Business

The two men taking over fine dining in South Africa

Kirsten Minnaar • 23 January 2026

Celebrity chef David Higgs and serial businessman Gary Kyriacou are taking South Africa’s fine dining scene by storm as they expand two of their brands, Marble and the Pantry, across the country.

After a decade in business, Higgs and Kyriacou have built some of South Africa’s most beloved and renowned fine-dining restaurants, including Marble, Saint, Zioux and Pantry by Marble.

Kyriacou started his career in the family business, opening and operating several SPAR Supermarkets. He later moved on to other ventures, including co-owning a printing company and co-founding a coffee shop.

Kyriacou also owned a number of retail properties and acquired shares in the South African division of the world’s largest real estate company, Century 21, through which he met Higgs.

Higgs shared Kyriacou’s business flair and had founded two catering companies and a cooking school. When he bought a house through Century 21, his realtor asked if he would meet with Kyriacou, who was looking to open a restaurant.

Having worked in the restaurant industry, Higgs was sceptical, since he had encountered others who wanted to enter the industry but had no real idea of what they wanted to do.

He was surprised, however, to find that Kyriacou already had a solid plan for the business, with the name, concept, and growth plan in place. After half an hour of talking, Marble was born.

They wanted to disrupt the South African restaurant industry, which was largely dominated by similar, franchise-driven stores.

Marble was different. It featured a welcome desk, bar, open-flame cooking, high-end service and experiential dining.

They faced many challenges – from delays to chefs getting burn marks – but the interest was immediate, with thousands of customers making bookings before they even opened their doors in 2016.

After reworking the concept and spending half a year perfecting their offering, Marble’s success skyrocketed.

Pantry by Marble

Following the success of Marble, Higgs and Kyriacou went on to found Saint in Sandton in 2018, Zioux in 2021 and the Pantry by Marble in 2022.

The idea for the Pantry, a high-end petrol station forecourt, was to protect the group from the challenges the restaurant industry was facing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

They knew they wanted to bring a hospitality feel to the grocery store level, so they decided to open a luxury forecourt offering wines, grab-and-go meals, local produce, good coffee, and baked goods.

The store, which is based in Rosebank in Johannesburg, elevates the typical forecourt experience, with in-store chefs, imported goods, and an elevated design.

The Pantry also centres on convenience and accessibility, and is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Even though the luxury forecourt concept was unheard of in South Africa at the time, it was a quick hit, and Higgs and Kyriacou struggled to keep up with demand as products flew off the shelves.

The concept was so successful that the group has recently started expanding the Pantry. In late 2025, the group opened its first standalone Pantry location in Hazelwood, Pretoria.

The new store has a similar offering to its Rosebank location, featuring Pantry favourites like pizza, burgers, ready-to-go bowls and sandwiches.

“There’s no petrol station attached to this one, so we’ve got a lot more room,” Kyriacou revealed on the Pantry’s social media channels before the opening. “So, we’re really looking to push the boundaries with what we’ve got to offer.”

In particular, Kyriacou noted that the extra space has enabled them to expand their grocery offering.

Pantry also launched a pop-up store in the Mall of Africa Crystal Court on 16 October 2025, which will run until February 2026.

Designed by Irene Kyriacou, the interior stylist and designer for the Marble Group, the pop-up store features the Pantry’s grab-and-go favourites, like coffee, smoothies, open sandwiches, ice cream, and pre-made meals.

A new Pantry store is also set to open at Omni Square in Bassonia on 22 January 2026. It will offer a selection of the global staples and deli treats, as well as classic Pantry favourites, including its famous coffee, pizzas, and soft serve.

Marble takes over South Africa

The Marble Hospitality team from left to right: Dino Constantinou, Irene Kyriacou, David Higgs and Gary Kyriacou

Nearly a decade after launching the first Marble store, the group opened a new location in Cape Town in January 2025.

“The concept of live-fire cooking may not be new anymore, but the way we do it at Marble is always a fresh experience. That’s what excites us about Cape Town,” said head chef Matt van Niekerk.

“Fire has a way of bringing people together – it’s where stories are shared, ideas come to life, and connections are made.”

Located in the Union Castle Building at the V&A Waterfront, Marble Cape Town seats 220 guests, featuring a prominent wine cellar and a wrap-around patio with panoramic views.

“We see incredible potential in bringing Marble’s unique experience to Cape Town,” Kyriacou said.

“While the concept has evolved slightly to reflect the essence of the Mother City, our commitment to delivering luxury through experience, quality, and intuitive service remains constant.”

Now, the group is looking to expand its offerings even further, with Marble set to launch a 32-room hotel in the Olympus development in Sandton.

Olympus is a luxury R1.7 billion residential and retail development in Sandton, with construction on the project already underway.

Located adjacent to Discovery’s head office, Olympus comprises two residential towers with around 536 apartments.

These range from executive suites and one- and two-bedroom apartments priced from R1.49 million, up to luxurious three-bedroom penthouses at R45 million.

Marble’s hotel will be located in Olympus’ second tower, Apollo, occupying two full floors below the penthouses. “This new hotel represents our vision to redefine luxury accommodation in South Africa,” Kyriacou said.

“We are bringing the same attention to detail, creativity, and experiential approach that we have brought to our food and beverage and entertainment offerings.”

He explained that the hotel represents the next evolution of the Marble brand, building on our established reputation for luxury dining in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

This hotel is the result of a strategic partnership with Tricolt Group, the developers behind Olympus Sandton.