Joy Jozi: The perfect spot for date night with the kids


By Lindelwa Masuku

Are you a young parent struggling to find a place to take your child for a fun and engaging experience while also enjoying a great dining experience with your partner? Look no further than Joy Jozi!

As a writer for Joburg Post, I am always on the lookout for hidden gems in the city that offer unique experiences. Recently, I stumbled upon a new place called Joy Jozi, and let me tell you, it's a game-changer for parents who want to enjoy a good dining experience with their little ones.

A view of the front of Joy Jozi with its iconic kiddies slide, Instagram photo

Joy Jozi is not your typical restaurant. It's a family playground and experiential venue that has been designed around play. The property is immense, and the inside of what was once a two-storey home has been cleverly renovated and reconfigured to create multiple play spaces, from a retro arcade room to a library, a giant indoor playground, to a toddler's activity space, a crafts area and venue space that can be booked for private events – from talks to baby showers, a yoga or a dance class. There is even a half room under the stairs for Harry Potter fans to dream up magic spells.

Old school arcade games for a rainy day. You'll want to play! Photo Kemiso Wessie | In your pocket

The restaurant menu has been devised by top chef Luke Dale Roberts and his team, so you can expect delicious food to suit all tastes. From the elegant indoor space complete with a large fireplace for frosty days to the immense covered patio with overhanging greenery, Joy Jozi is a treat for adults too.

But what makes Joy Jozi truly special is how it caters to kids. The family playground features a twisty children’s slide descending from the second floor, action court, tree house, bicycle track, mini splash park and kids vegetable garden. Kids will love the large sandpit and the treehouse. 

There’s also an amphitheatre for live performances, climbing spaces, and a fragrant sound garden filled with growing herbs and flowers, with a path through it that changes from rock to wood chips and rounded stones for the ultimate sensory experience.

The garden space is vast, and beautifully landscaped with chairs dotted across it for tired adults, who then have a front-row seat for their child’s activities. From climbing to jumping, playing with water to tearing around the indoor court, or riding scooters there’s a heap of things to do to keep little and not-so-little people busy.

The view of the restaurant and Joy Jozi house from the garden. Photo Kemiso Wessie | In your pocket

Joy Jozi is a place where kids can take their adults, and it's clear that the team behind it has brought together expertise in many areas – from mindfulness to landscaping, and occupational therapy to culinary excellence. It's a journey with many stops that has been designed around play, and it's as much a novelty for adults as it will be for kids.

One of the many sweet treats on the Joy Jozi menu, Instagram photo

I highly recommend Joy Jozi for those looking for a dining experience where the whole family can be catered for. It's one of those places that will have most adults wishing someone had thought of a place like this much sooner. So, the next time you're looking for a hidden gem in Joburg, be sure to check out Joy Jozi.

 51 Eastwood Road, Dunkeld

Article Tags

Hidden gem

Joy Jozi

Kid friendly

Date night ideas

Young parents

Cancel

    Most Read