"David Higgs's Asian-inspired Sandton room and 2023 Luxe Bar of the Year — book it for a first date."
About Zioux
David Higgs put shredded Walvis Bay crab with buttermilk, jalapeño and nasturtium on the Zioux menu because it is the thing he most likes to eat, and it tells you what the kitchen is doing: Namibian and South African product run through a Japanese lens. Zioux is Higgs's Asian-inspired room inside The MARC on the corner of Rivonia and Maude in Sandton, built with Matsusaka-born chef Katsuhiko Miyamoto. It took Bar of the Year at the 2023 Luxe Restaurant Awards, the same night Higgs collected the Pioneer Award. A truffle-topped jersey sirloin burger runs R295.
The Kitchen
David Higgs is South Africa's most decorated chef, the man behind Marble up the road, and Zioux is his Asian turn: sushi and sashimi, steamed dim sum, and mains off a wood-fired grill. He built the kitchen with Katsuhiko Miyamoto, from Matsusaka in Japan, who reads a South African palate well enough to keep the heat and the smoke honest. The signature shredded Walvis Bay crab with buttermilk, jalapeño and nasturtium is Higgs's own favourite; the wood fire turns out grilled meats and a truffle-topped jersey sirloin burger at R295, with poke bowls and tempura for lighter tables. Zioux took Bar of the Year at the 2023 Luxe Restaurant Awards, where Higgs received the Pioneer Award, and the cocktail list, margaritas built on tequila or mezcal, is taken as seriously as the kitchen. It sits inside The MARC on the corner of Rivonia and Maude in Sandown. For more, see best Japanese restaurants worldwide and our ten best restaurants in Johannesburg.
The Room
Zioux is a dark, theatrical room: low lighting, a long sushi counter, and a bar that fills with a Sandton crowd from early evening. Sound runs loud once the bar gets going, easing at the dining tables set back from it. Seating mixes counter stools, banquettes and tables across roughly 120 covers, with the wood fire visible from the room. Dress is smart; this is a see-and-be-seen Sandton address, so the room leans dressed-up rather than casual. Book a table away from the bar if you want to talk.
Best for First Date
Book Zioux for a first date because the room flatters and the format keeps things moving: low light, a sushi counter you can sit at side by side, and small Asian plates that give you something to do with your hands while you talk. Order the Walvis Bay crab and a few pieces of sashimi, work through a mezcal margarita, and let the wood fire and the bar buzz fill any silences. Ask for a table set back from the bar so you can actually hear each other. If it goes well, David Higgs's Marble is the second date.
Not for
Skip Zioux if you want a quiet dinner: the bar runs loud from early evening, and a table near it makes conversation hard work.
Frequently Asked
Is Zioux worth it?
Yes, if you want David Higgs's cooking in a livelier register than Marble. Zioux is his Asian-inspired room, built with Matsusaka chef Katsuhiko Miyamoto, and it took Bar of the Year at the 2023 Luxe Restaurant Awards. The sushi, the wood-fired grill and dishes like the Walvis Bay crab are genuinely good; you are paying Sandton prices for a see-and-be-seen address, but the kitchen backs it up.
How hard is it to book Zioux?
Book a few days ahead for weekends, longer if you want a dining table rather than a perch in the bar. Reservations run through Dineplan or by phone on +27 10 594 5455. The bar fills first and loudest from early evening, so if conversation matters, ask specifically for a table set back from it. Weeknights are easy and the better bet for a quieter dinner.
What is the dress code at Zioux?
Smart and dressed-up. Zioux sits inside The MARC in Sandown, one of Sandton's see-and-be-seen addresses, so the room leans toward jackets, dresses and smart shoes rather than casual wear. There is no formal jacket requirement, but you will feel underdressed in shorts and trainers. The crowd treats it as a night out, and the dark, theatrical room rewards dressing for it.
What should I order at Zioux?
Start with the shredded Walvis Bay crab with buttermilk, jalapeño and nasturtium, the dish David Higgs calls his own favourite. Add sashimi and a few steamed dim sum, then something off the wood-fired grill; the truffle-topped jersey sirloin burger at R295 is the talked-about plate. Drinks matter here too, so order a margarita built on tequila or mezcal from the award-winning bar.
Is Zioux good for a first date?
Yes. The low light, the side-by-side sushi counter and the small Asian sharing plates make conversation easy and give you something to do with your hands. Order the Walvis Bay crab, some sashimi and a mezcal margarita, and ask for a table away from the bar so you can hear each other. The room flatters, and the format keeps a first date moving.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Zioux
Book on Dineplan or call +27 10 594 5455. Weekend tables in the bar area go first; request a dining table set back from the bar.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressThe MARC, cnr Rivonia & Maude St, Sandton
NeighbourhoodSandown, Sandton
CuisineAsian-inspired
PriceMains roughly R200–R400; truffle sirloin burger R295
Dress CodeSmart; dressed-up Sandton
SeatingSushi counter, banquettes and tables, ~120 covers
ReservationDineplan / phone
