Property

The ultra-luxury restaurant brand taking over South Africa

Bianke Neethling • 2 December 2025

Marble Hospitality is expanding its portfolio with the launch of a five-star hotel at the Olympus development in Sandton, Johannesburg, which is currently under construction.

Launched in 2016, the group is currently known for its Pantry forecourt and fine dining restaurants in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

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

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

Since its launch, the project has generated over R1.2 billion in sales, underscoring strong market demand, with construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

Marble’s hotel, which is yet to be named, 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,” Marble founder and partner Gary 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.”

“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.

The deal will see Marble partner with developer Tricolt, ensuring that it embodies the brand’s philosophy of crafted luxury, exceptional hospitality, and experiential design.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, 2 December, the group explained that the hotel complements its existing presence in the building, including the Marble Restaurant and the Pantry by Marble.

From Pantry to Hotel

Marble was started in 2016, when Kyriacou and celebrity chef David Higgs launched the eponymous fine-dining restaurant in Rosebank, Johannesburg.

The restaurant was a significant success, and two years later, Kyriacou and Higgs opened their second venture, Saint, an upscale New York-style Italian restaurant in Sandton.

A third restaurant, Zioux, also in Sandton, followed shortly after, offering fine Asian fusion cuisine.

In 2022, Marble expanded its offerings to a surprising new venture – a high-end petrol station forecourt, named the Pantry by Marble, located in Rosebank.

This forecourt offers wines, grab-and-go meals, local produce, good coffee and baked goods.

Up to this point, Marble had only launched its new ventures within Johannesburg. However, this changed in early 2025, when Marble opened its second location at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

In addition, in November 2025, the group announced plans to open a second Pantry location, this time a standalone development, in Hazelwood, Pretoria.

In the past few years, the group has also expanded into events with the Luxurious Marble Circus.

The launch of its hotel in Olympus marks a brand-new venture for the company and will serve as the flagship for a future series of luxury hotels.

The group said these hotels will all be designed to deliver an unparalleled hospitality experience while maintaining Marble’s signature style and philosophy.

“We have always believed that hotels are the pinnacle of hospitality,” said Marble operations director Dino Constantinou. “Once you get to the hotel, you have arrived.”

Through its partnership with Tricolt, the two companies will ensure that the hotel embodies the Marble brand’s philosophy of crafted luxury, exceptional hospitality, and experiential design.

For the hotel’s interior design, Marble’s interior director, Irene Kyriacou, will work with award-winning designer Tristan du Plessis as the lead designer on the project.