THE JOURNEY TO THE 11TH FLOOR

A Story of Heritage, Vision, and Destiny

Long before The 11th Floor became a symbol of luxury dining and artistry high above Johannesburg, it began with the heartbeat of a family kitchen and a young man’s relentless dream.

Born to first generation Italian South African parents, Antonio Iozzo grew up in a home where faith, family, and food were sacred. His roots trace back to the sunlit hills of southern Italy, where passion and pride were kneaded into every meal and every moment. It was there, amid the aromas of nonna’s recipes and the rhythm of Italian life, that Antonio’s lifelong love for beauty, precision, and flavour took hold.

At just fifteen, that world shifted. After his father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Antonio stepped into adulthood overnight, taking a job at a local pizzeria to support his family. From the heat of the oven to the quiet discipline of service, he learned that excellence is not born from comfort, but from care. He later put himself through hotel school and, together with his family, opened their first Italian restaurant, a courageous venture that ultimately failed, but one that would shape the man who would later redefine success itself.

Soon, vision met opportunity in the most unexpected way. The Alpha Building, newly completed, offered the perfect canvas, a commercial kitchen and rooftop space on the eleventh floor, suspended between city and sky. What began as an idea became a calling, to create not just a restaurant, but an experience where food, music, architecture, and atmosphere converge in harmony.

That opportunity began in 2021, through a chance meeting with Chef Kyle Marshall in Plettenberg Bay. Hired as a private chef to create Mediterranean inspired dishes for Antonio and his family, Kyle’s artistry rekindled a passion Antonio had carried since his youth. Their connection was immediate, mutual respect, shared excellence, and a devotion to the sensory art of flavour.

And so, The 11th Floor was born, the pinnacle of luxury dining, where Mediterranean soul meets modern sophistication.

Today, it stands as an institution in Bedfordview, a place where every dish tells a story, every note of live music complements the flavour on your plate, and every detail, from marble to melody, reflects a life dedicated to craft, excellence, and emotion.

The 11th Floor has since achieved international acclaim, winning multiple Luxury Dining Awards and was named among the Top 100 Luxury Restaurants in the World. These honours recognise more than excellence in cuisine, they celebrate a philosophy, that true luxury is not excess, but emotion crafted with precision and soul.

This is more than a restaurant.
It is a return to purpose, a dream reborn at the very height of success.