Dolci Café

Dolci Café leans fully into old-world Italian charm, with a cosy interior layered in florals – think patterned wallpaper, tactile furnishings and a slightly nostalgic, lived-in warmth that feels instantly inviting. In the kitchen, chef Jackie Righi steers a dining experience that centres on classical, handmade pasta, slow-simmered sauces and rare finds (for example, they’re the only restaurant in Joburg that serves cappelletti, a hat-shaped stuffed pasta from the Romagna region of Italy). Chef Jacke’s mother, Luciana Righi, is a familiar figure on Joburg’s restaurant scene, and if you’re lucky you may even hear her voice drifting through the pass. Next door, Dolci Bar & Pizzeria shifts the mood: thin-crust northern Italian pizzas meet a livelier, New York-style bar setting, offering a playful contrast to the café’s comforting, home-style soul.

Don't leave without trying:
The tortelli buffala – delicate pasta parcels filled with creamy buffalo mozzarella, fragrant basil and origanum, in a simple but rich Napoli sauce.