On Friday 27 November, OAKBERRY brings the global açaí obsession to Melrose Arch. The Brazilian brand opens its first Johannesburg store just in time for summer.

Picture a clear bowl layered with ice-cold, deep-purple açaí, sliced strawberries, banana, a protein layer if you like, and a scatter of crunch. The person behind you in the queue can see your layers and wants to know what you ordered. The flavour is hard to explain until you’ve tried it for yourself. That first spoonful is cold, thick and smooth, like a refreshing berry sorbet with notes of blackberry and a hint of dark chocolate.

Açaí grows on palms in the Brazilian Amazon. OAKBERRY’s açaí is certified organic, grown, frozen and packaged in Santa Izabel do Pará, and kept frozen every step of the way to Melrose Arch, so every bowl tastes like it was made in Brazil this morning.

Half the fun of introducing someone to açaí is getting them to say it out loud. Try it: ah·sah·EE. If you’re smiling, you said it right.

Choose a signature bowl or build your own, layer by layer, from the toppings bar. From OAKBERRY’s best-loved builds to your own Protein Goals, you just have to come try it.

“In Brazil, açaí is how friends meet up, any time of day,” says Leah McCrae, CEO of OAKBERRY South Africa. “Come in, say ‘açaí’ out loud and feel the smile.”

On Thursday 26 November, the first 50 people on the Purple Waiting List can each bring a guest to Founders Night for a first taste, DJs and good company. Everyone on the list gets an opening-day spoil.

Join by scanning the QR code on the Melrose Arch hoarding or emailing marketing@oakberrysa.co.za.

Founded in São Paulo in 2016, OAKBERRY now serves its Brazilian açaí bowls in more than 900 stores worldwide. Cape Town is next, with a Sea Point pop-up from December and a V&A Waterfront store in early 2027.

Not just açaí, it’s OAKBERRY.

OAKBERRY. Be more alive.