Since opening in 2021, Proud Mary has been pleasing palates and racking up awards. Now, it holds the title of Best Hotel Restaurant in the 2025 Luxe Awards, so naturally, we had to see what’s got 25,000 diners talking.
It’s a warm Friday in winter when we step into the matte black building that houses Hyde Hotel and Proud Mary. From the outside, it’s understated. Inside? Surprisingly romantic — elegant, beautifully designed, but never overdone.
The energy of Rosebank calls to a sophisticated younger crowd who are chasing the sun, so I half expected to find the restaurant packed with cosmopolitan singles ready for a night on the town, but inside it was quite the opposite.
Seated at the bar were two guys taking a load off after a long week. In front of them, a couple’s body language read like a neon sign flashing “first date.” Behind us, a dad enjoyed a quiet meal with his two kids. Off to the side, a big family (baby and all) had gathered for what looked like a mini-reunion.
All of this in one of the most beautifully curated spaces in Johannesburg. You can come alone and feel completely comfortable, or come with friends and celebrate. Proud Mary is warm, inclusive and unpretentious. People watching done, our starters arrive.
The crispy fried squid is a flavour bomb, golden and light, served with lemon aioli, turmeric onions, a zingy basil and coriander salad, toasted coconut flakes, parsley dust, and preserved lemon. Each bite delivers a perfectly balanced mix of crunch, zest, and freshness. The chicken kabobs are just as impressive: tender grilled thigh skewers paired with smoked grapes, saffron aioli, lime yoghurt, and shards of crispy chicken skin. It’s Proud Mary on a plate, refined, generous, and effortlessly cool.
For mains, the Caper Butter Sole was a standout, beautifully cooked, delicate, and sliding off the bone with ease. No awkward mid-bite bone moments here (thank the heavens). Served with thick-cut chips, the dish is finished with a bright caper and lemon butter, shaved fennel, and fresh herbs like coriander and chives, giving it that perfect balance of richness and freshness.
The Wagyu Cheeseburger is far from your average burger. Juicy and packed with flavour, the patty is topped with smoked Stanford cheese, a tangy fennel and mustard jam, garlic aioli, and lemon watercress for a citrusy lift. Add triple-fried chips, smoky ketchup, and fresh truffle, and you’ve got a burger that feels indulgent but incredibly refined.
Proud Mary’s consistent innovation is something that has helped to secure the restaurant awards time and time again. The seasonal menus and strong relationships with small wine and spirit producers help to keep things fresh. They champion organic wines and work directly with family-run farms. So it’s not just beautiful food, it’s thoughtful, too.
The service at Proud Mary is worth highlighting too, warm, attentive, and impressively well-informed. The staff know the menu inside out, and every recommendation feels spot-on. Courses arrive with just the right pacing, giving you time to savour each dish while keeping anticipation high for what’s coming next.
For dessert, we shared the Peaches and Cream Panna Cotta, a dreamy combo of silky yoghurt panna cotta, mango jelly, passion fruit pearls, peach salsa, crumble, Chantilly cream, and a scoop of vanilla bean gelato. Light, creamy, and bursting with summery flavours, it was the perfect sweet note to end on.
I had my eye on the Coconut Brûlée Cheesecake (with vanilla cheesecake, white chocolate and coconut ganache, and coconut gelato), but the waistband of my jeans was already begging for mercy. That one’s firmly on the list for next time, and yes, there will be a next time.
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