SPONSORED: 4 Gauteng-based eateries every foodie should know

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Getting around in Gauteng can sometimes be a nightmare. The bumper-to-bumper traffic is enough to make anyone cancel their plans. Luckily, the Gautrain gets you to your destination in a flash. Gautrain services are available seven days a week and you can use the mobile app to keep track of the detailed train and bus schedule so you’re never late. Whether it’s for work, school or even if you need a quick bite, the Gautrain provides a convenient, safe service with various routes.

The Gautrain offers excellent service to fit the needs of all passengers – measures have been taken to include wheelchair users and sight- and hearing-impaired passengers. All you need to do is find the station closest to you:

Hatfield station: The JackRabbit Chocolate Studio

"A humble but fancy AF artisanal dessert studio” is how Pretoria’s Stephanie Ceronio describes her Jack Rabbit Chocolate Studio, and there’s no better way to define the space where she conjures up her confectionaries and pastries. Stephanie is an award-winning, self-taught chocolatier, who supplies a Japanese department store with 1 500 chocolates five times a year all from the comfort of her Waterkloof-based chocolate studio. Heading to Pretoria? Get off at the Hatfield station and hop on the next Hatfield-Lynwood Gautrain bus headed to Waterkloof Heights Shopping Centre to sample (and stock up) Stephanie's chocolate creations.

Sandton station: Zioux

Pronounced "zoo", Zioux is part of Joburg's Marble group. At this Champagne-and-cocktail lounge, you'll find executive chef David Higgs and his team experimenting with Latin American flavours and techniques. While it may not be a restaurant, the food is certainly not an afterthought, with the small plates on offer drawing influence from across South America with emphasis on Peru and Mexico. Of course, a Champagne bar and cocktail lounge wouldn’t be complete without the Champagne and cocktails. Led by sommelier Wikus Human and mixologist George Hunter, you'll be wowed by their tremendous skill and knack for knowing exactly what the customer wants through their various concoctions.

Rosebank Station: Acid Food & Wine Bar

Parktown North has long been one of Joburg’s favourite neighbourhoods to eat out and be observed, so when the space presented itself, it was a no-brainer for chef Jes Sommer and sommelier Jemma Styer to open Jozi’s only female-led food-and-wine bar. Trust us, it is just as cool as it sounds. Cooler, in fact. Offering a menu of interesting wines and small plates, Jes and Jemma are the kind of owners who make you want to become a regular. Much like the decor, the food is simple and clean. The food menu remains small and is constantly changing, sometimes weekly. “The food offering is in part inspired by my Thai heritage, as well as my travels to southeast Asia and Melbourne,” says head chef, Jes, who categorises her food as global cuisine.

Park station: Food I Love You

There's more to Braamfontein than throngs of students rushing to their next class or hangout spot. At her Joburg eatery, established in the iconic former Women’s Jail at Constitution Hill, Mpho Phalane has worked to create a space that both honours the historic site and feels like home. It’s hard to believe that this quaint eatery was once an incarceration site and military fort that held political prisoners including Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Fatima Meer, and tens of thousands of others in its history of over 100 years. Mpho’s simple, vibrant approach to food mingles well with her fondness for Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern cuisine. Her main offering is grand salads meant for sharing, juicy, unctuous roasts, and an abundance of veg fare.

 The Gautrain is primarily focused on providing a comprehensive public transport system that enables and promotes the long-term sustainable economic growth of Gauteng. Whatever your journey may require, the Gautrain is an easily accessible option, which is also designed with inclusivity in mind. There are provisions for mobility, the trains are wheelchair-friendly and there are measures in place for sight- and hearing-impaired passengers. Guide dogs are also allowed on board for visually impaired passengers.

Learn more about the Gautrain here.