South Africa · month by month
Johannesburg food calendar
What is in season in Johannesburg, what to eat right now, the food festivals worth planning around and the months to be careful with. Tap a month.
January in Johannesburg
The best of January: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Summer, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Plan around
- Afternoon storms
Summer thunderstorms most afternoons.
Nov–Feb
Nothing of this kind in January. Try Everything.
February in Johannesburg
The best of February: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Summer, Luxe Restaurant Awards.
In season
- Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Luxe Restaurant Awards
Johannesburg winners reported by Time Out in February 2026.
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Plan around
- Afternoon storms
Summer thunderstorms most afternoons.
Nov–Feb
Nothing of this kind in February. Try Everything.
March in Johannesburg
Shoulder seasonThe best of March: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Summer, Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards.
In season
- Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Eat Out Woolworths Restaurant Awards
2026 star results announced at a ceremony on 23 March 2026.
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in March. Try Everything.
April in Johannesburg
Peak seasonThe best of April: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, First Sunday at Victoria Yards, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in April. Try Everything.
May in Johannesburg
Peak seasonThe best of May: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Winter, Fordsburg Food & Spice Tour.
In season
- Winter
Dry, cold nights, and the season for shisa nyama fires.
May–Aug - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Fordsburg Food & Spice Tour
Guided walk of spice shops and stalls; the 30 May 2026 date was R350 per person.
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in May. Try Everything.
June in Johannesburg
Shoulder seasonThe best of June: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Winter, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Winter
Dry, cold nights, and the season for shisa nyama fires.
May–Aug - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in June. Try Everything.
July in Johannesburg
The best of July: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Winter, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Winter
Dry, cold nights, and the season for shisa nyama fires.
May–Aug - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in July. Try Everything.
August in Johannesburg
Shoulder seasonThe best of August: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Winter, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Winter
Dry, cold nights, and the season for shisa nyama fires.
May–Aug - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in August. Try Everything.
September in Johannesburg
Peak seasonThe best of September: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Heritage Day braai, Heritage Day.
In season
- Heritage Day braai (shisa nyama, boerewors, pap)
24 September is National Braai Day; Soweto and Gauteng venues run braai specials.
- First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Heritage Day (National Braai Day)24 September
Fires all over the city.
- Heritage Day / National Braai Day
24 September; shisanyama events across Gauteng.
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in September. Try Everything.
October in Johannesburg
Peak seasonThe best of October: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Summer, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Nothing of this kind in October. Try Everything.
November in Johannesburg
The best of November: Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Bryanston moonlit evening market, Bryanston Moonlit Market.
In season
- Bryanston moonlit evening market
Tuesday evenings from mid-November until Christmas, per Eat Out and South African Tourism.
Nov–Dec - Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Bryanston Moonlit Market
Tuesday evenings, mid-November to Christmas.
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Plan around
- Afternoon storms
Summer thunderstorms most afternoons.
Nov–Feb
Nothing of this kind in November. Try Everything.
December in Johannesburg
The best of December: Christmas braai, Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama, Neighbourgoods Market, Braamfontein.
In season
- Bryanston moonlit evening market
Tuesday evenings from mid-November until Christmas, per Eat Out and South African Tourism.
Nov–Dec - Summer
Mangoes, litchis and stone fruit from Limpopo.
Oct–Mar - First Sunday at Victoria Yards
Monthly, except January.
Feb–Dec - Fordsburg Square night market street food
Samosas, biryani and tikka skewers on weekend evenings, busiest Saturday.
Eat it now
- Christmas braaiChristmas
Christmas falls in summer, so it's cooked outside.
- Bunny chow, kota and shisa nyama
Hollowed loaves of curry, the kota sandwich, and grilled meat at the Soweto braai spots.
On the calendar
- Neighbourgoods Market, BraamfonteinSaturdays
The rooftop food market.
Plan around
- Afternoon storms
Summer thunderstorms most afternoons.
Nov–Feb
Nothing of this kind in December. Try Everything.
Festival dates move from year to year, so check this year's dates before you book. Seasons are how growers, markets and local guides describe them; edges vary with the weather. Know something we missed? Tell us.