5 Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Johannesburg (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Meze, gyros and a rooftop wine list all fall under the same banner in Johannesburg, and the mediterranean restaurants that do it best have racked up more than 17,000 Google reviews between them. The 11th Floor Restaurant alone carries over 8,000 of those, at a 4.8 rating that puts it near the top of the pack.

Short answer: The 11th Floor Restaurant leads with a 4.8 rating across 8,255 reviews, more than any other Mediterranean kitchen we checked in Johannesburg. For traditional Greek without the rooftop bill, Kolonaki Greek Kouzina holds a 4.5 rating on 2,933 reviews across its Parkhurst and Bryanston locations. Expect roughly R100 to R300 per person for shawarma or laffa, up to R800 or more for the rooftop tasting menu.

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1. The 11th Floor Restaur…
2. Kolonaki Greek Kouzina
3. The Schwarma Co
4. AKTI Mediterranean Bed…
5. Pappas On The Square
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Johannesburg's Mediterranean Restaurants, Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	The 11th Floor Restaurant	4.8 ★	8,255	Rooftop Mediterranean fine dining	View ›
2	Kolonaki Greek Kouzina	4.5 ★	2,933	Modern Greek meze	View ›
3	The Schwarma Co	4.5 ★	2,867	Shawarma & laffa, 20 years running	View ›
4	AKTI Mediterranean Bedford	4.5 ★	1,739	Greek-inspired tapas & pasta	View ›
5	Pappas On The Square	4.4 ★	1,699	Traditional Greek family dining	View ›

5 Best Mediterranean Restaurants in Johannesburg (2026)

Our five picks, checked against the data

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

The 11th Floor Restaurant

4.88,255 Google reviews

The 11th Floor sits eleven storeys above Bedfordview, drawing its menu from the Mediterranean coast by way of Florence. Truffle pastas, flame-grilled seafood and a wine list built for the view are the draw, alongside a rooftop cocktail bar and live piano and saxophone. It's part of the Alpha building complex and pulls diners from across Johannesburg for special occasions. It's open seven days a week and takes bookings through its own site.

What people praise

Panoramic Johannesburg skyline views praised across dozens of reviews
Staff singled out by name repeatedly for attentive, unhurried service
Mains and desserts consistently called out, from filet mignon to tiramisu-style plates
Live piano and saxophone adds atmosphere without drowning out conversation

Worth knowing

A few diners felt individual dishes could use more seasoning despite strong service
No cash accepted, so bring a card

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume8,255 · 98th

Confidencevery high

Recency4 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown87% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: It ranks first here on the numbers alone. A 4.8 rating held across more than 8,000 reviews is rare for any Mediterranean restaurant in this city, let alone one at this price point.

Website +27100450440 Directions

11th Floor, Alpha building, 28 Bradford Rd, Bedfordview, 2007

#2🕑 Open 7 days

Kolonaki Greek Kouzina

4.52,933 Google reviews

Kolonaki brings modern Greek meze culture to Parkhurst, with a second location in Bryanston, built around small plates, dips and a menu reviewers describe as run by a real Greek chef. It's more polished than a street cafe, closer to a top-end Greek dining room, and the site names both branches with direct booking contacts. It's open daily until 10pm.

What people praise

Reviewers specifically credit a real Greek chef behind the menu
Salmon, grilled chicken and gyros all praised as standouts
Pistachio cheesecake and panna cotta called out for dessert
Fast, attentive service noted even on busy nights

Worth knowing

Pricing runs upmarket and a few reviewers found portions on the smaller side
Parking near the Parkhurst location can be tight

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume2,933 · 93th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown70% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Second here with the highest review volume of any restaurant on the list bar The 11th Floor, 2,933 reviews across two locations, and the rating holds steady at 4.5 through that volume.

Website +27109003319 Directions

no18 4th Avenue Cnr, 9th St, Parkhurst, Randburg, 2193

#3🕑 Open 7 days

The Schwarma Co

4.52,867 Google reviews

The Schwarma Co has run in Norwood for 20 years, plating beef, chicken and lamb shawarma and laffa alongside falafel and haloumi options for vegetarians. It's expanded to include an upstairs sports bar and patio, and the online ordering system covers the full menu for pickup or delivery. It's open daily from 7am to 9pm.

What people praise

Halloumi laffa and meze platter both praised as reliable go-to orders
Online ordering described as quick and easy
Friendly, efficient staff noted across most reviews
Generous, well-seasoned portions in the majority of reviews

Worth knowing

One reviewer noted staff not wearing gloves during food assembly on a visit
A couple of reviewers found the meat under-seasoned compared to other shawarma spots

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume2,867 · 88th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown66% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Third here with 2,867 reviews, nearly matching Kolonaki's volume at the same 4.5 rating. Two decades in the same neighbourhood says something about consistency.

Website +27114831776 Directions

71 Grant Ave, Norwood, Johannesburg, 2117

#4🕑 Open 7 days

AKTI Mediterranean Bedford

4.51,739 Google reviews

AKTI sits on a Bedfordview corner and describes its menu as Mediterranean inspired by George, its Greek owner, mixing tapas, pizzas and pastas with Greek hospitality. The site leans on that Greek heritage while keeping the menu broad enough to cover a full dinner rather than just meze. It's open daily, with later hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

What people praise

Fillet and focaccia specifically praised as standouts
Relaxed, decor-forward setting reviewers describe as classy
Wide variety of pasta and meat dishes with generous, Greek-sized portions
Exceptional service noted from the hostess through to the server

Worth knowing

Pricing runs high, with one reviewer flagging R95 for bottled water
One review described a lamb dish as tasting off on a single visit

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume1,739 · 83th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown65% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Fourth here at the same 4.5 rating as Kolonaki and The Schwarma Co, but with a smaller review base, 1,739. Still a strong, well-reviewed option in Bedfordview.

Website +27116152271 Directions

Cnr Van Der Linde, and, Smith Street, Bedfordview

#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Pappas On The Square

4.41,699 Google reviews

Pappas On The Square is a family-owned restaurant on Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton, specialising in traditional Greek and Mediterranean cuisine that has evolved over more than three decades in the same spot. The site describes fresh, quality produce and a menu that still leans on classic Greek dishes alongside its broader Mediterranean offering. It's open daily, with later hours on weekends.

What people praise

Ribs, souvlaki and baklava all praised as strong menu picks
Long-running family ownership mentioned by loyal, decades-long regulars
Attentive service from both waitstaff and management called out repeatedly
Gelato station added recently and well received

Worth knowing

One reviewer flagged a pricing discrepancy on the ice cream menu board
Draught beer runs pricier than expected for the area, per one review

Reputation scorecardrank in Johannesburg

Rating4.4 / 5

Review volume1,699 · 78th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown61% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Fifth here at 4.4, the lowest rating on this list, but still solid across 1,699 reviews and decades of history on the same square.

Website +27118849991 Directions

Corner 5th &, Maude St, Sandton, 2196

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How we rank Johannesburg’s Mediterranean restaurants

Rating is the live Google average for each business. Review volume shows how many diners actually left a rating, so it’s weighted alongside the score rather than instead of it. Confidence blends the two, a high rating built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than the same score on a few dozen. Recency looks at how recently people are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change any of these numbers.

How much does a Mediterranean meal cost in Johannesburg? (2026)

Prices span a wide range here, from a quick shawarma to a full rooftop tasting menu. Here’s what diners on this list actually reported paying per person, in their own Google reviews.

Job	Typical price
Shawarma or laffa (quick service)	R100 - R300 per person
Sit-down Greek or Mediterranean dinner	R300 - R600 per person
Rooftop fine dining	R800 - R1,000+ per person

Based on price-per-person figures diners reported in their own Google reviews of these restaurants, verified July 2026.

Serving all of Johannesburg

These five span Bedfordview, Parkhurst, Norwood and Sandton, so most parts of Johannesburg have one within a short drive. A search for a Mediterranean restaurant near me tends to surface both Greek and Middle Eastern kitchens, this list covers both ends of that spread.

What to ask before you book

Do you take reservations, and how far ahead for a weekend table?
Which dishes on the menu are vegetarian or vegan friendly?
Is there a minimum spend for larger groups?
Do you offer delivery or online ordering for the full menu?
What’s the average wait during peak dinner hours?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data, ratings, review volume and what real customers say. A restaurant can pay for a Featured Partner badge and placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these five restaurants?

We pulled every Mediterranean restaurant in Johannesburg with a meaningful number of Google reviews, then ranked by a mix of rating, review volume, confidence and how recently people are still reviewing them.

How often is this updated?

We refreshed this data in July 2026 and recheck it periodically as ratings and review counts shift.

What’s the difference between these and the Greek restaurants specifically?

Most of these lean Greek, Kolonaki, AKTI and Pappas, while The Schwarma Co covers Middle Eastern shawarma and laffa. The 11th Floor blends Italian and Mediterranean influences.

Which is best for a quick lunch?

The Schwarma Co is the fastest option for a quick, well-priced meal. The others suit a proper sit-down meal.

The bottom line

The 11th Floor is the safe default for a special-occasion Mediterranean dinner with a view. For everyday Greek done properly, Kolonaki’s volume and consistency across two locations make it the easier weeknight choice. Either way, book ahead on weekends.

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