The 7 best burger restaurants in Pretoria

Everything you need to know about this place is in the name. Burgers, burgers, and more burgers. Think perfectly smashed patties, crispy edges, and buns that hold their own. The chips come dusted in secret spice, the vibe’s unpretentious, and regulars swear it’s the best burger in town. The menu is huge, and there’s a patty that will suit every kind of meat eater. You could stick with a classic, but why would you when there are options like the Marylin Munroe (melted brie, strawberry balsamic, and black pepper jam) or the Asian-inspired Mr Miyagi, which comes topped with wasabi mayo and mushrooms? 

If you fancy yourself a bit of a competitive type, go up against the Mike Tyson burger - a heart-clogging creation of five 200g patties topped with bacon and sauce galore. 

Address: 24 Pierneef St, Villieria

Part cocktail bar, part upmarket burger haven, Hudsons brings the Cape Town energy to Pretoria. There are a few branches across the country, but the Pretoria branch enjoys the extra benefit of being smack bang in Hazelwood, one of the city’s most lively districts. 

Their burger menu is truly extensive and runs the gamut from classic cheeseburgers to inventive options topped with truffle sauces and bacon jams. Perhaps the best thing about all of them is the homemade pickles - they’re good enough to eat by the kilogram entirely by themselves. But don’t skip the onion rings either, and be sure to wash it  all down with one of their gin cocktails.

Address: 18th Street, Hazelwood

Pretoria’s edition of Tiger’s Milk brings Cape Town’s popular “dude food” franchise to Irene. Obviously, it’s a huge hit, the same as it has been elsewhere in the country. The place is done up in urban-industrial style with exposed brick, metal piping and a buzzing bar at its core. 

After-work crowds, first-date millennials, and weekend families pile in for the wood-fired pizzas, and sticky BBQ ribs. But those in the know will always say that the real prize on the Tiger’s Milk menu are the generously sized burgers. Standout options include a peppery triple-cheese stack and a jalapeño-laden beef burger oozing with smoky chipotle sauce. 

Drink specials abound. There’s a reason the after-work drinks are always happening here. It might be partly because of the next-door office park but mainly, it’s because of the weekday happy hour (4–6pm) offering of BOGOF selected beers, wine, and cocktails. Service stays upbeat even when the place is heaving. 

Address: Shop 121A, Irene Village Mall, Mezereon Crescent, Irene Farm Villages, Centurion

This retro American-style diner in Hatfield is a technicolor throwback and a burger lover’s dream. If you’re feeling nostalgic for the good old days, you’ll love the red vinyl booths, checkered floors, neon signs and rock ’n’ roll memorabilia. 

The menu reads like a classic diner playbook: juicy burgers, loaded hotdogs, sticky BBQ ribs, and over-the-top milkshakes. Portions are famously large and great value. Aside from the burgers, their towering shakes and “freaky fries” baskets are practically legendary on Instagram.

But back to the burgers. Expect full-blown American style (and size) sandwiches of goodness here. The signature “Jailhouse Rock” burger, for example, comes piled high with three patties, three servings of bacon, and tons of cheese sauce in true Elvis-worthy fashion. Or you could opt for a burger topped with mac and cheese, washed down with giant cocktail served in a fishbowl glass. 

Despite the American theme, the Hatfield location means students from Tuks, young professionals and families with kids all flock here – some for a kitschy date night, others for weekend brunch.

Address: 1319 Pretorius St, Hatfield

Located in Menlo Park, this beer garden-meets-hipster-brewery venue offers over 200 craft beers (from hoppy IPAs to rich stouts) and an inventive pub menu to soak it all up. Almost everything that comes out of the kitchen here is pure gold, and the burgers are no different. Each patty is 200g of free-range beef, flame-grilled and served on a buttery brioche bun. 

Vegetarians are well catered for with beyond beef as an option, as well as a tofu patty and a mushroom burger. But for the meat eaters, go for the Oklahoma: a 200g beef patty smashed and grilled with sliced white onions, with melted yellow cheddar topped with an Oklahoma - inspired pickle and onion relish served on a homemade bun. Another hit is their slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich. It’s served on a roll, so it’s basically a burger, right? Who said burgers had to be beef?! 

Can’t decide? Go on a Wednesday for their burger special – bring a friend or three and try out a few different options. The atmosphere at Capital Craft is always lively. Inside, big screens frequently show rugby or soccer, so it’s the prefect place for burgers and rugby. Or football. Or cricket. Either way, as one review put it, Capital Craft is The Jacaranda City’s go-to place for a “great beer selection and possibly even better burgers.”

Address: Shop 20, Greenlyn Village Centre, Corner of Thomas Edison & 12th Street East, Menlo Park

BGR proves that sometimes less is more. This small burger joint operates out of a BP petrol station in the Brooklyn/Nieuw Muckleneuk area. Their Joburg branch is equally easy-to-miss, and the running theme is a simple, no-frills approach to takeaway burgers. 

There’s a simple, focused menu where visitors can basically choose between burger, cheeseburger, or double. Then, you can customise your toppings based on the classics (tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, mustard, and so on) and add hand-cut, skin-on fries, if you want. And you definitely do. 

It might sound a little basic - or even underwhelming - but take our word on this one. Their freshly ground patties are smash-grilled on a hot griddle so they’re wonderfully caramelised on the outside and tender inside. If you want a boujee burger, this isn’t it. But if you want a burger that will have you craving it 24/7, come on in

Address: BP, 204 Florence Ribeiro Ave, Nieuw Muckleneuk

An import from Australia, Ribs & Burgers at Menlyn Maine has quickly impressed Tshwane burger fans. Known for huge portions, this upscale burger joint marries gourmet quality with hearty size.

The menu offers pre-designed combos or the option to build your own. A top pick is the Mighty Mack, a double-beef patty behemoth stacked with bacon, cheddar and their signature Aussie “pink sauce.” The interior has an industrial-chic vibe (exposed brick, metal finishes) that fits right into glitzy Menlyn Maine.

Despite the elegant locale, it’s casual dining – roll up your sleeves because these burgers are gloriously messy. They grill patties to a juicy medium and serve them in soft, glossy brioche buns. Sides like shoestring fries and milkshakes (try the peanut butter one) round out the feast. On weekends the wait can be long (it’s popular with the post-movie crowd from Time Square), but service remains friendly even when slammed. Cleanliness and quality are top-notch. 

Address: Shop 41, Menlyn Maine Central Square, Aramist Ave, Waterkloof