ground will keep the kids busy for hours while you can finish several sentences on the verandah.
Pack sunscreen and swimsuits.
C’est La Vie
211 End StInnovative and safe play ground will keep the kids busy for hours while you can finish several sentences on the verandah.
Pack sunscreen and swimsuits.
My children spent hours here chasing leaf 'boats' down the flowing water channels. Order a cappuccino take away from one of the restaurants and follow slowly while the kids roam free. Buy a picnic ensemble from the Deli and go sit next to the sand pit and let the kids do what they do best.
62 locals recommend
Irene Farm
28 Chert EndMy children spent hours here chasing leaf 'boats' down the flowing water channels. Order a cappuccino take away from one of the restaurants and follow slowly while the kids roam free. Buy a picnic ensemble from the Deli and go sit next to the sand pit and let the kids do what they do best.
Put some ice skates on their feet, order a hot chocolate, snuggle under a blanket and have a whole conversation at the minimal cost of showing regular approving thumbs up signs.
If your kid can't skate yet, hire a 'penguin' from the kiosk.
A Winter Wonderland Parental Holiday.
The Ice Rink
Marie RoadPut some ice skates on their feet, order a hot chocolate, snuggle under a blanket and have a whole conversation at the minimal cost of showing regular approving thumbs up signs.
If your kid can't skate yet, hire a 'penguin' from the kiosk.
A Winter Wonderland Parental Holiday.
Pack sunscreen, swimming costumes and head to the restaurant and plane tree lined piazza and watch the kids practice the art of divergent thinking in the multiple fountains. Take a couple of kitchen utensils and bowls along and you might even get to desert.
41 locals recommend
Irene Village Mall
Van Ryneveld AvenuePack sunscreen, swimming costumes and head to the restaurant and plane tree lined piazza and watch the kids practice the art of divergent thinking in the multiple fountains. Take a couple of kitchen utensils and bowls along and you might even get to desert.
When Pretoria Starts Feeling Like A Town: Jozi
Gourmet food market frequented by hipsters and diplomats and people who want to people watch the aforementioned while having some craft beer or gorgeous paella made on man-sized pans. Go whenever you wake-up, but set your alarm clock if you can't do so before 12:00. The market closes mid afternoon.
Saturdays only.
Neighbourgoods Market
Gourmet food market frequented by hipsters and diplomats and people who want to people watch the aforementioned while having some craft beer or gorgeous paella made on man-sized pans. Go whenever you wake-up, but set your alarm clock if you can't do so before 12:00. The market closes mid afternoon.
Saturdays only.
An old distillery turned into a design and food destination. My favorite meal is the Vietnamese Spring Rolls at Salvation Cafe. My favorite time to go is Saturday afternoon.
39 locals recommend
44 Stanley
44 Stanley AveAn old distillery turned into a design and food destination. My favorite meal is the Vietnamese Spring Rolls at Salvation Cafe. My favorite time to go is Saturday afternoon.
A great spot for a rainy day. Browse the designer shops in the centre and across the street.
34 locals recommend
Service Station
24 9th StA great spot for a rainy day. Browse the designer shops in the centre and across the street.