The Holiday Festival at JoyJozi Family Restaurant: Sensory and Interactive Activities For All Ages

JoyJozi is a one-of-a-kind playground, restaurant, and experiential venue designed for families to unwind together. This Johannesburg restaurant incorporates everything from safe and interactive play spaces indoors and outdoors, fine dining, and a host of unique pop-up experiences.

A sensory and interactive approach to play for kids and adults

Co-founder and parent himself, Brad Cilliers says, ‘JoyJozi to us means space – where we are relieved of our obsession with future goals and past events. It is a space for exploration, family time, exquisite food, and spontaneity. It is space for being, rather than doing,” says Cilliers.

Cilliers and his team have been working closely with PlayOn Founder and free-play fanatic, Colin Levin, who conceived the state-of-the-art play equipment that exists within the property, as well as an interactive showroom space.

‘The best feedback I can get as a playmaker is watching kids experiment on the equipment. My idea is to consistently update the space as global play trends filter through,’ says Levin.

JoyJozi Holiday Festival Brings Easter Magic – and “Kids Eat Free Always” – to Sandton

Families looking for the ultimate school holiday destination in Johannesburg can head to JoyJozi this term break!

This April also marks the launch of JoyJozi’s exciting new “Kids Eat Free – Always” special, where children can choose a meal from a dedicated kids’ menu while families enjoy the restaurant’s relaxed, family-friendly dining experience.

The festival features a packed programme of entertainment for toddlers to 12 year olds. The Easter celebrations are a major highlight, with a Grand Easter Egg Hunt, the chance to meet the Easter Bunny, and interactive activities including Easter arts and crafts, treasure hunts, egg painting, LEGO building, and sunglasses decorating.

Throughout the month-long festival, young guests can also enjoy daily kids’ activities, energetic Disco Baby dance sessions, and pastry classes with Chef Abi, where children can learn fun baking skills. Sundays will end on a magical note with outdoor movie nights, creating the perfect relaxed family evening under the stars.

Bookings are recommended and can be made via Dineplan.

When: Running from 2 April to 3 May, open daily from 9am to 9pm
Where: 51 Eastwood Road, Dunkeld, Johannesburg

JoyJozi Family Restaurant in Johannesburg | What's on in Joburg

Activities and facilities at the venue

Outdoor leisure activities include an action court, tree house, bicycle track, mini splash park, and a dedicated space for toddlers right next to the vegetable garden. All the play equipment has been tastefully integrated into the expansive gardens

For the indoor play centre, there are multiple mazes, slides and games, perfect for the winter months. Creative crafts are available, and for book lovers, there’s a well-stocked reading room overlooking the garden.

At the end of the garden, you’ll find a 70-seater amphitheatre and stage for visitors to watch, join, and even perform their own shows in a beautiful, serene setting. JoyJozi has partnered with the National Children’s Theatre and Story Cafe for a lineup of enriching, memorable shows.

Easy, conscious dining

At the heart of JoyJozi’s food philosophy is Chef Abi, whose passion for flavour and family dining shapes every plate that leaves our kitchen. Her menu is built around the idea that great food should be comforting, wholesome, and exciting for all ages.

Chef Abi blends creativity with practicality, designing dishes that are fun for kids yet satisfying and thoughtfully crafted for adults. Her focus is on real ingredients, seasonality, and food that feels both familiar and memorable.

‘For me, the magic lies in creating meals that children instantly connect with while giving adults something genuinely special to enjoy,’ says Chef Abi. To keep things fresh, Chef Abi introduces new dishes and seasonal favourites throughout the year, ensuring there is always something new to discover at JoyJozi.

Safety first at JoyJozi

Part of the JoyJozi ethos is to prioritise safety and security as warm, safe, and familiar as a friend’s home. They’ve spared no expense to create a system of physical and digital checks and balances throughout the venue, and access is controlled through a single entry and exit point.

The bathroom facilities are regulated for parents’ peace of mind. At the heart of it, this unique kids activity and play space in Joburg is a place to unwind and make new memories.