Johannesburg Just Got the Worlds First Marc Jacobs Café and Its Amazing

Forget New York. Forget Paris. The world’s first permanent Marc Jacobs café has opened right here in Johannesburg. And yes, it lives up to the name.

Marc’s Café by Marc Jacobs is now open inside Hyde Park Corner, tucked into a spot called Maison Deux. It only has 20 seats, so this is not your usual coffee shop. It feels more like stepping into a fashion show than sitting down for lunch.

 

The Space

It’s small but beautiful. You’ll spot the famous Marc Jacobs daisies and button designs everywhere. The lighting is warm, the finishes feel expensive, and the whole place has a fun, playful energy. It feels fancy but not snobby. The kind of place where you sit down for a quick coffee and end up staying for two hours.

 

The Food

The menu mixes New York café style with French cooking, all made to suit local tastes. Here are the must try dishes:

Hell’s Kitchen Chicken is a loaded brioche sarmie with crumbed chicken, honey, jalapeño sauce, and a fresh coleslaw. Every single bite is unreal.

Rouge Remix is rigatoni in a rich tomato sauce with garlic, fresh basil, and creamy ricotta that makes the whole thing sing.

Marc’s Harvest Salad features beetroot and butternut done in different ways on one plate. It looks like a painting and tastes just as good.

The Downtown Bagel comes with tender smoked brisket, seasonal greens, and caramelised onions. You pick between honey mustard aioli or homemade BBQ sauce.

Breakfast and brunch are also solid. The bagels and waffles feel special, not boring.

 

The Desserts (Do Not Skip These)

This is where Marc’s really shows off. Each entremet is inspired by a Marc Jacobs fragrance. They are beautiful, layered, and packed with flavour. Some are rich and chocolatey. Others are light and citrusy. The macarons are named after New York neighbourhoods and make a perfect gift.

If you visit Marc’s and skip dessert, you missed the whole point.

 

The Drinks

Coffee here is the real deal. They use a La Marzocca machine and serve everything from classic cappuccinos to flavoured lattes like Madison Vanilla and Hazelnut No.5. There’s also a great lineup of matcha drinks and mocktails. Try the Golden Hour, the Little Red Dress, or the Lavender Muse Matcha.

 

The Bottom Line

Johannesburg doesn’t just have a new café. It has a world first. Marc Jacobs picked this city before New York, London, or Paris for its first permanent café. Whether you go for the food, the photos, or the bragging rights, Marc’s by Marc Jacobs at Hyde Park Corner is worth the trip.

 

Just know that 20 seats fill up fast. Plan ahead.

📍 Hyde Park Corner, Maison Deux, Hyde Park, Johannesburg