From sun-soaked afternoons to golden-hour rituals and sultry nights, Ocaso is the new Mexican-inspired dining and cocktail destination in Oxford Parks, Johannesburg.
As Corona’s first dedicated flagship venue in South Africa, it was created to embody the brand’s love of golden hour moments, inviting guests to linger longer.
Developed by seasoned restaurateur Heinz Rynners from Boulder Group, along with Ben Stanger and Luke Dakers of theMonseca Hospitality Group, and in partnership with SAB and Corona, Ocaso combines thoughtful design, vibrant food, crafted cocktails, and atmospheric rituals in a space designed to bring the brand to life, seven days a week, from 12pm to 12am.
A day-to-night rhythm
Every day at sunset, a special gong ritual signals the start of the evening. From Monday to Wednesday, the venue leans into food and comfort, offering long lunches, mezcal tastings and after-work drinks. From Thursday to Sunday, the mood shifts into lounge atmosphere, with DJs playing R’n’B, Hip-Hop, Afrohouse and Amapiano beats.
“It’s a space that transforms with you,” says Dakers. “You can ease into it or arrive ready to celebrate.”
A flagship with a purpose
Ocaso occupies the former Shortmarket Club space and joins a growing lifestyle cluster of Oxford Parks, a mixed-use precinct defined by offices, premium restaurants and bars and pop-up events. It’s the perfect backdrop for a venue designed to be both a local favourite and a destination for visitors. The team behind Ocaso is helping drive a new wave of experiential hospitality in Johannesburg, with several more venues set to launch in the coming months.
Ocaso also represents a strategic first for Corona in South Africa. As a flagship store, it functions as a central platform for brand engagement – from product launches and collaborations to daily activations and curated events.
“This isn’t just a high-performing outlet,” says Stanger. “It’s the brand’s spiritual home; a place where Corona can show up fully, every single day.”
Food and cocktails with flavour and theatre
The menu blends classic Mexican staples with a contemporary South African touch. Guacamole is prepared tableside with generous lime and chilli, while a mini taco tasting board lets guests mix and match flavours, from slow-braised beef birria to fresh seared tuna. Fried mozzarella sticks with chipotle dipping sauce and crispy empanadas stuffed with braised pulled chicken, garlic and onions are served alongside bright, fresh salads and ceviches, the latter cut through with a burst of acidity. Corn ribs dusted in smoked paprika have already become a signature order, while juicy wagyu burgers, marinated pan-seared panko pork chops, and sharing platters of steak, chicken thighs, wings, and lamb chops cater to heartier appetites. For dessert, golden-fried churros dusted with cinnamon sugar and drizzled with chocolate, along with the signature Bananas Foster, round out the experience.
“We just love food,” says Dakers. “We’ve tried every Mexican place in Joburg and Cape Town, and we pull inspiration from everywhere – street food, travel, even TikTok. It’s about making something that’s both comforting and exciting to look at when it lands on your table.”
The drinks list is just as considered, with a tequila and mezcal programme that ranges from the classic Margarita to more adventurous serves for sharing. Highlights include the Flor de Sol – a bright mix of Tanqueray Gin, passionfruit, coconut, lime and ginger beer; the Sol Bravio, which pairs El Jimador Blanco with hot honey and lime juice; and the Berry Basil Coronita, a playful combination of El Jimador Reposado, berry basil cordial and a Corona mini.
Design as storytelling
The interiors, by Johannesburg-based Bourne Kreative, were conceptualised with the Corona brand in mind from the outset. Instead of layering branding onto an existing space, the design team, led by creative lead designer Reinhardt Schmidt and project manager Lebeau Strydom, built the brand values into the architecture, finishes, and flow.
Schmidt says: “The whole room was designed to feel transportive. It’s urban, yes, but the minute you walk in, you feel like you’re somewhere else entirely. With Ocaso, the space is the brand.”
The bar, a woven wicker-fronted, softly lit focal point, is the theatrical heart of the venue. Its mandala-inspired motif draws directly from one of Corona’s global icons, while the glowing golden tones signal the shift from afternoon to evening.
Seating is arranged to allow for both intimacy and connection: low-slung leather banquettes, round communal tables, and a tucked-away VIP booth for special gatherings. Oversized bohemian beaded lanterns hang from layered plaster ceilings, casting patterned shadows that change as the night deepens. Macramé pillows, textured walls, and an ocean-blue floor – a bespoke colour mixed exclusively for Ocaso – create a tactile richness, while warm-toned lighting shifts subtly throughout the evening to match the mood.
Nearly every detail was custom-built, from the leather upholstery to the curved plasterwork. Sustainability and local craftsmanship were key: the lanterns were hand-beaded by local artisans, the woven elements sourced from specialist makers, and the majority of the finishes produced within South Africa.
A second phase will be unveiled in time for summer, with a rooftop deck that offers guests a beachy experience in the heart of the city.
With its mood-forward concept, brand-first design and layered experiential approach, Ocaso is fast becoming a new kind of flagship – one where guests don’t just consume a brand, but live it.
