The Smokehouse and Grill is an American-themed barbecue bar in Braamfontein, the student-and-arts quarter just north of the Johannesburg CBD. The room runs on smoked meat, beer, and screens for the weekend fixtures. It reads as a sports-and-grill spot rather than a fine-dining table.
The kitchen leads with American-style barbecue. Reviewers single out the ribs, the barbecued chicken quarters, and the burgers as the dishes to order, with Restaurant Guru aggregating a 4.1 rating across more than 700 visitor reviews.
The drinks list pairs the food with beer first. Several reviewers praise the craft beer pours, while others note the selection of local craft labels can be thin on a given night, per Tripadvisor. Wine and cocktails round out the card.
The interior is a warm, wood-heavy room with contemporary touches, which suits a long lunch or an evening over the game. It sits among the venues that What's On In Joburg lists for watching live sport in the city.
Braamfontein places the bar within walking distance of the universities, theatres, and the Saturday Neighbourgoods Market, so foot traffic is steady through the weekend. Parking is easier midweek than on event nights.
Pricing sits at the mid range for Johannesburg, which fits a plate of ribs and a couple of beers without a fine-dining bill. Portions run generous, so reviewers often share.
The Smokehouse and Grill works best as a barbecue-and-beer stop before or during a match, rather than a cocktail destination. It is one of the most-recommended Braamfontein addresses for smoked meat and a screen.
It earns a place on any honest list of sports bars in Johannesburg. The wider Johannesburg bar guide covers the rest of the city, and the sports bars guide ranks rooms worldwide.
Best for game day, big groups, and anyone after American-style barbecue with a beer. Skip it if you want a quiet cocktail bar or a late-night dance floor.
The barbecue program is the reason to book a table. Smoking takes time, so the ribs and the slow-cooked cuts carry a deeper flavor than fast grilling, and reviewers return for those plates more than the burgers. The sides run to the American playbook, with slaw, fries, and corn rounding out a plate.
The room reads as a relaxed grill rather than a loud sports hall, though the screens come into their own on a rugby or soccer weekend. Groups take the larger tables, while pairs fit the booths along the wall. Service runs friendly and unhurried, which suits a long lunch.
Braamfontein rewards a wider afternoon. The Neighbourgoods Market runs on Saturdays a short walk away, the theatres and galleries draw an arts crowd, and the student energy keeps the area busy into the evening. A meal here folds neatly into a day spent in the quarter.
The practical read is simple. Treat it as a barbecue lunch or an early-evening match stop, arrive hungry, and lean on the smoked plates the kitchen is known for. Midweek is calmer than a weekend fixture, and the area parks more easily outside event times.
For a wider sense of how it sits in the city, compare it with Benchwarmers in Rosebank, the long-running Grand Slam, and the screen-heavy Milk Bar. The Smokehouse leans more on its grill than on a wall of televisions.
This profile draws on aggregated visitor reviews and local listings rather than a single editor visit, and the details on the menu and the room reflect what those sources report. Hours and specials shift, so guests should confirm current opening times and any sport schedule directly with the venue before a long drive across the city.
What to order
- 01
Smoked pork ribs
The kitchen's signature, slow-cooked
- 02
Barbecued chicken quarter
A menu favorite per reviewers
- 03
Craft beer by the glass
From the rotating draft list
- 04
Loaded burger
American-style, built for a long session