Sakhumzi Restaurant

Sakhumzi Restaurant stands at 6980 Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng, on the street often described as the only one in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu. Open since 2001, it is the best-known restaurant on Vilakazi Street and a standard stop for visitors exploring Soweto. The main attraction is the buffet of South African township food, served in sittings of about two hours at roughly R270 per person (about $16). The spread typically includes pap, samp and beans, beef stew, chicken feet and boerewors, alongside vegetable dishes and salads, and the selection can change from day to day. The restaurant is set over a street-facing balcony and an indoor dining room, and the balcony is the most popular place to sit because it looks down on the street's constant flow of tour groups, street musicians and traders. The atmosphere is lively and social, with music playing and conversation carrying across tables, and it becomes especially busy at weekends and during holidays. There is no formal dress code. Beer, soft drinks and other beverages are available, and the bar keeps the room busy into the evening. Opening hours are listed as Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 22:00 and Friday to Sunday from 11:00 to midnight. Reservations are recommended for weekends and for groups, which can be made by calling +27 11 536 1379 or emailing dine@sakhumzi.co.za. Because the restaurant is close to the Mandela House Museum and the Hector Pieterson Memorial, many visitors arrive as part of a guided Soweto tour, and independent travellers usually use a licensed driver or e-hailing service. A meal here pairs naturally with a walk along Vilakazi Street's memorial and craft stalls.