In a city known for its vibrant restaurant scene, The Greenhouse in Sandton stands out as a benchmark of luxury dining and sophisticated ambience. This venue, nestled within a stunning, plant-filled glasshouse, consistently delivers an atmosphere where high-end cuisine meets curated glamour.
Earlier this year, this reputation for excellence was solidified with an exciting partnership with the celebrated Shortmarket Club. This collaboration merged Joburg style with Cape Town's flair. The result is a dining experience that feels both familiar and deeply exclusive.
The Vibe
Every Joburger knows the late-night glamour of The Greenhouse. The restaurant called itself “South Africa’s first authentic supper club”. In a way, it reimagined dining as a fully immersive, sensory experience. Sunset cocktails glide effortlessly into decadent dinners and, eventually, late-night dancing.
However, the addition of a lunchtime service was the daring move we didn't know we needed. It was quiet when we visited, as lunch at the Greenhouse is still a new concept. Lunchtime services only launched in November. Still, the lush, plant-draped courtyard looks just as good when the sun hits it at midday.
The Food
Designed with lazy, lingering afternoons in mind, The Greenhouse's new lunch menu offers a brilliant range of options. Choices include light pick-me-ups to rich, deeply satisfying plates. The difficulty isn't finding something good; it's choosing just one. (No, really, I ordered two mains.)
I kicked things off with the Pan con Tomate, and, listen, I’m still thinking about it. A starter this simple shouldn't be this transcendent, but here we are. This is simply a toasted brioche, rubbed with fresh, ripe tomato, a drizzle of olive oil, and a kiss of salt, yet it is utterly perfect. Light, bright, and ridiculously flavourful, it’s easily one of my favourite starters of the year. The kind of dish that makes you genuinely consider ordering a second round "for research".
Next up was the Napolitana with Grilled Chicken, Basil, and Feta. This dish has been expertly reworked: it used to be creamy but is now a traditional, punchy Napolitana sauce that sings. It’s a quiet masterpiece that hits every comfort note: deep in flavour yet never heavy, perfectly balanced, and so compelling you’ll keep going long after you’re technically full.
Then came the Sumac Chicken, one of the restaurant's signature dishes, which arrived looking as if it had stepped straight out of a cookbook photo shoot. It features Chicken thighs with corn crème, popped sorghum, roasted garlic emulsion, charred peaches, and dill. It’s nostalgic, grounded, faintly sweet, and beautifully executed.
Dessert brought the smooth finale: a Cinnamon and Orange Pannacotta with Cointreau and Pistachio. This was silky, aromatic, and had just the right amount of citrus sharpness and an unexpected crunch.
The Drinks
As a popular nightlife destination, The Greenhouse bar has a comprehensive bar menu, but you can't stop by without giving their signature cocktails a try.
I dipped into their cocktail list, starting with the Boujee Bitch, which consisted of Absolut Vodka, lemon juice, elderflower syrup, and soda water. It’s exactly the kind of drink you want at lunchtime: refreshing, light, bright, and dangerously easy to sip.
The Henny Pot follows a completely different mood. Made with Hennessy VS, Appletiser, elderflower, and lemon juice, it’s bold and boozy, a definite win for brown-liquor lovers, though be warned - she’s strong. And then there’s the Casamango: Casamigos, mango purée, lemon juice, triple sec, and a dash of Tabasco. It’s punchy, spicy, and honestly feels like the prelude to a wild night out, the sort of cocktail that immediately puts everyone in a “let’s make memories” mood.
Time Out Tip
If you're going to go to the Greenhouse, you should go the distance, book for lunch, stay for drinks, and dance through the night.